Vigilante

"Vigilante" was the episode that introduced James Gregory as Inspector Frank Luger, who alternately lectures Barney or just reminisces about old times. With Charles Bronson's "Death Wish" still playing theaters at the time, Luger believes that Barney is earning 'the worst reputation in town' because people like him, while a vigilante puts criminals in the hospital. Imagine everyone's surprise when the crime fighter turns out to be an elderly man (Titos Vandis, first of three) who chose New York City over farming since he hates chickens. The biggest laughs come courtesy comic veteran Gabe Dell (The Bowery Boys), well coiffured in dress, wig, and purse, as a Teamsters truck driver and former Marine, whose record and Purple Hearts impress Vietnam vet Wojo ("I think I know where he got hit!"), while Luger simply refers to him as 'weirdo!' Soon to co-star in THE JEFFERSONS, Marla Gibbs plays a mugging victim, Milt Kogan makes his third of six appearances as downstairs Officer Kogan (the predecessor to Ron Carey's Levitt), while Yemana, Harris, and Barney's wife Liz are all absent.