Title: Doomsday
Directed by: Noam Pitlik
Written by: Chris Hayward, Danny Arnold, and Arne Sultan
Air Date: September 11, 1975
Previous: The Hero
Next: The Social Worker
Guest Starring: William Windom, Steve Landesberg, J.J. Barry
"Doomsday" is the first episode of the second season of Barney Miller.
Wojo brings in one "Father Paul" (Steve Landesberg), a supposed priest who is selling Bibles on the street. Wojo is offended at Father Paul for being an obvious con artist, but Barney points out that it's not really clear if Father Paul has even broken any laws. Meanwhile, the plumbing in the squad room is broken and the detectives have had to call in a plumber to fix it, much to the discomfort of Fish, who has to go up and down the stairs to the first floor every time he has to pee. (This would be a Running Gag in the series).
The main plot involves one Mr. Weber (William Windom), who walks into the squad room wearing a long black coat. Weber soon reveals himself to be a loon, asking for arrest warrants for the governor, the mayor, and everyone else in government in New York. While the detectives make the call to Bellevue, Weber is invited to take off his coat. He has a belt of dynamite sticks underneath it.
First appearance of Steve Landesberg on Barney Miller. He would appear as Sgt. Dietrich a few months later, and in Season 3 would join the cast as a regular, playing Dietrich.
Tropes:
- And Starring: William Windom, a TV veteran (he played a rather similar part to this one in Star Trek episode "The Doomsday Machine"), gets "Special Guest Star" credit.
- Bad Habits: It's unclear whether Father Paul is breaking any laws but he's obviously not a real priest. When Weber asks for absolution, Father Paul puts his hand on Weber's head and says "You're gonna be all right."
- The Big Rotten Apple: One of many jokes on Barney Miller about how terrible things were in New York.Weber: Read the papers! Millions of people doomed to extinction, trapped, starved, no clean water, living in filth!
Barney: Well I agree with you, the world's in terrible condition.
Weber: I'm talking about New York City! - Churchgoing Villain: Father Paul the fake priest.
- Hot-Blooded: The first instance of Wojo the hothead letting his emotions get to him. Wojo, the devout Catholic, arrests Father Paul for being a fake priest. It falls to Barney to point out that no matter how much Wojo is offended, it's not illegal to dress up as a priest and sell bibles out of a box.
- Intimidating Revenue Service: A throwaway joke has Chano coming in and griping about his meeting with an IRS agent. He says he won, because "I'm not going to prison, and they're going to let me live."
- Laughing Mad: Barney finally gets Weber to give the belt to him. Weber says "Wait until they refuse to answer your calls! BOOM!", and starts cackling madly.
- Mad Bomber: Mr. Weber comes in to the squad room with a belt made out of dynamite. He demands that the government of New York city and state be arrested.
- Promotion to Opening Titles: Jack Soo and Ron Glass are added to the opening credits after only being in the closing credits in Season 1.
- Talking Down the Suicidal: One of Barney's specialties. In this one he talks a Mad Bomber into taking his dynamite belt off.
