If there was a drier wit on the New York Police Department than Detective Sgt. Arthur Dietrich, then the Holland Tunnel would have been unnecessary. Steve Landesberg, the actor who played Dietrich on the 1970s police comedy Barney Miller, as well as a host of other small roles during a long career that also included some stand-up comedy, passed away this weekend at 65.
Only the first three seasons of Barney Miller are available on DVD, and Landesberg joined the cast midway through that season. Some of his best deadpans await release, and the show's inexplicable absence from cable means YouTube will get a little workout over the next few days as 12th Precinct fans take some time to remember.
(The post title is taken from Dietrich's query of Barney after meeting the latter's spouse, and his somewhat perturbing penchant for exact speaking).
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