Barney Miller. Getty Images, ABC Photo Archives.

Characters/Diversity

Barney Miller (1974-1982) is definitely one of my very absolute favorite television shows among several other great shows from the 1970s. Barney Miller had a very diverse cast for a show that began in the 1970s, and strongly contrasts the lack of diversity in mainstream media today as the 12th Precinct police detectives and the reappearing characters identified among different genders, races, ethnicities, sexualities, and abilities.  The characters portrayed and established transcend the often dehumanizing social categorizations as they are portrayed as fully developed characters rather than typical stereotypes. None of these characters were ever constructed stereotypically nor were any of them confined to typical stereotypes. Instead, these characters countered common stereotypes which were addressed and subsequently opposed. No character was ever dehumanized as a sense of humanity was always maintained in each episode that humanized each character by providing a reminder that people are people regardless of their identities--- identities which are often used to excuse and justify violence, injustice, inequality, and oppression.

Barney Miller. "Vanished." January, 1980. Getty Images. ABC Photo Archives.

We are still dealing with the same issues regarding discrimination, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, the mistreatment of youth (all basically a result of ignorance and the refusal of some to see humans only as their label/identity rather than acknowledge them as actual humans), environmental concerns, political/judicial/social corruption, and several other systemic issues that continue to persist.

Barney Miller. "The Layoff." Season 2. September 1975. Getty Images. ABC Photo Archives.

Television

The only problem with these fantastic shows is how difficult they can be to find and the fact that they rarely air on television. Sometimes these shows can also be found on the internet but it takes a lot to find full episodes. Luckily, there are channels like Antenna TV and Me TV that show Barney Miller episodes and rewinds back to other classic and hilarious shows.

Overall, the show is brilliant and amazing as it addresses several important issues at the time, which are still issues of our time. It is a sitcom that appropriately and maturely deals with some really serious issues comically and is full of substance, something that seems to be lacking more and more throughout many popular, usually substance-less, diversity-lacking television shows.


Photos: Getty Images, ABC Photo Archives, Sony Pictures.

Not only is this an easy crust/pizza to make, it doesn't take up too much time and it is delicious!




INGREDIENTS

CRUST
3 cups grated Cauliflower*
1 Cup+1Tbs Gluten-free All-purpose Flour
3/4 Cup blended ripe banana (which I actually forgot to put in crust)**
A few dashes of cornmeal to keep the crust from sticking.
If you use parchment paper, I imagine this won't be a problem

SAUCE
1 6OZ can of tomato paste (no salt added)
1 Cup Water
Spinach
Seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder, italian seasoning

TOPPING
I used one whole tomato, spinach, and orange bell pepper.

 - - -

*You can ground the cauliflower with a grater, in a blender, or in a food processor.
**Ground flaxseeds are also a really good binding substitute for egg.




METHOD

• Grate cauliflower and put in mixing bowl, mix flour and ground flaxseeds.
• Knead the 'dough' and place 1-cup sized portions onto foil, cookie sheet, or parchment paper to bake in the oven for 15 minutes on 450 F. You can use a layer of cornmeal to coat the bottom of the crusts so that they don't stick.
• Simmer sauce and add your toppings! Place the pizza back into the oven for another 10-20 minutes.

The classic NBC cop drama starring Fred Dryer as Sergeant Rick Hunter and Stepfanie Kramer as Sergent McCall, partners who together make Hunter the best classic cop drama I've ever seen.

Dryer. Kramer. Hunter. NBC Universal. 1984-1991. TV.

The first episode, Hunter (Dryer) is shown as a somewhat renegade cop who has had very transient partners, until he's assigned to team up with Sergeant McCall. Sgt. McCall, much like Hunter, has her own unique way of approaching serious cases with force, often battling it out with real bad guys and dangerous criminals while having compassion for those who are in tough situations. The duo then take on a variety of murder cases, often going through great lengths in order to solve cases and serve justice to those who have been victimized.

The depiction of Hunter and McCall as homicide investigators/detectives for the L.A. Police Department, results in this sort of mix between murder mystery and action-drama police series. 

Hunter is a great police series that embodies all the common components of a classic action-drama police series: a catchy, upbeat theme song, classic car chases, pow-punch fist fights, suspense, and the catch-phrase "works for me."

Fred Dryer. Stepfanie Kramer. Hunter. NBC Universal. 1984.

 

If you're looking for a police drama to watch, Hunter is the one I recommend.

It's a show about the cops we wish we had.

I call this "September Sunrise" because what I'm about to discuss is just hilariously uplifting.

I'm talking about a classic, NBC comedy sitcom from the 1970s, Sanford and Son. The show follows father and son duo, the scheming and often ridiculous Fred Sanford, melodramatically played by Redd Foxx, and his son, Lamont, often called "dummy", portrayed by Demond Wilson. The duo have their own buy-and-sell junk/second-hand antique shop. I grew up, as many I'm sure, watching and laughing to this show. Lately, I've been catching up on a lot of the old episodes and laughing non-stop as a result.


As I watched this episode yesterday, and today, I seriously could not stop laughing. 
It's "Superflyer" Season 3, Episode 8.


So if you're really young, don't know or haven't heard or seen Sanford and Son, where have you been? You should watch a few episodes for a great laugh. If you're older, or just watch a lot of television, and know what I'm talking about, revive the laughter and joyfulness that will fill your dopamine sensors.

Red Foxx. Desmond Wilson. Sanford & Son. NBC Universal. 1972-1977.

Sanford and Son is one of the best sitcoms ever, excluding the dumb, traditionalist/misogynistic Grady character.  TV One replays Sanford and Son episodes along with other great 1970's sitcoms such as What's Happening!!, Gimme a Break, and The Jeffersons. Sanford and Son can also be seen on the Antenna TV channel.