Shark Bytes

They tried to spin off Fish from Barney Miller even earlier, in a second season episode that also introduced the character of Lt. Dietrich.

The first spin-off attempt would've been even worse than this abomination was (if that's possible). They inexplicably gave Fish a young and lovely wife and a teenaged kid still living at home. What? Fish was like 90! Okay, okay...60-ish. But still.

Fish as a tertiary character on Barney Miller? Great. Fish as the star of his own show raising juvenile delinquents with his battleaxe of a wife? BAD idea.

Rivals "The Ropers" for worst spin-off (why do they think we want to see the supposed personal life of some old fart bit player from a series?). Great in Barney Miller (though his cue-card reading wasn't exactly DeNiro). Then, this crap came along. The wife was just out-and-out obnoxious (and ugly), and the kids were annoying. Where is that Victor kid now? Twenty bucks says San Quentin. He just looked like a loser. Previous poster was right, though....Denise Miller was a CUTIE!!

You can't take a character who was present at the beginning of one show and expect a successful spin-off. Fans of "Barney Miller" were always left to wonder if tired, old Fish would even make it to retirement. Once he did, that question was answered. Familiar to unfamiliar is always a ****** for disaster. "Fish" was truly out of water.

"Fish" didn't jump. Must clear up one thing, though— three posts up, Lara Jill Miller was not on "Facts of Life". She was on "Gimme a Break".

Okay, Fish, a pessimistic, misanthropic sad sack retires so he and his wife can play nursemaids to a house full of adorable juvenile delinquents, none of whom take drugs or commit acts of violence. How much coke did the ABC brass snort before coming up with that idea? And why did Abe Vigoda forget how to act between "The Godfather" and "Barney Miller?" Tessio was a scary, slimy MF with a shark's grin (pardon the pun), Fish looked and acted like a reanimated corpse.

Victor was a moron. SHOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!

This show was funny and it had the most beautiful girl on TV, Denise Miller. I would give anything to know where she is now. She did "Sooner Or Later" with Rex Smith and her younger sis was Lara Jill Miller of Facts Of Life. Thanks.

When he died! Some national newspaper or magazine wrote that Abe Vigoda had died. His response was to appear on the cover of TIME magazine in a coffin. And you thought Fish was scary alive!

never!!! Fish Ruled!!!

How soon we forget folks. "Fish" ran more than a season. It actually went until '81 I believe, long enough to go into syndication. Really wasn't a bad show.

People still remember this show just because it has a pre-Diff'rent Strokes Todd Bridges. Whatchoo talkin' about Abe Vigoda?

Vigoda!