Title: Graveyard Shift
Directed by: Noam Pitlik
Written by: Tony Sheehan
Air Date: May 10, 1979
Previous: Computer Crime
Next: Jack Soo: A Retrospective
Guest Starring: James Gregory, Lee Kessler, Raymond Singer, Paul L. Smith
"Graveyard Shift" is the 21st episode of the fifth season of Barney Miller.
For some reason, Capt. Miller and his squad are pulling a night shift. A tourist from Youngstown, Ohio who lost her luggage, was ripped off by a cabbie, and was then mugged, is in the squad room looking through booking photos. Wojo and Dietrich bring in one Phillip Bart, who was arrested for attempting to get amphetamines with a fake subscription and tearing up the pharmacy when the pharmacist wouldn't sell. Is he an Addled Addict? Mr. Bart insists that he is not a drug addict. He needed the pills to stay awake, because, well, when he falls asleep he is visited by a succubus who has sex with him. This leaves him exhausted and unable to satisfy mortal women.
The second case is rather less wacky than usual. The 12th Precinct gets a bomb threat. Barney evacuates the building, but it turns out to be a false alarm. However, when the cops return to the precinct the bomber calls back, insisting that this time he means it.
In personal news, Harris the would-be author is carrying around a tape recorder, narrating the goings-on in the 12th, and also recording the other detectives. This makes Barney uncomfortable, but it makes Wojo angry, and Wojo and Harris have a confrontation. Also, Inspector Luger is back again, once again boring Barney to death with his need for companionship.
Tropes:
- And Starring: As usual, James Gregory gets "Special Guest Star" credit.
- The Big Rotten Apple:
- Ms. Bleier of Youngstown, Ohio has her luggage lost at the airport, is driven to her hotel by a cabbie "by way of Connecticut", and after she is dropped off at the hotel, is robbed. She talks about the "I Love NY" commercials (then brand new
"), and says "they never mention the people with knives." - Later subverted to an extent when Ms. Bleier says she's glad she didn't do regular touristy stuff and that she's found the whole experience exciting—or at least "better than seeing Annie".
- Ms. Bleier of Youngstown, Ohio has her luggage lost at the airport, is driven to her hotel by a cabbie "by way of Connecticut", and after she is dropped off at the hotel, is robbed. She talks about the "I Love NY" commercials (then brand new
- Continuity Nod:
- Inspector Luger mentions his girlfriend "Ag-a-nes" for at least the third time, telling Barney that he's put her "on the back burner", but visiting the 12th because he's plainly lonely and wants someone to talk to.
- When a distressed Mr. Stephanich, who lives in the neighboring building, asks why the cops can't be more friendly and neighborly, Barney says "Had an open house a couple of weeks ago." That was three episodes ago in "Open House".
- The Loins Sleep Tonight: Mr. Bart apparently suffers from this due to his succubus, saying "How come I can't satisfy a real woman?".
- Mathematician's Answer: Barney comes in just at the end of the very tense standoff between Wojo and Harris. He says "Something going on I don't know about?". Dietrich says "Yeah," and walks off.
- Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: The detectives all write off Mr. Bart as a nutjob, until he has a very loud, passionate wet dream while sleeping in the cage.
- Newhart Phone Call: Barney's awkward phone call with the bomber, in which Barney seeks to keep the bomber on the line and complete the Phone-Trace Race by asking questions like what the bomber made the bomb out of.
- Phone-Trace Race: Wojo fails to keep the bomber on the phone long enough for Kogan downstairs to run a trace. Barney succeeds in doing so, and they catch the man on the phone...a Mr. Stipanich, who lives next door to the building.
- Smoking Hot Sex: Mr. Bart's nocturnal, supernatural sex with his succubus ends with him waking up, asking "Anybody got a cigarette?", and smoking Harris's cigarette with satisfaction.
- Succubi and Incubi: Mr. Bart complains that he is being plagued by a succubus who has sex with him in his dreams.
- Take That!: The Ohioan tourist said that being mugged and going into the wee hours of the morning looking at mugshots was still preferable to "going to see Annie".
- Verbal Tic: Inspector Luger is still inserting an extra syllable in his girlfriend's name, calling her "Ag-a-nes."
- You Need to Get Laid: Mr. Bart comes in, wondering why he can't satisfy a real woman. He tries to stay awake, only to fall asleep and be visited by a succubus while asleep, experiencing a wet dream from the succubus in the process.
