Barney Miller (TV Series) Werewolf (1976) User Reviews

"This is a police station, not a horror movie!"

[kevinolzak · 10/10 · 25 March 2014]

"Werewolf" is another beloved episode, the second of six appearances for Kenneth Tigar, here in his most famous characterization, Romanian-born Stefan Koepeknie (later seen in "Possession"), who was born under a full moon and claims to be a real werewolf. Harris and Wojo catch up to him and bring him in, itching to be put in the cage so he won't be able to kill. The detectives have been on duty for 24 hours due to a swine flu epidemic, and the pretty nurse (Janet MacLachlan) has to fend off a determined Harris while a fearful Wojo tries to avoid the inoculation. An elderly couple (Jon Lormer and Queenie Smith, her second of two) just arrived in New York, only to be robbed by the cab driver. The husband isn't too happy with the weirdo in the cell ("and you didn't want to go to Yellowstone on account of the bears!"). Noting the full moon outside, super cool Yemana actually begins to sweat at midnight, when Koepeknie starts growling, panting, and howling, yelling for Barney to return ("down, Mr. Koepeknie!"), telling the captain how he saw hair growing out of Koepeknie's face (Barney: "it's called a beard, haven't you ever seen one before?" Yemana: "not in my family!"). At the end of a long night, Fish is actually looking forward to seeing his wife Bernice, until Barney reminds him that "absence makes the heart grow fonder" (Fish: "so a little longer wouldn't hurt!").

A Howling Good Time at the 12th

[lds3359 · 10/10 · 9 February 2008]

One of the many, many hysterical Barneys of Season Three. The detectives deal with getting flu shots and a crazy who thinks he is a werewolf, all in typical BM style.

The entire cast as usual plays it straight, with an incredible over the top performance by regular guest player Ken Tigar as poor Mr Kopechnie, the werewolf wanna be. Of the regulars, Jack Soo steals the show with his droll delivery of some of the funniest lines ever:

(barking noises coming from down the hall)

BARNEY: What the hell's going on down there?

(Harris comes in the squad room, all disheveled)

HARRIS : Its Mr Kopecknie, Barney....he thinks hes a werewolf

(Yemana looks at both of them)

YEMENA: I'll go get the newspapers for the cage.

and so on...

one of Barney's not-to-miss episodes!

"Then You Won't Hear The Jokes!" Barney to Wojo

[bwwrite · 10/10 · 4 October 2022]

My all-time fovrite Barney Miller. For two reasons.

(1) The jokes and character development really jell here. Examples.

Fish:"Be thankful they don't have enough brains to organize." Referring to the file on hallucinations.

Barney: "Then you won't hear the jokes." After Wojo tells him people make jokes when he faints after taking shots.

Harris: "This aint no city no more, man, it's a giant coo-coo clock!"

Yamano: Woo-wooing along with the werewolf...(Hilarious)

The werewolf portrayer---Every second he's onscreen. Best Miller character ever.

2. Janet MacLlachlan at her breathraking best (the real reason this is my favorite) Since I ran across this episode I've been watching it once a week just get another peek at her. But I'll cool off after awhile. Maybe.