Hal Linden Breaks Down the Secret Formula That Made ‘Barney Miller’ a Hit

It seemed like Hal Linden, 94, and Max Gail, 82, could have fielded Barney Miller questions for hours at the Hollywood Show in Burbank, California, on June 7, 2025. A room filled with adoring fans lobbed plenty of questions at the stars during their one-hour panel; they answered each one and reminisced on episodes with unwavering focus and meticulous recall.

One favorite topic? How the show maintained such a high level of quality for its eight-season run on ABC from 1975-82.