Title: Strike: Part 1
Directed by: Jeremiah Morris
Written by: Larry Balmagia and Dennis Koenig (story), Reinhold Weege (teleplay)
Air Date: March 24, 1977
Previous: Group Home
Next: Strike: Part 2
Guest Starring: Peter Hobbs, Peggy Pope, James Gregory, Ron Carey
"Strike: Part 1" is the 21st episode of the third season of Barney Miller.
It is the first part of the two-part Season 3 finale. There is an unofficial strike going on with the NYPD, a "blue flu" in which New York cops, angry over their low pay, lousy benefits, and lack of respect, all call in sick at once. Fish does not show up to work (the real reason being that Abe Vigoda was busy doing the spinoff Fish, and would only come back to be written off for good at the beginning of season 4). Inspector Luger comes in ranting about the "stinko pinkos" on strike. Levitt is one of only three uniforms out of several dozen which have come in to the building that day. Barney is surprised when Yemana, Dietrich, Harris, and Wojciehowicz all come to work, but they are planning to be part of a walkout at noon.
Before noon, there are still crimes happening in New York. Miss Lonna Lane reports that she was robbed, by man she had invited over to her apartment after they were matched up by a dating service. Right as Barney's detectives are walking out, they get a call about an armed robbery; Wojo goes out over the protests of the others and brings back a man who is indignant that he was arrested during a police strike. After that the four detectives leave, leaving Barney alone (with the robber and Miss Lane) as the phone rings off the hook.
Tropes:
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: The armed robber, Charlie Prevette, is actually offended about being arrested for armed robbery when the cops are supposed to be on strike. He goes on a rant about how New York City is devolving into a violent hell and he's all for it. Finally he says "We're all savage beasts, scratching and clawing and fighting each other!". A clearly besotted Miss Lane says "My name's Lonna."
- Continuity Nod: Barney mentions in passing that Chano might be one of the strikers. Gregory Sierra (Chano) left the show after two seasons.
- Dating Service Disaster: The unfortunate Miss Lane gets matched up with a man from a dating service, only for him to rob her apartment.
- Insistent Terminology: Harris insists that it isn't a strike, it's "a show of solidarity."
- Japanese Ranguage: Dietrich makes an offhand comment about how Japan has a lot of labor unrest. Yemana says yes, he has an uncle who's a union activist and has spent time in jail.Yemana: I guess you could call him a rabble rouser.
Dietrich: Or a rabor reader. [Yemana frowns] It's ethnic humor! - Lazy Bum: Yemana, who fills his time in the office by making coffee and filing, but actually by reading the paper and the Racing Form and calling his bookie to place bets. When 12 noon strikes and the detectives are sitting around doing nothing, Yemana says "I don't feel any different."
- Multi-Part Episode: First part of a two-part Season 3 finale.
- Nature Abhors a Virgin: Miss Lane says she was "saving myself for marriage." Now clearly well into her forties and still unmarried, she's reconsidered, which is why she tried the dating service.
- Romantic Candlelit Dinner: Among the things that the thief stole from the unfortunate Miss Lane are the candlesticks she'd set out for their romantic dinner.
