The BEST episodes of Barnaby Jones season 1

Every episode of Barnaby Jones season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Barnaby Jones season 1!

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.

Last Updated: 4/12/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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Sing a Song of Murder
star
8.63
8 votes

#1 - Sing a Song of Murder

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/1/1973

When rock music star Rick Michaels accidentally falls into his empty pool his girl friend April thinks he is dead. Rick's managers Rooney and Paige believe the same and fearing for their salary they feign a kidnapping. Barnaby searches for April, who disappeared.

Directors: Virgil Vogel
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Twenty Million Alibis
star
8.25
8 votes

#2 - Twenty Million Alibis

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 5/6/1973

During a TV talk show presenting his memoirs former jewel thief Tony Neill plans to steal a diamond necklace unnoticed during a break. He succeeds, but kills the butler. Barnaby is hired by an insurance company to find jewelry and asks Neill for advice.

Directors: Michael Caffey
The Loose Connection
star
8.14
7 votes

#3 - The Loose Connection

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/18/1973

Barnaby travels to Baja California with Eleanor to find her father. Way back his car is damaged in an accident. Unwittingly he has been used as heroin courier. He calls Eleanor to account and they let themselves in for a dangerous gamble with the dope pushers.

Directors: Virgil Vogel
A Little Glory, a Little Death
star
8.14
7 votes

#4 - A Little Glory, a Little Death

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/29/1973

Gloria overhears aging movie star Jason Craig's involvement in drug smuggling. Her blackmail threat leads to her death and Jason pushes her car over a cliff. Her daughter Doris hires Barnaby, who is put out of action. Jones tells Doris to disguise as Gloria.

Directors: Robert Day
To Catch a Dead Man
star
8.13
8 votes

#5 - To Catch a Dead Man

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/4/1973

Wealthy married Philip Carlyle persuades unwitting Mike Hartney to sail his cabin cruiser with a time bomb aboard. After the explosion Phil is believed to be dead and can begin a new life with his mistress Diane. Julie hires Barnaby to search for her friend Mike.

Directors: William Hale
Perchance to Kill
star
8.00
8 votes

#6 - Perchance to Kill

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/11/1973

Tony Bloom accuses his associate Steve Kingston of a theft and of having an affair with his wife. Steve kills Tony pretending an assault by two hippies. Barnaby is hired to find Christie and her hippy friend Eric who will be arrested under suspicion of murder.

Directors: Walter Grauman
See Some Evil...Do Some Evil
star
8.00
8 votes

#7 - See Some Evil...Do Some Evil

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/8/1973

Harry Warren is shot by Stanley Lambert, the seemingly blind pianist at "The Offside" club. Barnaby finds out that larger amounts from Warren's account did not go to his mistress Jenny. He tries to expose Stanley as a person with eyesight and a blackmailer.

Directors: Lawrence Dobkin
Murder-Go-Round
star
8.00
7 votes

#8 - Murder-Go-Round

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/15/1973

Nick Gorman, who tries in vain to meet Johnny Arthur, is killed in a hit-and-run accident. Barnaby poses as a man on a fishing trip to investigate. The townspeople Flory, Johnson, Spake and Rile draw lots on who should kill Barnaby. They all acquired sudden wealth.

Directors: Marc Daniels
Writer: Steve Fisher
To Denise, With Love and Murder
star
8.00
5 votes

#9 - To Denise, With Love and Murder

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/22/1973

Alex Chandler kills his mistress Denise during a quarrel, because she talked to his rich wife Hazel hoping to encourage a divorce. A disappointed Hazel leaves home and as she does not return her brother hires Barnaby to find out whether Alex murdered Hazel.

Directors: Ralph Senensky
Murder in the Doll's House
star
7.89
9 votes

#10 - Murder in the Doll's House

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/25/1973

While working on a revealing book Harry Doyle is killed. Looking for the missing writer and his manuscript Barnaby meets Harry's friend Nancy. Finally he spots the missing pages in the doll's house of Craig Woodridge's aunt. Does Craig have a shady past?

Directors: Lawrence Dobkin
Sunday: Doomsday
star
7.80
10 votes

#11 - Sunday: Doomsday

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/25/1973

Just released Howard Lee meditates revenge on Barnaby Jones who put him into prison. He sends a funeral wreath, predicts Barnaby's death on Sunday and is constantly watching him. When Betty finally finds out who threatens Barnaby she falls into Lee's hands.

Directors: Michael Caffey
The Murdering Class
star
7.25
8 votes

#12 - The Murdering Class

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/4/1973

When caught stealing exam questions Paul accidentally kills George Enright. His friend Charles Lomax makes it look like a drunken George stole money and fell to death. When Barnaby is hired to investigate, Charles drops false clues that point to Ron Fannon.

Directors: Ralph Senensky
Requiem for a Son
star
7.20
10 votes

#13 - Requiem for a Son

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/28/1973

After his private detective son Hal Jones is shot, retired Barnaby Jones decides to solve the murder with the help of Frank Cannon. They find out that Hal was working for Terry McCormack, who seeks a career in politics but is blackmailed now.

Writer: Edward Hume