Title: Open House
Directed by: Noam Pitlik
Written by: Wally Dalton, Shelley Zellman, and Tony Sheehan
Air Date: February 15, 1979
Previous: The Counterfeiter
Next: Identity
Guest Starring: Christopher Lloyd, Alan Miller, John Dullaghan
"Open House" is the 18th episode of the fifth season of Barney Miller.
The 12th Precinct is having an open house, but no one is showing up. The only people who do show up are three bums, who are only there for the dreadful snacks laid out by Levitt.
Wojo and Harris are called to the scene of a fire. They arrest Dr. Gregory Bickman, a psychiatrist who insists that he was only at the scene because he was afraid a patient he was treating was going to start a fire. Surprisingly, this turns out to be true when another fire is set while Bickman is still in the squad room. Bickman is reluctant to reveal his patient's name due to doctor/patient privilege, but eventually he tells them to go get one Vincent Carew (Christopher Lloyd in his second and last appearance on the show).
Meanwhile, Barney has some happy news for the gang: he and his wife Liz have reconciled and he is checking out of the Greenwich Hotel and going home. Barney's happiness is slightly reduced, however, when the manager of the Greenwich refuses to refund him his rent for the rest of the month.
John Dullaghan, who had played other characters in four previous appearances, makes the first of six appearances as alcoholic bum Ray Brewer.
Tropes:
- And Starring: Christopher Lloyd was apparently already a big enough star by this time (he was Reverend Jim on Taxi) that he got a "Special Guest Star" credit.
- Bait-and-Switch: Everybody is backslapping Barney and congratulating him over moving back in with Liz. Dietrich says "May I say something?", and Barney says sure, and Dietrich says "We got a fire down at the docks."
- Confess in Confidence: Dr. Bickman is highly reluctant to give the cops the name of his patient. But after Wojo reports that two people narrowly escaped death in the latest fire, Bickman caves and names Vincent Carew.
- Continuity Nod: The long arc about Barney and Liz having marriage problems, which dates all the way back to late season 4, finally ends as Barney moves back home.
- Newhart Phone Call: Barney grows increasingly agitated on the phone with the management at the Greenwich Hotel. Finally he says that he never should have stayed at a hotel that's been the site of 25 arrests for prostitution, then after a pause yells "NEVER MIND HOW I KNOW THAT!".
- The Shrink: Dr. Bickman, who eventually relents and gives over Mr. Carew to the cops.
- Stealth Insult: Harris, The Dandy, sees Barney with a single garment bag and says "You know Barn, sometimes I wish I could carry all of my wardrobe in one hand." He's brought up short when Barney replies "Maybe someday."
- Waxing Lyrical: Mr. Carew, indignant about being arrested, says "You trust somebody, and what do you get?". Dietrich decides to quote Tennessee Ernie Ford by saying "Another day older and deeper in debt."
