 The original pilot was entitled  _Life and Times of Captain Barney Miller, The (1974) (TV)_ (qv), but  it was rejected by ABC. It aired as a special on 22 August 1974. ABC  was negotiating a deal with director John Rich (I) (qv) at the  time, due to his success with _"All in the Family" (1971)_ (qv).  Rich had seen the pilot and was interested in working on the show.  He insisted that ABC give it another chance as part of his deal, so  the show was immediately picked up for a 13