Title: Block Party
Directed by: Noam Pitlik
Written by: Tom Reeder
Air Date: February 12, 1976
Previous: Fear of Flying
Next: Massage Parlor
Guest Starring: Linda Lavin, George Murdock
"Block Party" is the 18th episode of the second season of Barney Miller.
If Wojciehowicz and Wentworth (Linda Lavin) ever tried to keep their relationship a secret, they didn't try very hard. After they both come in late for work, and at the same time no less, Barney has to give them a talking-to about letting their personal lives interfere with their professional lives. The other detectives make fun of poor Wojo, who is embarrassed about being caught out.
Meanwhile, Fish and Yemana bring in a man who was washing all his clothes in a laundromat—as in, all of his clothes. The man they bring in on an indecent exposure charge turns out to be a nudist. Chano is pestered by a local barber who wants a gun permit. Harris, still trying out a new career as a writer, is writing a column for the precinct newsletter.
Barney sends out Wentworth and Chano to work as undercover security at a block party for a labor leader. It turns out to be a pretty good decision, as an alert Wentworth foils an assassination attempt.
First appearance of George Murdock as Lt. Scanlon. In this episode he's a jerkass from Manhattan South but in later episodes he'd be a recurring character as a jerkass from Internal Affairs.
Tropes:
- Deadpan Snarker: Yemana christens the nudist "Lord Godiva".
- Death Glare: When Chano finds out that he and Wentworth are going to the block party together he grins and says to Wentworth, "Do you dance?". Cue Death Glare from a jealous Wojo.
- Did You Just Have Sex?: Everyone guesses the reason immediately when Wojo arrives for work late and with a grin on his face.
- Malicious Misnaming: The threat of Harris writing a column about the assassination attempt gets Scanlon to back down and let Wentworth get the credit for the arrest, instead of hogging it for Manhattan South. But he still gets one last shot in by calling Wentworth "Wedgewood", clearly intentionally.
- Naked People Are Funny: The nudist who's brought into the squad room wearing nothing but Fish's coat. He gets on a metaphorical soapbox and lectures the detectives about how there's nothing wrong with the human body. When the nudist's clothes are finally dry, Fish gives them to him and tells him to change, only to scream "NOT HERE! In the bathroom!", as the nudist starts unbuttoning Fish's coat.
- Office Romance: Barney is not happy when Wojo and Wentworth's canoodling makes them late for work. Wojo gets jealous when Chano is assigned to be Wentworth's "date" for the block party.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: Scanlon, who reveals himself to be a raging misogynist. He calls Wentworth "girlie".
- Roman à Clef: Harris's column for the newsletter is all about Wojo and Wentworth's romance. He says that he changed all the names, but Wojo is still super-pissed and Barney makes Harris write about something else.
