User Reviews

I saw the premiere show w/ Alan Arkin (first time I ever saw him act) while in High school - I have been a big fan of his ever since . . . this was hilarious and so inventive for TV at the time . . . my favorite scene: he steals a tour bus full of sight seers, unloads them at an apartment building, has them follow him to a door at the top of a stair well, has them begin to take deep breaths in unison, knocks on the door and then proceeds to carry off a conversation with the person who answers . . . you see it from this other person's perspective as several strangers are "breathing" behind him while he is having this conversation . . . he acts like there is no one else there much to the confusion of the person he is talking to and much to the confusion of the "breathing" participants as he never explains to anyone else what is going on . . . I laughed until I cried and it is one of the funniest scenes I have ever seen . . . classic!

I saw this show when it first aired. I was so taken by Alan Arkin's élan and spontaneity. It's an ode to the piecemeal life, which I somehow ended up living myself. Barney's ability to be himself in any situation is an inspiration. I'll never forget the bit about the Hindu fakir who refuses to give Barney a tip. No joke has ever stuck in my mind like that. The show was on TV at a time when I was suffering from depression. It was pure medicine.

It's also about those who love people like Barney--his fiancé, who defends his way of life to her parents. As it turns out, this also has a wonderful counterpart in my life--my wife.

Thank you, Murray Shisgal. Thank you, Alan Arkin.