Title: Happy New Year
Directed by: Bruce Bilson
Written by: Chris Hayward, Danny Arnold, and Arne Sultan
Air Date: January 8, 1976
Previous: Protection
Next: The Sniper
Guest Starring: Edith Diaz, Joseph Bova, John Dullaghan
"Happy New Year" is the 15th episode of the second season of Barney Miller.
It's New Year's Eve at the 12th Precinct, and Barney and company are not happy about having to be in the office for New Year's. The lone exception is Wojo, who is determined to be cheerful, and irritates the other detectives by blowing a party horn. Liz Miller stops by to wish Barney and the gang a happy new year. Nick, who resents the others for complaining about his coffee-making skills, says that he has made a resolution to never make coffee again.
The cops arrest a pickpocket (first of ten appearances by John Dullaghan, who later appeared six times as homeless wino Ray Brewer). Fish is called out to deal with a potential jumper, who is standing on a ledge on the 15th floor of the Mercantile Building, and threatening to kill himself if peace in the Middle East isn't declared by midnight. But the real drama occurs when Wojo brings in one Mrs. Rodrigues, picked up for shoplifting. Mrs. Rodrigues, who is heavily pregnant and doesn't speak English, goes into labor right there in the squad room.
Barbara Barrie (Elizabeth Miller) was listed as a regular in the opening credits for all of season 2 but only appeared in two episodes, this one being the last. Liz only appeared two more times over the last six years of the series.
Tropes:
- Bad to the Last Drop: Yemana resents the others for complaining about his coffee. Harris says that Yemana's coffee his fine, only to scowl in disgust when he actually drinks some. When Barney has some and says "Good coffee, Nick!", Nick says "Too late!"
- Birth-Death Juxtaposition: Everybody is giddy with relief when Mrs. Rodrigues safely delivers a baby boy. This is followed immediately by Fish returning to the squad room, his jumper having jumped to his death.Fish: You win some, you lose some.
- Comically Missing the Point: Jackson the pickpocket succeeds in getting Mr. Crowley to decline to press charges. Barney notes that Jackson caught a big break and suggests that he should have learned a lesson. Jackson says yes: "Next year, I'm gonna work a different precinct."
- Maternity Crisis: A woman brought into the 12th for shoplifting baby supplies goes into labor. She's helped through it by Liz and, surprisingly, Wojo, who as it turns out once had to deliver a baby in an emergency situation in Vietnam.
- Newhart Phone Call: A frequent gag. Here's what happens when Barney picks up the telephone:Barney: I beg your pardon?...No, it is not against the law between consenting adults....Hello? Hello? (hangs up phone)
- New Year Has Come: The gang is stuck working New Year's. At the end Harris calls the New York Daily News to report the city's first baby of 1976, born 12:02 am, only to be told that it was the third.
- New Year's Resolution: Yemana resolves to never make coffee for the office again.
- Running Gag: The long-term running gag of Wojo's name. A grateful Mrs. Rodrigues says she'll name the baby after him, only to look horrified when he tells her his name is "Wojciehowicz."
- Talking Down the Suicidal: Fish leaves the squad room to talk down a guy who's threatening to jump from the Mercantile Building. He fails.
