Arthur Dietrich
Encyclopedia
Detective
Arthur P. Dietrich is a fictional character
on the TV series Barney Miller
. He is a police officer
assigned to the New York City Police Department
's 12th Detective Squad, and was played by Steve Landesberg
. He originally appeared in the show's second season, and was slowly phased into the show over the third season, becoming a full-time regular by season 4.
Dietrich (a native of Allentown
, Pennsylvania
) is "infuriatingly cerebral"; his deadpan and unflappable know-it-all persona proves to be a major irritant to Detective Ron Harris
, with whom he is partnered in stake-outs and other situations in which they find themselves in close quarters.
Dietrich's varied educational background is a regular focus of humor. In an exchange with a psychiatrist on the condition of an elderly woman facing arrest, the psychologist condescendingly says, "I have a Ph.D. in Abnormal Psychology. Do you?" to which Dietrich deadpans, "Yes." The psychologist then angrily replies, "Got it on ya?" At times Dietrich fudges a bit: when a suspect with multiple personality disorder is brought in, Dietrich references Schizophrenia Nacht Enfendungen by Gregory Zilboorg
. The author exists; the book doesn't.
Confronted with a distraught man who expresses fears of the Trilateral Commission
, Dietrich tells him his concerns are valid and he will bring them up at the next meeting, since he is a member.
Dietrich apparently also has extensive knowledge of human anatomy, history, physics and engineering. In an episode with a pregnant woman who only speaks German, Captain Miller looks lost until Dietrich begins fluently conversing with her. "You speak German?" Barney asks. "Don't you?" Dietrich responds.
In another episode, the detectives dismiss the claims of a man they've arrested that an item found in his home is a nuclear weapon. Dietrich then enters the squad room and, seeing the item, casually says, "Where'd you get the atomic bomb?"
In one episode, it was revealed that Arthur Dietrich, before becoming a police officer, had been an actor and a teacher. Dietrich said he had also been a lumberjack and a beekeeper, though this might have been a joke. He revealed that ultimately he decided to become a cop because he could have been good at a variety of jobs but only as a police officer could he be the best there is.
The seemingly inhuman breadth of Dietrich's knowledge also sometimes results in questions about his past and his future. In the episode "Voice Analyzer", the department decides that all of the detectives must submit to lie detector tests. When Dietrich is examined and asked a routine question as to when and where he was born, he responds, "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away," the famous opening words of Star Wars
’ scrolling prologue. The lie detector indicates that über-calm Dietrich is telling the truth. Dietrich explains that it's possible to control the micro-tremors in one's voice so that false statements escape notice. The other detectives view Dietrich with curiosity and suspicion for the remainder of the episode until Dietrich ultimately gives the actual date and place of his birth, adding, "I thought it needed to be said."
Dietrich verified in the episode "The Radical" that he had been a Boy Scout
in 1957 and earned a badge in International Affairs. There are several hints that his family is Roman Catholic. In the episode "Voice Analyzer", he reveals that he was born in a Catholic hospital. When a possible romantic interest turned out to be a nun
, he said "When I lose, I lose to the best". An expert in genetics took one look at him and said "Your mother was French": Dietrich said "Yes."
In another episode, a man arrested and claiming to be a time traveler hears someone call Dietrich by his last name. The “time traveler” stops and asks if he is Arthur Dietrich ("The Arthur Dietrich?"). After Dietrich confirms that he is, the “time traveler” tells him it is an honor and asks to shake his hand, implying that Dietrich would be famous sometime in the future. The other detectives overhear the exchange and look on in amazement.
Dietrich has a dry and sometimes teasing sense of humor. In an episode where the door to the men's room is removed, Fish
is unable to wait; while he is in the washroom, Dietrich stops and offers a casual greeting at the door, much to the annoyance of Fish as evidenced in his slow exit from the washroom later.
In an episode featuring an immigration official, the official, showing off his extensive knowledge of various ethnicities' physical characteristics, correctly guesses that Dietrich's mother is French. Dietrich is then enigmatic in reply to the officer's question about his father, revealing only that "He's dead", prior to which point "He was alive".
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
Arthur P. Dietrich is a fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the TV series Barney Miller
Barney Miller
Barney Miller is a situation comedy television series set in a New York City police station in Greenwich Village. The series originally was broadcast from January 23, 1975 to May 20, 1982 on ABC. It was created by Danny Arnold and Theodore J. Flicker...
. He is a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
assigned to the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
's 12th Detective Squad, and was played by Steve Landesberg
Steve Landesberg
Steve Landesberg was an American actor, comedian, and voice actor known for his role as the erudite, unflappable police detective Arthur P...
. He originally appeared in the show's second season, and was slowly phased into the show over the third season, becoming a full-time regular by season 4.
Dietrich (a native of Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
) is "infuriatingly cerebral"; his deadpan and unflappable know-it-all persona proves to be a major irritant to Detective Ron Harris
Ron Harris (detective)
Ron Harris was a fictional police detective from the television show Barney Miller. He was played by actor Ron Glass.In addition to his police work, Harris was also a writer. He published a book called "Blood on the Badge" about the experiences of a New York police officer...
, with whom he is partnered in stake-outs and other situations in which they find themselves in close quarters.
Dietrich's varied educational background is a regular focus of humor. In an exchange with a psychiatrist on the condition of an elderly woman facing arrest, the psychologist condescendingly says, "I have a Ph.D. in Abnormal Psychology. Do you?" to which Dietrich deadpans, "Yes." The psychologist then angrily replies, "Got it on ya?" At times Dietrich fudges a bit: when a suspect with multiple personality disorder is brought in, Dietrich references Schizophrenia Nacht Enfendungen by Gregory Zilboorg
Gregory Zilboorg
Gregory Zilboorg was a psychoanalyst and historian of psychiatry who is remembered for situating psychiatry within a broad sociological and humanistic context in his many writings and lectures....
. The author exists; the book doesn't.
Confronted with a distraught man who expresses fears of the Trilateral Commission
Trilateral Commission
The Trilateral Commission is a non-governmental, non-partisan discussion group founded by David Rockefeller in July 1973 to foster closer cooperation among the United States, Europe and Japan.-History:...
, Dietrich tells him his concerns are valid and he will bring them up at the next meeting, since he is a member.
Dietrich apparently also has extensive knowledge of human anatomy, history, physics and engineering. In an episode with a pregnant woman who only speaks German, Captain Miller looks lost until Dietrich begins fluently conversing with her. "You speak German?" Barney asks. "Don't you?" Dietrich responds.
In another episode, the detectives dismiss the claims of a man they've arrested that an item found in his home is a nuclear weapon. Dietrich then enters the squad room and, seeing the item, casually says, "Where'd you get the atomic bomb?"
In one episode, it was revealed that Arthur Dietrich, before becoming a police officer, had been an actor and a teacher. Dietrich said he had also been a lumberjack and a beekeeper, though this might have been a joke. He revealed that ultimately he decided to become a cop because he could have been good at a variety of jobs but only as a police officer could he be the best there is.
The seemingly inhuman breadth of Dietrich's knowledge also sometimes results in questions about his past and his future. In the episode "Voice Analyzer", the department decides that all of the detectives must submit to lie detector tests. When Dietrich is examined and asked a routine question as to when and where he was born, he responds, "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away," the famous opening words of Star Wars
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
’ scrolling prologue. The lie detector indicates that über-calm Dietrich is telling the truth. Dietrich explains that it's possible to control the micro-tremors in one's voice so that false statements escape notice. The other detectives view Dietrich with curiosity and suspicion for the remainder of the episode until Dietrich ultimately gives the actual date and place of his birth, adding, "I thought it needed to be said."
Dietrich verified in the episode "The Radical" that he had been a Boy Scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
in 1957 and earned a badge in International Affairs. There are several hints that his family is Roman Catholic. In the episode "Voice Analyzer", he reveals that he was born in a Catholic hospital. When a possible romantic interest turned out to be a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
, he said "When I lose, I lose to the best". An expert in genetics took one look at him and said "Your mother was French": Dietrich said "Yes."
In another episode, a man arrested and claiming to be a time traveler hears someone call Dietrich by his last name. The “time traveler” stops and asks if he is Arthur Dietrich ("The Arthur Dietrich?"). After Dietrich confirms that he is, the “time traveler” tells him it is an honor and asks to shake his hand, implying that Dietrich would be famous sometime in the future. The other detectives overhear the exchange and look on in amazement.
Dietrich has a dry and sometimes teasing sense of humor. In an episode where the door to the men's room is removed, Fish
Phil Fish
Detective Phil Fish was a fictional police officer in the TV series Barney Miller. He was played by Abe Vigoda.Fish was an odd character for a television detective: aged, grumpy, and suffering from a variety of maladies for which he constantly needed medication. The most recurring malady was...
is unable to wait; while he is in the washroom, Dietrich stops and offers a casual greeting at the door, much to the annoyance of Fish as evidenced in his slow exit from the washroom later.
In an episode featuring an immigration official, the official, showing off his extensive knowledge of various ethnicities' physical characteristics, correctly guesses that Dietrich's mother is French. Dietrich is then enigmatic in reply to the officer's question about his father, revealing only that "He's dead", prior to which point "He was alive".