Title: Homeless
Directed by: Lee Lochhead
Written by: Jordan Moffet, Frank Dungan, and Jeff Stein
Air Date: December 17, 1981
Previous: Games
Next: The Tontine
Guest Starring: Stanley Brook, Ben Piazza, Don Calfa, David Clennon, Mari Gorman, Zane Busby
"Homeless" is the seventh episode of the eighth season of Barney Miller.
Area storeowner, occasional vigilante, and troublesome loudmouth Bruno Bender is at the 12th Precinct again. It seems that one Edward Pratkin, a homeless man, was sleeping in Mr. Bender's sporting goods store. Bruno then decided to attack Mr. Pratkin with a cattle prod, leading to Mr. Pratkin being arrested for breaking and entering and Bruno being arrested for assault.
It turns out that Mr. Pratkin was only recently made homeless, after some developers bought the flophouse he lives in and evicted everyone. Mr. Pratkin has a lot of friends who are in the same predicament, and the 12th is soon besieged by a throng of homeless people protesting his arrest. After Mr. Belinkoff, another one of the homeless people, deliberately spreads a rumor that the 12th Precinct is offering shelter, even more homeless people arrive.
The second wacky case involves Joseph Kellogg, arrested for assault and creating a disturbance at a company Christmas party. Mr. Kellogg works for a greeting card company—or rather, worked, since he was given a pink slip at the party, which is why he freaked out and attacked Santa.
Mari Gorman, who appears as Bruno's new wife, played Det. Roslyn Licori in three season 4 episodes.
Tropes:
- Christmas Episode: It's Christmas time, the detectives of the 12th are collecting presents for needy children, and Mr. Kellogg was fired at a company Christmas party. The holiday spirit is strong enough that even Bruno Bender, usually an obnoxious asshole, is moved to invite three of the homeless people (Mr. Pratkin, Mr. Belinkoff, and a woman named Linda) to spend the holiday at his home.
- Continuity Nod: The return of Bruno Bender, being his usual obnoxious jerkass self, although he displays some unusual kindness at the end.
- No Indoor Voice: Bruno Bender, braying loudly as usual.
- Obstructive Bureaucrat: Howard Weckler (David Clennon) the man from the city government who deals with homeless housing. He's more eager to talk about his marriage difficulties and when Barney finally demands that he focus on the task at hand, Mr. Weckler says "What do you suggest?" He finally manages to find shelter for the people at the 12th Precinct—in the Poconos, and they'll have to provide their own transportation.
- Sleeps in the Nude: The news that everyone is stuck in the building due to the snowstorm prompts Dietrich to make everyone more uncomfortable by saying "I usually sleep in the nude."
- Snowed-In: The problem of what to do with the homeless people crowding the 12th Precinct is settled, more or less, with word that the massive blizzard hitting New York has basically snowed in the whole city, making travel in and out impossible. So everybody, detectives and homeless alike (except for the Benders, who apparently live within walking distance, and the three homeless people who go with them), winds up bedding down for the night in the building. The episode ends with a shot of snow falling outside while everyone wishes each other good night inside.
- Villainous Gentrification: Unseen property owners have flung Mr. Pratkin and the other residents of the flophouse out of their homes.
