Title: The Psychiatrist
Directed by: Noam Pitlik
Written by: Gregory Teifer (story), Tony Sheehan, Danny Arnold, and Chris Hayward (teleplay)
Air Date: February 26, 1976
Previous: Massage Parlor
Next: The Kid
Guest Starring: James Gregory, Fred Sadoff, Martin Garner
"The Psychiatrist" is the 20th episode of the second season of Barney Miller.
Wojo brings in a mugger, so, it's business as usual at the 12th Precinct. Only this time the mugger is yelling about police brutality, and his lawyer, upon arrival to bail out his client, says that he'll be filing a complaint against Wojo. No one thinks much of this, until Internal Affairs orders Wojo put on desk duty after an unsatisfactory interview with a psychiatrist. The problem gets worse when the psychiatrist, one Dr. Esterhazy, shows up in the squad room and demands to interview Barney and all of his detectives. This brings Inspector Luger to the 12th Precinct, and Luger, with his complete lack of tact, makes the situation worse.
In the B-plot, Chano brings in a Mr. Frumkus, a genial old man who was arrested for overturning the newspaper stands outside his store. It turns out that Mr. Frumkus was offended by all the pornographic material that those newsstands sell. In the C-plot, Fish is indignant when his insurance company raises his premium by $50 a month.
Tropes:
- Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: During her pep talk with Janine, Barbara explains how they're all going through their tribulations of adulthood. She went through hers, Melissa is going through hers, and Ava is busy organizing her fashion wardrobe.
- Gosh Darn It to Heck!: Wojo describes the shrink's allegation that he's unfit for duty as "a crock of beans.
- Head-Tiltingly Kinky: The pornographic papers that made Mr. Frumkus so angry. Harris tilts one, grins, and says "Oh man, I ain't never seen nothin' like this before!". Luger for his part tilts one of the papers until it's nearly perpendicular to his face, then puts his reading glasses on.
- Inkblot Test: The psychiatrist has the squad look at inkblots. Yemana sees an elephant wearing a hat. "Now turn the picture upside down and tell me what you see." "An elephant lying on his back. Wearing a hat."
- Internal Affairs: Internal Affairs isn't actually seen, but everyone cringes when Wojo has to go see them. Their representative Dr. Esterhazy makes life difficult for the detectives.
- Malicious Misnaming: The mugger's lawyer calls Wojciehowicz "Wojahojo."
- The Shrink: Dr. Esterhazy insists that all the cops have to take his Inkblot Test. Barney insists on hearing the results and is stunned when Esterhazy says he's recommending suspending all the detectives. The shrink then says that all cops are too paranoid to carry guns. Barney's shocked to hear this but when Dr. Esterhazy goes on to say that everyone is too paranoid to carry a gun, Barney has to admit that the shrink has a point.
- Turn in Your Badge: Wojo's gun, actually, since he's being confined to desk duty. Barney is embarrassed when he has to ask for it.
