MovieChat Forums > Barney Miller (1974) Discussion > How are we supposed to believe that Wojo...

How are we supposed to believe that Wojo is a ladies man?

posted 8 years ago by wordsatplaytoday
15 replies | jump to latest

Yeah, I know this is in the land of make believe TV where we even have different characters played by the same actors which is dumb.
This really pushes the envelope of suspending disbelief that a big dumb basic looking Polack somehow gets the girls.
He doesn't have any compassion. Isn't really all that nice. A klutz and not smooth at all.
What in the heck do any of them see in him that makes them want to go to bed with him when he is no James Bond?
It should be Harris getting the girls. Not Wojo.

[–] kapnkirk 8 years ago

Because Harris is on the down low. Wojo is way more masculine and women would be more attracted to him.

No! That's not true at all, Elvis takes 50% of everything I earn!

Col. Tom Parker

[–] LittleBrother55 8 years ago

Let me clear this up for you. 😉

It's true enough that TV plays fast and loose with real-world reality. But Wojo attracting women isn't all that preposterous.

Actually, the answer to this riddle is the flip side of Wojo's own weakness, if it is a weakness, of being attracted to women with "interesting negatives".

Just slightly rephrase the qualities you mention: "big dumb basic looking Polack" = "big, rugged, athletic man"; "He doesn't have any compassion/Isn't really all that nice." = "emotionally inhibited/undeveloped"; "A klutz and not smooth at all" = "refreshingly direct and innocently childlike".

Women may not pick up on all of this at a first meeting, but none of these qualities are deal-breakers. And, generally speaking, women-- at least some women-- are especially attracted to men with interesting negatives, aka charming flaws, because they see classic "big lugs" like Wojo as "fixer-uppers".

In the series, with a couple of dramatic exceptions, Wojo is no longer a uniform cop. But trust me, put even The Elephant Man in a uniform and some women will melt at the sight of him. I've seen this happen.

Besides, even in plainclothes, being in a position of authority can also have this effect.

Harris has his successes, but for all of his good looks, sartorial splendor, smoothness, and sophistication, he's actually a little too obvious.

Ah, the facts of life are often annoyingly counterintuitive.

[–] houstonhacker 8 years ago

Wojo's got that awesome bowl cut toupee.

[–] LittleBrother55 8 years ago

Yeah, I bet he has the same magic hair connection as Carl Reiner.

[–] therealshapeshifter 8 years ago

I guess the casting folks were likely told not to sign any men who were more attractive than Barney Miller/Hal Linden.

[–] LurkingFigure 8 years ago

But look at the kind of women Wojo gets. I can't see Harris going for those girls. LOL They're not any brighter than Wojo.

Insults are not necessary!
Do everything in Love. I Corinthians 16:14 NIV

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] warmbreezes 8 years ago

Wojo got a nice booty, that's why

[–] misd-86934 8 years ago

I never thought Wojo was a good looking man. Quite frankly I always thought he looked like a monkey with his ears sticking out like they did and his face just looks like that stuffed monkey with the banana in his hand.

[–] Mmmavis 8 years ago

There is a lot more going on with the character of Wojo than just a big, dumb Polack. He is definitely portrayed as not very bright, but he doesn't "get the girls" as you put it. Wojo is notorious throughout the series for dating women who have worked in the sex industry. It's portrayed as an odd flaw, because he's a cop. But many of his girlfriends worked as phone sex operators and other stuff. There is still a stigma against women who've worked in these professions---there was an even more pronounced stigma against them back then. Harris would never date these kinds of girls, he's too much of a snob and thinks he's above women like that. Wojo, on the other hand, doesn't think he's above anybody. What he does have is a savior complex; he is drawn to girls that need 'saved'. His position as a brawny, tough ex-marine and NYC cop is attractive to certain kinds of women, who don't care that he's kind of awkward and klutzy. They find his emotional inhibitedness reassuringly masculine. He makes them feel safe and protected.

Wojo is also shown constantly going through relationships---he is always getting into new relationships, and they never last long. The way Wojo is portrayed is that deep down, what he wants is a very traditional kind of relationship, where he works and his wife stays at home and takes care of him. He probably grew up in an environment like that. But because he dates 'fallen' women, he can never seem to get the kind of relationship he is looking for. It's frustrating for him, and he's not smart or self-aware enough to figure this out about himself.

Most of Wojo's girlfriends are portrayed as being physically attractive, but without a lot else going on. They're not educated, or smart, or sophisticated. Kind of like Wojo himself. Harris, on the other hand, is all these things, but he's also insufferably snooty. he's not going to date just anybody, it's got to be a women he perceives as smart and sophisticated as himself. This attitude considerably narrows his dating pool.

What have you been reading, the gospel according to St. Bastard?

[–] LittleBrother55 8 years ago

Thanks for this trenchant "profile" of Wojo. Well done!

An exception popped into my head: In "Contempt", Wojo was attracted to the Salvation Army officer, Lt. Melinda Holly.

But even that's consistent with your analysis. For one thing, IIRC (I haven't watched the episode in a long while) Wojo comes across as somewhat perplexed by his own attraction-- doesn't he even admit at some point that she's not the kind of woman he usually pursues?

It's as if this "madonna" figure appeals to Wojo's inner traditionalist. And, come to think of it, even here Wojo is determined to "save" her-- except he's saving her from her principled, but ineffectual, attempts to cope with the crimes and the Salvation Army's being victimized.

Since you're obviously quite familiar with the series, you probably know that the two-part episode "Wojo's Girl" encapsulates much of what you've written.

I read somewhere that that episode was made as a possible spin-off series for Wojo.

Ironically, at least for me, it's so dark, frustrating, and unfunny that it's unwatchable.

Wojo is deeply conflicted, and "Wojo's Girl" dwells painfully on his conflicts. With the precinct's counterbalancing humor, characters, and action stripped away, the episode is like watching a Eugene O'Neill or Edward Albee play.

When I got the DVD box set, I tried to watch it with an open mind but couldn't get through the first part because Wojo is such a clueless and inconsiderate jerk.

Funny, although I have watched that two-parter in the past, I can't even remember how things ended up in Part Two. I'm sure it was less bleak, but I lost interest.

I'm not absolutely certain about the spinoff claim. If it's true, at least after the producers (and Max Gail) watched the episode, they presumably had the sense to realize that it was all "situation", and no "comedy".

[–] Mmmavis 8 years ago

You are correct, during that season there were several spinoffs attempted involving the personal lives of several characters. The only one which was picked up and put into production was the Fish one.

Another exception to my profile: Early in the series, Wojo dates a female cop, Detective Janice Wentworth for a time. in the episode Wojo's Girl, he mentions to Barney that he dated her because "she reminded me of a hooker!"

Barney Miller is probably one of my favorite classic sitcoms. I grew up in the eighties and my parents watched it all the time. I remember it well, and have always found the writing to be top notch.

What have you been reading, the gospel according to St. Bastard?

[–] therealshapeshifter 8 years ago

...An exception popped into my head: In "Contempt", Wojo was attracted to the Salvation Army officer, Lt. Melinda Holly...

Also the episode in which he dates Barney's college educated daughter.
I too dislike the "Wojo's Girl" episodes, but like the character of Wojo otherwise.
I'm guessing they didn't have the toupee cover his ears because he was supposed to be more clean cut. If he wasn't balding, they likely would have given him a crew cut.

[–] LittleBrother55 8 years ago

Good catch; I forgot about Rachel.

Not to disagree, or nitpick, but that particular encounter was exceptional.

Wojo sort of backed into the off-duty social encounter with Rachel because Barney couldn't make the dinner date.

Most of Wojo's (attempted) relationships began with chance encounters with women who turned up at the precinct, so the spontaneity was par for the course.

But it was a little different, insofar as the tension between Barney and Wojo existed because Barney saw their "date" as a typical Wojo casual meeting-- and couldn't deal with the prospect that it might turn into what we now call a "hookup".

That is, with Rachel it was pretty clear that she was only passing through. There was no suggestion that either she or Wojo were looking to fall in love, or begin a lasting relationship.

Of course, Barney would have been just as freaked out if Wojo wanted to "court" Rachel, so to speak.

It's hard to say whether Barney would be more troubled by the realization that his daughter was having casual sex, or that Wojo might become his son-in-law. 😉

I like Wojo too. I'm not impressed by the cheap shots commenters take about his looks, including his hairpieces. So what?

I was put off by "Wojo's Girl" because to me, it weirdly focused way too much on his flaws and conflicts.

It was made several years before "Married With Children" popularized the "comical jerk" male lead, but Wojo came off like an Al Bundy without the toilet humor.

[–] therealshapeshifter 8 years ago

...I like Wojo too. I'm not impressed by the cheap shots commenters take about his looks, including his hairpieces. So what?...

"Rainmaker," a late season 7 episode aired last night. They finally got Wojo a decent hairpiece that minimized his ears.
Also, about half way through the series they started giving him some lines that showed him to be inherently wise and observant, rather than just living up to the un-politically correct "Pollack" jokes of that era.