Posted on 01/25/2010 6:25:15 AM PST by mattstat
In 1977, on the Barney Miller episode “Blizzard”—for those under 40: a cop sitcom—a man who was poking people with a sharp stick was arrested.
The man wanted to bring “awareness” to people, to “wake them up” about the coming ice age.
As he was being booked, he told Sgt. Dietrich, “Did you know that the polar ice cap is increasing at 46% per year?”
It was the end of the world.
But later it stopped snowing. The man was incredulous, beside himself. “Years of research and study, measurements and observations. Could it be all wrong?”
Dietrich told him the snow had turned into a heavy rain. “A flood!” the man said, “That’s it!” Captain Miller said to him, “Never say die.”
(If you are in the States, you can watch the episode on Hulu.)
In 2007, on The IPCC Show—for those over 40: a quasi-government revue—a man in need of a sense of humor is awarded a Peace Prize.
The man wanted to bring “awareness” to people, to “wake them up” about the coming heat wave.
As he was being honored, he told VP Gore, “Did you know that the Himalayan glaciers are decreasing at an alarming rate? They will be gone by 2035.”
It was the end of the world.
But later the temperature went down. The man was incredulous, beside himself. “Years of research and study, measurements and observations. Could it be all wrong?”
A newspaper man told him that glaciers were actually growing. “An ice age!” the man said, “That’s it!” The UN leader Ban Ki-moon said to him, “Never say die.”
(If you are on the internet, you can watch the episode on the Telegraph.)
Actually, it’s funnier than that...
(Excerpt) Read more at wmbriggs.com ...
Oh, for those halcyon days when the people who wrote TV situation comedies were not only witty, but actually had working brain parts and were able to think logically.
..... “Barney Miller”, funny, intelligent, and relatively even-handed for the day, has a place in my personal pantheon of great TV comedy series.
...and then those scientists figured out how to get a salary raise by lying and otherwise manipulating the truth, thus changing themselves from scientists into whores.
When a fast-food clerk ask my name for a order, I tell them Wojciehowicz.
Wojo was a Detroit boy, so I’m kind of partial.
Me too, for the same reason.
Werewolf prisoner: “I gotta go to Weeeerrrrkkk.”
That episode was on TV Land last night. It was great in it’s trashing of the modern envirowacko.
BTW, I had dinner at a table next to Hal Linden years ago. I didn’t want to interrupt his family time but I told my table mates that Barney Miller was one of my all time favorite shows.
Do you tell them it’s spelled just like it sounds?
What, are you saying mocking conservatives and traditional values ISN’T the same thing as humor??
I think I liked everybody except Levitt. He was annoying.
I get an hour (1/2 hour back to back) of Barney Miller on Sunday’s. Its from the 70’s and still funny and could apply to today...great writting...not at all dated, and not politically correct...
Now that is funny, but spelling it could be a bitch...
One of the best theme songs ever....
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