The BEST episodes of Barnaby Jones
Every episode of Barnaby Jones ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Barnaby Jones!
Barnaby Jones was a retired private investigator, but quickly came out of retirement after his son Hal, who had taken over Barnaby's job, was murdered. Hal's widow, Betty, helped Barnaby try and find her husband's murderer. The murder was solved, but Barnaby decided he wanted to return to investigating full-time and Betty decided to join him.
#1 - A Desperate Pursuit
Season 8 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/11/1979
Shortly after Betty handed over some files to boxing promoter Vince Ferrari he falls to death from his balcony. Betty suspects murder and as a key witness she does not only meet reporter Tom Powers but is threatened by a blonde woman, whom the prime suspect saw at Ferrari's apartment.
#2 - Indoctrination in Evil
Season 8 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/1/1979
While trying to seduce and drug young Jeanny for the white-slavery market Les Harmon and Al De Paris accidentally kill her. Barnaby searches for her, but Mr. Adamson, owner of a lodge, seems to conceal information. Betty, working undercover at the lodge, finds out about a blackmailing.
#3 - Homecoming for a Dead Man
Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/8/1979
At the Olympic gymnastic tryouts for young Kim Barnaby recognizes her father Richard Gibson, a man presumed dead after robbing the coin exchange ten years ago. While Barnaby is trying to find a ghost, accomplice Jordan orders Gibson alias Simmons to get rid of the private detective.
#4 - Yesterday's Terror
Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/13/1977
Frances Dunslay, married to a successful husband, is confronted with her past as a call girl when Cal Green blackmails her. She steals bonds from her husband's company and even hires Rudy Markham to kill Green. Barnaby and J.R. investigate to find the missing bonds.
#5 - A Gathering of Thieves
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/10/1974
Whit Brewer sells lots at Shadow Lake Estates, but the construction works did not start yet. Claude Meecham discovers the fraud and is killed in a car accident. When Whit tries to get rid of his associates, the two rivaling women Madge and Irene ally.
#6 - The Coronado Triangle
Season 6 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/2/1978
Barnaby and Betty go to San Diego to help Glen Wilcox who suspects that several yachts that disappeared in the ""Coronado Triangle"" were hijacked. Dawn, the only survivor of a recent disaster, claims to have seen a giant whirlpool. She covers for Lloyd, one of the highjackers. J.R. goes undercover as a rich playboy to try and be the next victim of the hijackers.
#7 - The Final Victim
Season 8 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/6/1980
Being on hustler heading unwittingly young Susan Cooper tries to hitch-hike, is mistaken for a prostitute and accidentally killed by judge David Kingsley. Susan's father asks Barnaby to clear her name. During his investigations Barnaby meets ""Chronicle"" reporter Walt Di Angelo, a friend of Kingsley's.
#8 - The Deadly Charade
Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/13/1977
Paul Nugent kills his rich cousin Sandra, hurts himself and fakes a jewel burglary. Sandra had a $1000,000 life insurance policy and Barnaby investigates for the insurance company. Suspicion falls on Lassiter since he and his wife were separated. Meanwhile Betty is charmed and starts dating Paul. Barnaby and J.R. must come to the rescue when Betty finds herself in danger
#9 - Dangerous Gambit
Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/26/1976
While Frank Dunlap distracts the bank manager, clerk Joyce Elkins hides $250 000 in a false ledger and her colleague Angie locks it in a safe deposit box. Double crossed Jerry Kennedy pursues Joyce, who runs into a car. The driver asks Barnaby to find the witness.
#10 - Dead Heat
Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/1/1976
Ray Dixon exchanges the hay fever medicine of swimmer Andy Cavanaugh, a competitor of his son Norm, for amphetamines. Andy dies of an allergic shock and Barnaby is hired to clear his name. Ray puts the blame on coach Sid and kills Gwen who gave him the drugs.
#11 - Double Vengeance
Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/7/1975
Brina Douglas kills her older husband in a buggy accident at Dryers Canyon as revenge for her father's death, whom he ruined. Barnaby investigates for the insurance company. Brina also wants to get rid of Ray Greenwald. Gil, a third associate, fakes Ray's murder.
#12 - Bond of Fear
Season 3 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/15/1975
Shortly after a quarrel with his wife Florence Harold Armstrong is pushed over banisters and killed. Russ Madden hires Barnaby to prove Florence's innocence. Nora, Harold's mistress tries to blackmail her. Who is the mysterious person disguised as Florence?
#13 - Dead Man's Run
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/17/1974
Lloyd Kellner fakes a fatal car accident so he can disappear with the money he embezzled from a firm of stockholders. With his wife Bernice he wants to leave the country in a boat and $4 million in diamonds. But Bernice prefers to join a third associate, Stayman.
#14 - Foul Play
Season 2 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/31/1974
Sanderson, the manager of a basketball team, kills the brother-in-law of his star player Frank Hampton, when he is blackmailed due to Frank's foul play. Sanderson also kills Tony, an unwanted witness. But the blackmailing continues and Sanderson's team loses again.
#15 - Blind Jeopardy
Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/1978
Mrs. Russell hires Barnaby to locate Jenny Hastings, who witnessed a murder that Mrs.Russell's husband is about to go on trial for. Barnaby thinks he has located Jenny in a motel a few miles outside of Colverton and while Barnaby is on the phone having Betty check out the license number, Jenny is abducted by men who are working for Curt Phillips. Phillips wants to make sure that Jenny is not around to testify at the trial. While following them into a forest area Barnaby is wounded by a bullet and left blinded. Escaped Jenny discovers him and both try to flee on foot, pursued by the men. Back at the office J.R. has become concerned since he can't reach Barnaby and he sets out to look for him. J.R. arrives in just the nick of time to rescue Barnaby.
#16 - Stages of Fear
Season 7 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/23/1978
Laura Harding, Betty's acting teacher from college, asks for help when Sybil Crawford, leading lady of a musical, is haunted by a series of threats. Betty poses as an actress to investigate. Sybil's boy friend is killed and the solution seems to lie in the girl's past.
#17 - Echo of a Distant Battle (Part 2)
Season 7 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/11/1979
When an eager D.A. threatens with a charge of negligent homicide a shattered Barnaby wants to give up the case, but Dorothy asks him to continue. Barnaby uncovers that several soldiers robbed gold in Vietnam and then deserted. Barnaby and J.R. try to figure out how Colby Warner fits into that picture or if he does at all.
#18 - Dark Homecoming
Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/19/1974
After becoming a famous country singer Ruby Deems returns to her home town attracting her ex-husband Cliff again. When she slays a jealous Cathy in self-defense her manager Shine makes her believe Cathy is dead. Later Shine kills the presumed dead.
#19 - Design for Madness
Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/18/1979
Unbalanced widow Amy Cameron, Barnaby's niece, is suspected to have shot Clark Harrison, but cannot remember. After Amy's attempted suicide Barnaby analyzes her blood and finds traces of a hypnotic drug, producing black-outs. He uncovers a scheme involving Amy's house keeper Mary.
#20 - Silent Vendetta
Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/29/1976
When writing the revealing memoirs of ex-crime boss Al Felix his ghostwriter Gideon is killed. Felix escapes and hides at the home of his friends Karl and Lottie to continue writing and wondering who betrayed him. Barnaby locates Felix, so does mob head Redmon.
#21 - Programmed for Killing
Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/27/1974
Pretending to get the birthday present for Emily, Chuck leaves the restaurant and rings up Emily's father at the company. By computer he activates a gear that kills the man. Barnaby investigates, meets young genius Brian and learns about ""Charlie"", the computer.
#22 - Fatal Flight
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/9/1973
Theodore Gordon is killed in a plane crash when trying to transport important documents for an international company. Another member dies in a parachute jump. Barnaby finds out Gordon had a love affair. He sets a trap by repeating the flight with the documents.
#23 - The Black Art of Dying
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/25/1973
After meeting psychic Jason Matthews on Kay Rogers' party Byron Colling is killed in a strange car accident. Byron's son hires Barnaby to investigate the cause. Kay hopes to find her child - kidnapped years ago - but fraud Matthews only wants her money.
#24 - Divorce - Murderer's Style
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/28/1973
Knowing his rich wife Linda wants to divorce him, Charlie Cord hires Wilson to kill Linda on a parking lot, while Charlie shoots ""the mugger"" as an unwanted witness. Linda's aunt Mrs. De Roche hires Barnaby to investigate. Mrs. Wilson blackmails Charlie.
#25 - Dark Legacy
Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/3/1974
During his honeymoon Paul Barringer falls to death from a cliff. Barnaby investigates for his widow Marilyn and finds out that there is one heir who wants to inherit the Barringer family fortune, killing the others. Marilyn waived, but learns she is pregnant.