Title: Examination Day
Directed by: Gennaro Montanino
Written by: Jordan Moffet
Air Date: January 14, 1982
Previous: The Tontine
Next: The Clown
Guest Starring: James Gregory, Jack Kruschen, Lyman Ward
"Examination Day" is the ninth episode of the eighth season of Barney Miller.
It's the day that beat cops who are eligible take the sergeant's exam, which means that Levitt's off for the day after he takes his test. It also means that due to the one-day manpower shortage the plainclothes detectives of the 12th have to wear their uniforms and walk beats. That includes Wojo, Harris, Dietrich, Captain Miller, and to everyone's surprise, Inspector Luger, who hasn't worn his uniform in 25 years and is proud he can still fit into it.
Wojo and Dietrich bring in a kosher butcher, Benjamin Diamond, who assaulted TV reporter Harv Jetter after the latter did an on-camera sting accusing the former of selling non-kosher meat. Harris goes out with Luger on Luger's first call out in who knows how many years, and they bring in Warren Shippel, a purse snatcher. Harris is oddly subdued when he returns, and he eventually tells Barney what's wrong: Luger the old-school cop slapped Mr. Shippel around and threatened to shoot his privates off if he didn't return the purse. This leads to a nasty argument between Luger and Barney about Luger's police brutality.
Tropes:
- Alter Kocker: Mr. Diamond, the old Jewish man with the butcher shop who is very offended at the accusation that he'd knowingly sell non-kosher meat. At the end when Dietrich manages to defuse the whole situation, Mr. Diamond says "You are a mensch!"
- And Starring: James Gregory (Inspector Luger) gets his usual "Special Guest Star" credit.
- As You Know: Barney tells his detectives things they already know about how they have to wear uniforms that day because 70% of the uniform cops are taking the sergeant's exam.
- Calling the Old Man Out: In the scene where Barney and Luger have the argument about Luger's brutality against purse snatcher Shippel:Luger: I got the purse back, didn't I?Barney: That is not the point!Luger: It was to the little old lady with the mustache who got robbed! You should have seen her, Barney— pathetic, Barney— tore my heart out. Hobbling along with a cane, bending over— her bingo money was in the purse.Barney: Inspector, you violated that man's civil rights!Luger: Ah, don't give me that legalese bunk, will ya...Barney: It is not BUNK, dammit! It's the law! And we of all people have to uphold it! No matter what your personal opinion happens to be.
- Continuity Nod: Wojo and Dietrich wonder if Harris will come in with his uniform on, remembering how difficult he was about it last time, which was Season 6 episode "Uniform Day". Dietrich thinks that he will, because Harris has been humbled by his Writer's Block and how he lost "that lawsuit"—that was Season 7 finale "Liquidation". (Harris does in fact come in wearing his uniform.)
- Immoral Journalist: Mr. Jetter, the sleazy TV news guy who was perfectly willing to ruin Mr. Diamond's business. When Barney and Dietrich threaten to give 20/20 the story of a local news journalist who ruined an old butcher's business, Mr. Jetter caves and agrees to pull his story.
- Internal Affairs: Luger accuses Barney of being soft and always going by the book, which pisses Barney off badly, leading him to answer that "If I went by the book I'd have you up in front of Internal Affairs."
- Minor Injury Overreaction: The damage from Mr. Diamond's assault amounts to one tiny little band-aid on Mr. Jetter's cheek, but the smarmy newsman goes on an outraged rant about how his face is his living and insists on pressing charges against Mr. Diamond.
- Police Brutality: Harris reports that Luger "slapped that man around" and pointed his gun at Mr. Shippel's crotch and threatened to make him a eunuch.
