Barney Miller (TV Series) Lady and the Bomb (1981) User Reviews

Abe Vigoda's swan song as Detective Fish

[kevinolzak · 10/10 · 26 July 2014]

"Lady and the Bomb" will always be remembered as the final appearance of Abe Vigoda's Philip K. Fish, his first in the squad room since the fourth season's "Burial," 55 episodes of BARNEY MILLER, plus 35 of his spin off FISH. Speaking of THAT show, he informs Barney that Victor Kreutzer was arrested for assault and battery ("but they're not gonna try him as an adult!"), Jilly got pregnant ("but the guy married her...and the other kids are doing fine too!"), the city reclaiming the remaining delinquents, the money for the group home having been cut off (Barney: "I'm sorry" Fish: "so's the city!"). He immediately makes for the bathroom, followed by typical small talk with his former captain (Barney: "so how's Bernice?" Fish: "who? oh she's fine...she gives you all her love, for whatever that's worth!"). Bernice now has her husband into leather, sitting in his room making wallets ("you want one?"). Two long distance chess players, Frederick Houston (Judson Morgan, third of four) and Milton Corshak (Ben Freedman), argue over who moved where, Levitt pointing out to Barney: "according to Mr. Houston, his check is in the mail!" (they continue the game in their prison cell, despite the mutual assaults). The verdict comes down in Arnold Ripner's defamation lawsuit against Harris...awarding the victorious Ripner a stunning $320,000 in damages. Peggy Pope (fifth of six) plays concerned wife Doris Carlisle, who believes that her husband's lack of sexual performance is the result of his working at Lexington General Hospital, where barrels full of radioactive waste are being stored indefinitely in the basement. After Wojo confirms the facts in the case, she decides to hold up the entire precinct with a homemade bomb until a resolution takes place (Fish: "you guys didn't have to do this for me!"). Her husband Lou (Howard Mann) appears with hospital administrator Ron Giles (James Murtaugh, first of three), who blames the waste dumps for not taking the barrels, while Wojo counters that the hospital hasn't done a decent job of preventing leakage during transport. It's up to Philip K. Fish to disarm by charm, assuring Doris that a man can go from strong to weak without being blamed on radioactive materials ("would this body lie to you?"). His exit from the squad room finds him once again poking fun at his long suffering wife (Barney: "give my love to Bernice!" Fish: "haven't you been listening?").