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Barnaby Jones

  • TV Series
  • 1973–1980
  • TV-PG
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones (1973)
The exploits of milk-swilling, geriatric private eye Barnaby Jones.
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaMysteryThriller

Private eye Barnaby Jones works with his widowed daughter-in-law to solve cases.Private eye Barnaby Jones works with his widowed daughter-in-law to solve cases.Private eye Barnaby Jones works with his widowed daughter-in-law to solve cases.

  • Creator
    • Edward Hume
  • Stars
    • Buddy Ebsen
    • Lee Meriwether
    • Mark Shera
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    3.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Creator
      • Edward Hume
    • Stars
      • Buddy Ebsen
      • Lee Meriwether
      • Mark Shera
    • 33User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 4 nominations total

    Episodes178

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    Videos1

    CBS Promo Trailer
    Trailer 0:31
    CBS Promo Trailer

    Photos450

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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Buddy Ebsen
    Buddy Ebsen
    • Barnaby Jones
    • 1973–1980
    Lee Meriwether
    Lee Meriwether
    • Betty Jones
    • 1973–1980
    Mark Shera
    Mark Shera
    • Jedediah Romano "J.R." Jones
    • 1976–1980
    John Carter
    John Carter
    • Lt. John Biddle…
    • 1973–1980
    Eugene Peterson
    • Leo Krell…
    • 1973–1980
    Stephen Coit
    Stephen Coit
    • Morgue Attendant…
    • 1973–1980
    Hank Brandt
    • Dan Rhodes…
    • 1973–1978
    Gary Lockwood
    Gary Lockwood
    • Cam Wheeler…
    • 1973–1979
    Bradford Dillman
    Bradford Dillman
    • Gordon Kingman…
    • 1973–1978
    Robert Hogan
    Robert Hogan
    • Dwight Kincaid…
    • 1973–1980
    Roger Perry
    Roger Perry
    • Dan Carson…
    • 1974–1980
    Bonnie Ebsen
    Bonnie Ebsen
    • Brooke's Secretary…
    • 1974–1980
    John Gilgreen
    • Harbor Master…
    • 1974–1980
    Sandra de Bruin
    • Brendon's Secretary…
    • 1973–1979
    Stuart Nisbet
    Stuart Nisbet
    • Adams…
    • 1973–1980
    Richard Derr
    Richard Derr
    • Stuart Nettleson Jr.…
    • 1973–1979
    Patrick Culliton
    Patrick Culliton
    • First Officer…
    • 1973–1978
    Laurence Haddon
    Laurence Haddon
    • Ben Ross…
    • 1974–1980
    • Creator
      • Edward Hume
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews33

    6.93.3K
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    Featured reviews

    cariart

    Capstone to Buddy Ebsen's Memorable Career...

    A tall, mop-haired, drawling hoofer in musicals of the thirties, a respected stage star/playwright in the forties, Fess Parker's grizzled sidekick in "Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier", in the fifties, and the rustic patriarch of "The Beverly Hillbillies" in the sixties...Each decade introduced a new, successful direction in the career of multi-talented 'Renaissance Man', Buddy Ebsen (1908-2003). The seventies would be no exception, as then 65-year old Ebsen would bring his wisdom, sense of justice, and undeniable charm to one of the decade's most popular, if formulaic detective shows, Quinn Martin Productions' "Barnaby Jones" (1973-1980).

    As a retired cop, the murder of his son, a successful private investigator, would bring the elder Jones back, not only to solve the crime, but to continue his son's business, aided by his daughter-in-law, Betty (the beautiful Lee Meriwether, 38). Barnaby was a prickly old codger, more care-worn and serious than Ebsen's 'Jed Clampett', and each episode would focus more on the perpetrators of the crimes he would ultimately solve, than on his personal life, which would give the program an almost "Columbo"-like slant. There was nearly always an 'innocent' to save, and many episodes would climax in shootouts and foot chases, where the ancient Jones would always 'run down' the younger criminals (making the series a favorite target of contemporary humorists).

    The addition of young cousin Jedediah Romano ("Call me J.R.") Jones, in the person of 27-year old Mark Shera, in 1976, while geared to attract younger viewers, actually improved the series, as it lightened the overall 'tone', and gave Ebsen a 'student' to give 'Yoda-like' advice to. Together, Barnaby, Betty, and J.R. made quite a team!

    While the series would air it's final episode in 1980, and Ebsen would move on to great success as a painter and author over the next two decades, he would revive the detective in his final film appearance, in the big screen version of THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, in 1993. Barnaby Jones, as prickly as ever, would still be taking cases at 85!
    big_bellied_geezer

    A Great Show I wish I could see again!

    Another one of Quinn Martin's great 70's TV series, as a previous user said this show did come of as unintentionally funny at times due to the advanced age of the always entertaining Buddy Ebsen! I remember there would always be a scene in almost every episode where Mr Ebsen would stiffly run after someone. I kept thinking as a little kid that Buddy Ebsen looked soooo Skinny and frail that a puff of air could knock him down! Yet despite all of this, the show held our viewing interest for six seasons, perhaps we were drawn to the subliminal message that milk is good for your bones because it was obviously helping Barnaby Jones not to snap like a matchstick!
    Sargebri

    Jed Clampett meets Mannix

    This is one of my all time favorite private eye shows. Barnaby Jones was probably the last person you would think of as a private investigator, but he mixed good old fashioned detective work with all the then modern techniques (just check out the lab in his office). Lee Meriwether was perfectly cast as his daughter-in-law/secretary Betty and after a few years they brought in the muscle in the form of Barnaby's cousin J.R.(don't call me Jedidiah) Jones. Too bad they don't show reruns of this show anymore. It was an all time classic.
    8samwa-27311

    Good, But Primarily Because of Buddy Ebsen

    Standard Quinn Martin series.

    Buddy has class, dignity, manners, and is polite, and that really is enjoyable to watch.

    Merriweather, is humble and a good supporting character.

    Shera is alright.

    I have watched the first five seasons, and besides the terrible DVD quality, every single episode, except a few, is about the same, and 95% are about murder:

    Crime happens.

    Jones visits with the person who hired him.

    Immediately, he knows who commited the crime and visits with her or him.

    They lie through their teeth.

    He investigates, and proves them wrong.

    Most times, he plugs the crook, but ALWAYS just wings them.

    This is like the Lone Ranger, always tried only to injure.

    Epilogue. Some little happy saying, then the credits.

    Betty, almost always acts like she can't figure out how Barnaby, deduced something, which makes him look better.

    Each season has about two excellent episodes.

    But the main reason to watch is for Ebsen.
    7DKosty123

    Good Show

    Buddy Epson & Lee Merriwether- very good acting & put together with Quinn Martin another winning combo. Actually, this show was CBS payback to Buddy who was extremely upset with CBS for canceling the Beverly Hillbillies while they were still a hit show. He kind of felt like he lost his family there & felt the execs at the network were a little nuts.

    Buddy was right about that. This show is well done & CBS had raided ABC to get Quinn Martin to do this & Cannon. CBS wanted to change it's country image & these shows became a moderately successful way to do that. Trouble is CBS execs wasted more of the number 1 networks success & by the 1908's after they forced Walter Cronkrite to retire & dumbed down & tarted up their news with Dan Rather, they had pretty much become a second rated network.

    This show's success along with MASH & a few others kept them on top through the 1970's. Buddy Ebsen was so talented that he could play almost anybody & make them believable. He comes off here as a fine detective & Lee Merriwether came into her own during this show.

    Ebsen is one of the few TV actors to be part of successful shows in the 1950's, 60's, & 70's. It is a fitting tribute to such a unique talent who made his first splash in movies in the 1930's. He has an enduring legacy and this show is the last piece of it.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      On seeing the pilot, Jerry Goldsmith tried to get out of scoring it because he thought it was horrible (a view critics shared). However, he was convinced to write the theme tune and score the pilot - ultimately this ran longer than any of his other series (with the exception of La famille des collines (1972)).
    • Goofs
      It's never explained why Jedediah Romano "J.R." Jones does not carry a gun. He obviously knows how to handle a firearm as he does sometimes after taking one away from a bad guy. A law abiding citizen over the age of 21 as well as a military veteran working for a licensed private detective agency should certainly qualify for a gun permit.
    • Crazy credits
      During original broadcast run, the opening credits would follow the setup scene. Therefore the first victim was not listed among the guest stars since their character is already dead. Only in Deadline for Murder (1980) was initial victim, Alex Henteloff, included in the opening credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 29th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1977)

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    FAQ

    • How many seasons does Barnaby Jones have?
      Powered by Alexa
    • I have the Barnaby Jones Complete Collection. In the usual Quinn Martin productions they have the four acts (not listed like the previous QM shows) and then the epilogue at the end. On my DVDs they don't have a epilogue. The show ends abruptly then they have the credits. Did they ever have an epilogue? And if they did, why did they not include it on the in the complete collection?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 28, 1973 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Барнаби Джонс
    • Filming locations
      • 234 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, California, USA(Barnaby's office)
    • Production companies
      • Quinn Martin Productions (QM)
      • Woodruff Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color

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