I Coule NEVER Tolerate Levitt - Barney Miller (1974) Discussion

[–] Doom 13 years ago

He was far from my favorite character, but I grew to like him, at least at times. There were a few episodes when he had clearly had enough of being kicked around as the 'little guy' and stood up for himself (even directly in the face of Barney, etc.)

He seemed to grow as the show went on (like Wojo) - he just didn't get any taller.

------

Wait a minute... who am I here?

reply

[–] wbf200 13 years ago

I agree that making him a regular and in the detective room was a big mistake. His character was an irritant and only occasionally funny. He worked better in small doses as the outsider. My guess is that had Jack Soo not passed away, Levitt would have remained as he was rather than upgrade him to a full regular.

reply

[–] Molly-31 13 years ago

I was watching it with my mom one night and Levitt was getting all smarmy and I spontaneously said "Oh, shut up, you little piece of $hit." His attitude cancelled out most of his good qualities. I believe that was because his character was never sufficiently developed. He got to be this stereotype where he just did one thing. The writers could never bring themselves to fully overcome the stereotype.

Don't forget your tsvets!

reply

[–] Doug-Oh 7 years ago

He got to be this stereotype where he just did one thing. The writers could never bring themselves to fully overcome the stereotype

Kind of like Frank Burns' character on MASH.
They never expanded his character, like they did with Hot Lips & the others.

Was quite a waste as Larry Linville was one of that series' best actors, considering the role he played of portraying such an unlikable character.

reply

[–] ExplorerDS6789 13 years ago

Leavitt seemed to be the Radar of Barney Miller. The short guy who takes all the height jokes.

reply

[–] Doom 13 years ago

Excellent point about Jack Soo. And I agree; his passing probably increased screen time for Levitt.

------

Wait a minute... who am I here?

reply

[–] aureliaw 13 years ago

Nah.... I liked the character Radar. Levitt was a disagreeable character from the first to the last. I agree his character was not developed, but perhaps there was nothing to develop. Some people are not very likeable.

reply

[–] ExplorerDS6789 13 years ago

I guess Barney Miller needed comedic relief after Fish left. After Chano left, Fish and Yemana were the funniest characters, but then Fish left, then Yemana was killed off due to the death of Jack Soo, so all they had left were Barney, Harris and Wojo, who were incredibly dry in the humor department. Dietrich was funny, but only really when he had somebody to play off of. I guess that was where Leavitt came in.

reply

[–] aureliaw 13 years ago

I don't agree Explorer. I thought Wojo, Harris and Dietrich were very funny. I find Leavitt to be a snarky character who isn't in the least bit humerous....

reply

[–] Bernnard_Black 13 years ago

Agreed. Levitt was best taken in VERY small doses. I guess they just figured they'd elevate his character instead of adding a new one when Yemana's character was written out. Dietrick started as a temp character but ended up replacing Fish, and went on to be quite popular. I guess they figured Legitt could do the same for Yemana...big mistake. Nick was funny as hell, and likeable. Levitt was neither.

reply

[–] davidwile 13 years ago

Hey folks,

It seems that most everyone here disliked the Levitt character mostly for being annoying and whatever "snarky" means. Molly suggested that Levitt was annoying because the character became a sterotype. I would submit the key to the success of the "Barney Miller Show" was that all of the characters in the show were stereotypes of one idea or another. Wojo was a dumb Pole, Fish an old man, Harris the nattily dressed black guy, Dietrich the scholarly one, Yemanna the Japanese-American, Levitt the grumpy little obsequious guy, and Barney was the wise leader and the glue that kept everyone as one cohesive unit.

I think you could go so far as to say the characters were really caricatures representing many of the various social issues of the 1970s. Instead of arousing the ire of the observer, however, the writers and the actors were extremely adept at making the audience laugh at the caricatures and even admire their strengths as they overlooked their minor foibles. This is also true of so many of the minor characters who passed through every episode.

Linda Lavin played the lovable Officer Wentworth who balanced her personal concerns for women’s liberation while managing to fit in with a male dominant station house. In later years, I always pictured Linda Lavin as the private investigator Kinsey Milhone featured in Sue Grafton's novels.

Ron Carey's portrayal of Officer Levitt was right on the mark, and like all the other characters, Levitt also made me laugh. Sure he was obsequious, but Wojo was dumb, Harris was narcissistic, and Dietrich was overly pedantic. And how many people in the world do you know who can be as wise as Barney Miller? The whole regular cast was truly an ensemble cast of diverse characters whose sum was greater than its individual parts.

I have never cared for very many comedy shows over the years. It seems a preponderance of comedy shows depend on bathroom humor, barnyard humor, or boring sexual promiscuity. To me, that stuff is immature and is simply not funny. The “Barney Miller” show never depended on such tripe. It was truly well written and played by talented folks who created a great ensemble comedy that still plays well 30 years after the series ended. I suppose it is my favorite comedy TV show, and Officer Levitt was an integral part of the comedy for me.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

reply

[–] aureliaw 13 years ago

First of all, Dave Wile, Yemana was Korean, not Japanese and the character of Levitt NEVER made me laugh. He was just an angry, lazy, self-absorbed person. As was mentioned in this thread earlier, the powers that be probably wanted the character of Levitt to replace Yemana after Jack Soo died, but no one could ever replace Yemana/Jack Soo.

reply

[–] davidwile 13 years ago

Hey aureliaw,

I am not sure what you mean by his being Korean. Various sources indicate that Jack Soo was a Japanese-American who, along with other Japanese-Americans, was sent for internment in the Topaz War Relocation Center located in Utah during World War II. As far as his character, Nick Yemana, being Korean, I think you may be wrong about that. I recall numerous instances in the show where Yemana seemed to indicate his ancestry was Japanese-American. In support of this, I furnish the following dialogue from different shows listed IMDb:

[Nick is talking to Internal Affairs]
Yemana: I'm not Chinese, you know.
Captain William Donnelly: That doesn't matter, Detective.
Yemana: Now it doesn't matter; but in 1942...
(A clear reference to his internment as a Japanese-American)

Yemana: Mine's the sashimi and cream cheese on a bagel.
Delivery Guy: You mean lox?
Yemana: We had it first.
(Another reference to his Japanese-American character)

Dietrich: I've always admired the Japanese outlook on death. The calm acceptance, the treating it as a part of life...
Yemana: [to Wojo] I dunno what he's talking about - personally, I'm going kicking and screaming all the way.
Wojo: Well, why don't you tell him that?
Yemana: I like my image.
(I think this makes the point that Yemana was not Korean)

I doubt if Ron Carey was ever intended to replace Jack Soo. Soo started the show in January 1975, and Carey started in October 1976. Once Carey started in 1976, both he and Soo continued the show for over two years until Soo became ill and eventually died. If Carey was intended to replace Soo, it sure took them a long time to make the cut.

You state that no one could replace Jack Soo, and I would not argue with that. I would submit, however, that no one could replace any of the other actors, too. They all played unique characters that each actor quickly owned and were identified.

If the Levitt character never made you laugh, I think you were missing something special. Levitt was no more angry than Wojo and others. I don't know why you would stick lazy to Levitt's character; on the contrary, he was always trying to volunteer to do whatever to make detective. Self absorbed? Gee, I would think that would apply far more to Harris.

I am not that foolish to suggest that you have to find the Levitt character funny. I am sure there are many characters in many shows that other folks think are funny even though I fail to see any humor. My wife disagrees with me all the time (she has been for nearly 50 years now). Accordingly, I respect your right to think the Levitt character is a dud. Obviously there are others who agree with you.

I really like this show, and my only intention in responding to this thread was to indicate that I did find Carey and his Levitt character to be funny and a valuable asset to the show - in my opinion only.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

reply

[–] aureliaw 13 years ago

While Jack Soo may have indeed been Japanese, I remember Yemana saying on several occasions he was Korean. The character of Levitt was not in the least bit humorous. He was sarcastic and mean-spirited (which is another way to say snarky). I liked all the other characters on the show. but I never learned to appreciate the character of Leavitt. I respect your finding his character so amusing....

reply

[–] davidwile 13 years ago

Hey aureliaw,

Ok, you did not find the Levitt character the least bit humorous because he was sarcastic and mean spirited. We all have our preferences.

You are wrong, however, in saying Jack Soo was Japanese. Jack Soo was born in the USA from Japanese decended parents, so the most descriptive term we can describe him is to say that he was Japanese-American.

Also, I don't see how you can continue to say Yemana was supposed to be Korean. In my previous post, I cited three pieces of dialogue wherein Yemana's statements refer to his Japanese-American ancestory, and you seem to completely ignore it. Those references are not something I sort of remember, they are taken from this very IMDb site. The Yemana character was not portrayed as Korean; he was portrayed as Japanese-American.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

reply

[–] jmsocool 13 years ago

Regarding Levitt, I believe the character was supposed to be annoying, and he had his moments when he was funny. Honestly, I think a lot of it came from the actor (was his name Ron Carey? I'm hitting a dead zone). I remember seeing him on a game show (i believe with his wife) back in the mid to late 70's, and he came across as annoying, arrogant, and angry. I think the reason that the character of Levitt didn't develop beyond the initial conception of the character, is that probably the cast and crew didn't care for the actor very much.

And I think Yemana was Japanese-American, not Korean.

"My girlfriend sucked 37 d*cks!"
"In a row?"

reply

[–] aureliaw 13 years ago

I don't know why I had the impression Yemana was Korean. My bad. I wasn't aware of Ron Carey's background, but he played the arrogant, angry and annoying character too well. I never found him in the least bit humorous, but the show was well-written and well-acted.

reply

[–] johnd70978 10 years ago

How can you say that Jack Soo was American when he couldn't speak English? That would have made him more like a Korean. But perhaps just on his mother's side as the crow flies. At least he wasn't Sardingian. Those people eat too much garlic. BTW, I don't like Levitt either. He gives me gas.

reply

[–] amyghost 10 years ago

How can you say that Jack Soo was American when he couldn't speak English?

Another example of PWI--Posting While Intoxicated.

reply

[–] Molly-31 12 years ago

What you are remembering is Jack Soo on M*A*S*H. He was in a couple of very, very early episodes.

You've got me?! Who's got you?!

reply

[–] WildMountainThyme 9 years ago

Jack Soo was so damn funny on his two M*A*S*H episodes, especially "Payday".

(Referring to Frank Burns) "Yeah, he had what we call in Korea a real 'fertilizer face'"

Thought I was going to pass out from laughter

reply

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] atttta88 13 years ago

Actually, the quotes on IMDB are not always correct (they usually go straight from the scripts, not always the finished takes) eg the 1942 reference in Psychiatrist was cut from the "Now it doesn't matter line" and but shows up in the episode Bugs when Harris mentions surveillance like 1984 and Yemana says "or 1942". But your examples are definitely correct in meaning. If I may add the ones I consider to be lockdowns. When Yemana is dealing with an army officer (played by the same actor who played Scanlon)in Group Home, he mentions being in the Nisei unit in WWII, a real life Japanese-American unit. Plus, the hilarious answer to the officer's question of why would anyone want to blow up a United States military instillation--"Nostalgia?"

ps Couldn't stand Levitt!

Enjoy!

reply

[–] Miinerva 13 years ago

Since most of the writers were probably Jewish I always thought Levitt was likely a manifestation of what they probably thought about stereotypes. Yes he was annoying and Levitt could be partially be seen as what Jews dislike about themselves.

I think Cary was probably a stage name and he may have been Italian (not Jewish).

reply

[–] learmoak 12 years ago

I also found the character of Leavitt annoying, but don't you think he was MEANT to be? A little aggravation relief?

reply

[–] paengmanila 12 years ago

Also, check out Season 7 Ep. 8, "Field Associate."

reply

[–] LittleBrother55 12 years ago

Miinerva, according to Wikipedia*:

"Carey was born Ronald Joseph Cicenia in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Fanny and John Cicenia, and was raised in an Italian American Catholic family."

FWIW, I'm working my way through the complete series DVD; I'm halfway into Season 5. To me, Levitt, like most of the other characters, evolves for the better as the series progresses.

He's somewhat annoying, but the writers play off the tension between his being annoying and the others often being patronizing or condescending towards him.
________________

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Carey_%28actor%29

reply

[–] amyghost 11 years ago

Yemana was emphatically Japanese, not Korean. This is mentioned on numerous episodes, which leads me to suspect you're probably not too familiar with the show. And Jack Soo was also Japanese, not Chinese or Korean.

reply

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] commanderjeltz 8 years ago

I agree with all you say except I think they were more than stereotypes. As time went on you saw the human, vulnerable side to them. For instance, Harris, my favorite character, so smooth and cool, showed a pathetic side when he wrote blood on the badge and then was sued as a result.

reply

[–] Peterkoss90 12 years ago

Omg your kidding right levitt was great. The humor was that from his point of view they didn't see him as a equal and never would. That he wanted them to see him as someone just as good as they were he was great on the show.

reply

[–] jritty 12 years ago

He gets acceptable by the end and his "due" in the final is well warranted and makes a connection with the audience. The irony is that what he gets comes kinda too late...even though he did get to work with them in a way. I guess that's what he takes with him.

reply

[–] amyghost 11 years ago

I think the point was kind of just that--Levitt never could be tolerated by any of the squadroom crew in anything much more than small doses. Even when he's done a good thing (as when he helps out Barney in translating sign language for the deaf suspect, or saves a kid's life) he still manages eventually to do something that annoys the hell out of everyone, generally by using his good deed to once again start getting pushy about a career upgrade. He's supposed to be irritating, that's the character's function. It's just an innate, sort of inerradicable personality tic he has.

The chief problem with this was, that once he became something of a full-timer in the detective's quarters, this made the character look a bit one-dimensional at times when compared to the others. I don't know if it may have been felt that Carey just didn't have the acting skills to carry off a more rounded characterization, or if, by then, the writers had gotten too comfortable with Levitt as he was to try for a more dimensional portrayal. I never disliked Levitt, but except for a few bits where he's allowed a little more depth, I thought he was a trifle weak compared to the other actors on the show.

reply

[–] jefgg 11 years ago

I liked Levitt more than Dietrich.

reply

[–] bookman7772000 11 years ago

I agree that Levitt was better in small doses. Here's a thought...why couldn't they have replaced Jack Soo with Gregory Sierra? It's true that Chano had been transferred out of there, but isn't it possible he could have been transferred back? Would have been funny to see how he'd react to Dietrich, and they'd be replacing one beloved character with another beloved character.

reply

[–] tsimiri 11 years ago

Jack Soo's birthname was Goro Suzuki, You can't get more Japanese than that, There were many instances where his Japanese background was mentioned.

1. When he was cooking a horribly smelling soup made of fish heads and vegetable scraps and referring to it as a 'Japanese delicacy'.

2. When he was trying to go out with a Japanese prostitute saying that at such special times as Christmas he wanted to be with his own kind.

3. When the racist army officer remarked that he had never heard of a Japanese detective to which Jack Soo replied 'Have you ever been to Tokyo?'

His Japanese character was never in question. He did appear in M*A*S*H as a Korean but if you look at the credits to many episodes you can see by the names that many Japanese actors were hired to play Koreans in M*A*S*H.

On the Levitt issue, Levitt was downright annoying , unfunny and unlikeable, I agree.

reply

[–] midnight-460-446218 10 years ago

Hey, a lot of times people miss out on the tings that are important. His character was great because it was so real. You have to realize that this was someone playing someone this annoying. He made you not like him but you don't see it. Everyone can't be likeable and nice because it's not real life. This was a real and honest portrait of a man that did everything he could to accepted despite his stature and his personality. He was articulate, versatile cunning and could speak multiple languages like Dietrich was snotty like Harris. and could be a numbskull like Wojo and had abilities that put the others to shame yet could never make it. He was obnoxious to kind crude to warm-hearted and he added a dimension of honesty that made you watch. We don't like people to act like him but to say he messed up the show is to say that no one like him could every be anything in life and that's not true.
This is a real person and he makes you mad and he makes you wonder why and he makes you think and if you think it's easy to do all those things then you're nuts. He was a great character because he made you rather than lead you.

reply

[–] rdfarnham 10 years ago

I never really cared for Levitt, but the character I disliked the most was Inspector Luger. I know he was played for laughs but I found him to be downright irritating. James Gregory did a great job with him but I got so blasted tired of the way he was always imposing on Barney and seeing Barney not react. I realize that both he and Levitt were in there to add a little irritation to offset the smoothness of the rest of the cast but I wish he had not been on so many episodes.

reply

[–] amyghost 10 years ago

Everybody's entitled to their opinion; but personally, I think Luger was one of the funniest characters on the show.

reply

[–] chongajuly 10 years ago

Levitt was probably the least interesting character on the show, but he clearly had his moments, particularly in "Stormy Weather," featuring the deaf prostitute. Translating for Dietrich, he blurts out "I think you're a lot cuter than most cops," to which Dietrich inquires, "was that you or her?" In another 7th season episode "Field Associate," he fesses up as the culprit who ratted on his fellow detectives: "if I said no, they would have found somebody else so it seemed better for it to be someone who liked you guys who would overlook major transgressions and concentrate on the really picayune stuff!" A surprisingly stirring defense indeed!

"I take pleasure in great beauty" - James Bond

reply