The WORST episodes of Barnaby Jones
Every episode of Barnaby Jones ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst 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 - 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.
#2 - 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.
#3 - The Stalking Horse
Season 4 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/18/1976
Stayley Kircher, a warehouse owner, hires Barnaby to find out who tried to kill him. Barnaby poses as long lost brother Harry Kircher with Betty as his Girl Friday. They discover that several employees of unwitting Stayley are involved in a munition contraband.
#4 - Academy of Evil
Season 7 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/28/1978
When several teachers of Westhaven Academy for Girls are afflicted by mysterious accidents, Betty goes undercover and finds out about a secret society that punishes not only strict teachers but also disloyal members. Her life is endangered when Olivia, the leader, discovers her identity.
#5 - The Killin' Cousin
Season 8 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/3/1980
Betty's cousin once removed, Donald Forest, asks her to investigate the death of his father, but before they can meet he is killed. William Tarkington IV and V, private detectives, think Betty is the prime suspect, who wants the inheritance of her great aunt Emily. When Betty is also threatened they change their mind.
#6 - The Fatal Dive
Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/28/1976
The members of Trident Diving School hire Barnaby to investigate the death of their colleague. Barnaby meets Carl Everett and his assistant Alice Caldwell who claim to be searching for a sunken treasure. J.R. who is certified in scuba makes dives and searches for clues underwater while Barnaby and Betty do the same on land.
#7 - Deadline for Dying
Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/14/1976
Ben Ross falls to death after telling reporter Larry Christopher about an ecological association that is a fraud. Barnaby and J.R. investigate for Ross' wife. Christopher spots Ross' informer Ruth Sorrell and becomes a murder suspect when she is killed.
#8 - Sins of Thy Father
Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/21/1976
In order to get the same recognition as his older brother, Danny Reeves robs laundered gambling money from his father, a syndicate man, and is responsible for the death of a pilot. Barnaby and J.R. investigate for the pilot's wife to find out what really happened to her husband since she does not believe it was an accident.
#9 - Odd Man Loses
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/8/1974
The car pool sharers Don, Mel and Steve assault Mel's boss on a trip to San Diego. But during the robbery the man is killed. Barnaby traces Mel who gets nervous and wants to leave to Mexico with his wife Lorna. When Mel is accidentally killed she joins Don.
#10 - Friends 'till Death
Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/17/1974
Betty becomes Barnaby's new client when Susan, her college friend, mysteriously falls to death after trying to seek his help. Barnaby finds the key for a locker filled with heroin and Betty has to cope with the fact that Karen, another friend, smuggled the drugs.
#11 - Rendezvous with Terror
Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/24/1974
Juan DeVarga, a terminally ill Latin American leader, wants Barnaby to locate his son John Revez as he needs an heir. Barnaby finds out that Revez is also Javier, leader of a terrorist group opposing DeVarga. Jones arranges a meeting, but there is a traitor.
#12 - Catch Me If You Can
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/21/1973
Shortly before discovering the identity of the long sought ""Butterfly Killer"" Eddie Wheelock commits suicide. His friend and colleague Barnaby tries to prove it was murder. The killer leaves puzzling clues for Barnaby including a Greek typewriter.
#13 - Gold Record for Murder
Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/10/1974
When his 'ghost writer' Ray wants the proper credit for his songs, rock star David Colton kills him with a drug overdose. David tries to get rid of his manager Gil, who knows about Ray's songs. Barnaby, hired by Ray's parents, finds out about David's secret.
#14 - Murder in the Key of C
Season 8 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/7/1980
Connie Hollister is a musician working as a waitress. Her ""manager"" and friend Billy goes to Singleton and Devine Promotions to get her songs published. When they try to cheat him, he is killed. Connie asks Barnaby to find Billy, while Devine needs Connie's signature.
#15 - 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.
#16 - Venus as in Flytrap
Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/6/1974
After killing Margery, the disabled wife of her lover Larry, to accelerate a marriage Brooke is bitten by the family's dog. Margery's father doubts a suicide and hires Barnaby. Brooke tries to hide the bite in a cast, but Barnaby resorts to a ruse.
#17 - 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?
#18 - Death Beat
Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/15/1977
When Jim Anders jumps from a bridge a priest is dragged along and killed. Jim's girl friend Wendy, watching the event on Devitt Robinson's TV report, hires Barnaby as she doubts a suicide. Barnaby finds out that Robinson works with manufactured news.
#19 - 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.
#20 - 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.
#21 - 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.
#22 - 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.
#23 - Blind Terror
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/16/1973
While watching something terrible happen to her room mate Michelle college student Amy steps back, falls down the stairs and is left blind and cannot recall the events. In search for Michelle Barnaby talks to Amy, who is plagued by a mysterious visitor.
#24 - Day of the Viper
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/7/1973
Liza Mills, a former student of Barnaby's, asks for help when her father is killed by a snake bite and the suspicion falls on her adopted brother Kevin. Barnaby gains Kevin's confidence and finds out that Liza's fiancé Jim Howard has something to hide.
#25 - The Killing Defense
Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/2/1973
As a defense counsel Edward Brendon clears Doug Anthony of stealing precious jewels. When Anthony digs out the hidden jewelry he is shot by Brendon, who is assisted by Anthony's wife Gail. She gives him an alibi. Barnaby has to recover the jewels for the owner.