About
"I'd been offered the pilot for 'Barney Miller,' but also I'd gotten an offer to star in a Broadway musical. I remember sitting in my manager's office. The Broadway producer had called and said he needed an answer by close of business. And I said cavalierly, 'All right, we've done Broadway. Let's try television.' We did the pilot, and that got us a mid-season replacement, which led to eight terrific seasons."
In his four-hour interview, Hal Linden talks about his early life and influences and making his Broadway debut in the musical Bells Are Ringing. He describes early television roles, doing voiceover for commercials and overdubbing for foreign films, and triumphing on Broadway with a Tony win for The Rothchilds. He recounts his eight-year stint on the classic series Barney Miller, outlining the development of the show by creator Danny Arnold, and speaking of the show's ensemble cast members including Ron Glass, Jack Soo, Max Gail, and Abe Vigoda. Linden recalls how the show and characters changed over the years, describes the show's relationship to New York City, and shares the fact that many police called it the most realistic depiction of their job ever on television. He talks of his post-Barney Miller career, including guest stints on The Golden Girls, Will & Grace, and Hot in Cleveland, and starring roles in Jack's Place and Blacke's Magic. He concludes with career highlights and regrets and gives advice to aspiring actors. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on July 2, 2013 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Hal Linden on the character "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on dealing with Standards & Practices on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on guest-starring on The Golden Girls
Hal Linden on turning down a role on St. Elsewhere
Hal Linden on being nominated for and winning Emmys
Hal Linden on his Broadway success in "The Rothchilds"
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on the first time he saw television
On making his Broadway debut in "Bells Are Ringing"; on early television roles
On doing voiceovers and looping for foreign movies; on his Broadway success in "The Rothchilds"
On being cast as the title character in Barney Miller; on the humor of Barney Miller
Chapter 2
On shooting the pilots for Barney Miller; on the character "Barney Miller" and the decision not to shoot the show in front of a live audience
On the weaknesses of his character on Barney Miller; on Max Gail as "Wojo" on Barney Miller; on an early war with Standards & Practices over the show
On Ron Glass as "Ron Harris," Gregory Sierra as "Chano Amenguale," and Ron Carey as "Carl Levitt" on Barney Miller
On Steve Landesburg as "Arthur Dietrich," Jack Soo as "Nick Yemana," and Abe Vigoda as "Phil Fish" on Barney Miller
Chapter 3
On the cast and guest actors of Barney Miller
On his favorite episodes of Barney Miller; on Barney Miller's relationship to New York City; on the end of Barney Miller and the legacy of the show
On opportunities following the end of Barney Miller and turning down a role on St. Elsewhere; on appearing on The Love Boat; on appearing on Animals, Animals, Animals and The Hal Linden Special
On hosting FYI; on winning daytime Emmy Awards; on appearing in various made-for-television movies and the series Blacke's Magic
Chapter 4
On starring in the series Blacke's Magic and Jack's Place; on playing "Rabbi Markovitz" in the CBS Schoolbreak Special, The Writing on the Wall
On starring in the series The Boys Are Back; on guest-starring on various series
On then-current projects; on career highlights and regrets; on advice to aspiring actors
Shows
Barney Miller
Hal Linden on being cast as the title character in Barney Miller
Hal Linden on how Barney Miller was described to him
Hal Linden on shooting the pilots for Barney Miller
Hal Linden on the character "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on the choice not to shoot Barney Miller in front of a live audience
Hal Linden on the weaknesses of "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller and other traits of the character
Hal Linden on dealing with Standards & Practices on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on Ron Glass as "Ron Harris" on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on Gregory Sierra as "Chano Amenguale" on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on Ron Carey as "Carl Levitt" on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on Steve Landesberg as "Arthur Dietrich" on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on Jack Soo as "Nick Yemana" on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on Abe Vigoda as "Phil Fish" on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on James Gregory as "Frank Luger" on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on Barbara Barrie as "Elizabeth Miller" on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on the ensemble cast of Barney Miller
Hal Linden on the set and guest actors on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on his favorite episodes of Barney Miller
Hal Linden on Barney Miller's relationship to New York City
Hal Linden on the end of Barney Miller
Hal Linden on the legacy of Barney Miller
Blacke's Magic
Hal Linden on starring on the series Blacke's Magic
Hal Linden on starring in the series Blacke's Magic
Bold and the Beautiful, The
Hal Linden on his stint on The Bold and the Beautiful
Drew Carey Show, The
Hal Linden on guest-starring on The Drew Carey Show
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Hal Linden on being nominated for and winning Emmys
Golden Girls, The
Hal Linden on guest-starring on The Golden Girls
Hot in Cleveland
Hal Linden on guest starring on Hot in Cleveland
Love Boat, The
Hal Linden on guest starring on The Love Boat
Perry Como Show, The
Hal Linden on making his Broadway debut in "Bells Are Ringing" with Judy Holliday
Search For Tomorrow
Hal Linden on acting on Search For Tomorrow
St. Elsewhere
Hal Linden on turning down a role on St. Elsewhere
Will & Grace
Hal Linden on guest-starring on Will & Grace
Topics
Advertising and Sponsorship
Hal Linden on doing voiceover for commercials and looping foreign films
Advice
Hal Linden on advice to aspiring actors
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Hal Linden on dealing with Standards & Practices on Barney Miller
Characters & Catchphrases
Hal Linden on the character "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on the weaknesses of "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller and other traits of the character
Emmy Awards
Hal Linden on being nominated for and winning Emmys
First Big Break
Hal Linden on making his Broadway debut in "Bells Are Ringing" with Judy Holliday
Pivotal Career Moments
Hal Linden on making his Broadway debut in "Bells Are Ringing" with Judy Holliday
Pop Culture
Hal Linden on the character "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on the weaknesses of "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller and other traits of the character
Television Industry
Hal Linden on doing voiceover for commercials and looping foreign films
Hal Linden on dealing with Standards & Practices on Barney Miller
Hal Linden on advice to aspiring actors
Professions
Actor
Hal Linden on advice to aspiring actors
Performers
Hal Linden on advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Comedy Series
Hal Linden on playing "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller (Part 1)
Hal Linden on playing "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller (Part 2)
Hal Linden on playing "Barney Miller" on Barney Miller (Part 3)
People
Danny Arnold
Hal Linden on the choice not to shoot Barney Miller in front of a live audience
Beatrice Arthur
Hal Linden on guest-starring on The Golden Girls
Barbara Barrie
Hal Linden on Barbara Barrie as "Elizabeth Miller" on Barney Miller
James Burrows
Hal Linden on guest-starring on Will & Grace
Ron Carey
Hal Linden on Ron Carey as "Carl Levitt" on Barney Miller
Max Gail
Hal Linden on Max Gail as "Stan Wojciehowicz" on Barney Miller
Judy Holliday
Hal Linden on making his Broadway debut in "Bells Are Ringing" with Judy Holliday
Suzanne Pleshette
Hal Linden on starring in the series The Boys Are Back
Abe Vigoda
Hal Linden on Abe Vigoda as "Phil Fish" on Barney Miller