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 - 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.
#2 - 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.
#3 - 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.
#4 - 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.
#5 - 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.
#6 - 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.
#7 - 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.
#8 - 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.
#9 - Renegade's Child
Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/23/1976
When Wayne Lockwood robbed a super market his girl friend was imprisoned. After her release Barnaby is hired to find her six-year old son Jody who accompanies his father Wayne on gun hijackings. Barnaby poses as a mercenary colonel and meets Wayne's orderer.
#10 - Testament of Power
Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/20/1977
Matthews and Ryan want to get access to an altered last will of billionaire R.C. Bradley. While holding Margaret Jason against her will, she escapes and falls to her death. Her daughter Linda doubts a suicide and asks Barnaby for help. J.R. becomes infatuated with Linda and he and Barnaby try to find out the connection between Mrs. Jason and Mr. Bradley.
#11 - Anatomy of Fear
Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/17/1977
Three young men from a carpet cleaning company, Tony, Vic and Casey, intrude in the house of Betty's friend Sharon and she is raped by Tony. Barnaby and J.R. manage to capture Casey, but Tony abducts Betty and demands to receive Sharon in exchange.
#12 - 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.
#13 - 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.
#14 - 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.
#15 - 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.
#16 - 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.
#17 - The Killer on Campus
Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/24/1977
Barnaby has to investigate the apparent suicide of instructor Kemper from Rutledge University. Barnaby and J.R. discover that Kemper and Doris Carson were former members of an underground revolutionary cell, and planned to write a revealing book.
#18 - The Picture Pirates
Season 7 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/21/1978
To pay the debts of his girl friend Rita, Jimmy Collier gives brand new motion pictures to film pirates. Editor Ken discovers him, but is killed by Jimmy's accomplices. J.R. arranges a meeting with Francesca and Barnaby poses as a black market film buyer.
#19 - Nest of Scorpions
Season 7 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/26/1978
Frank Leeds, a real estate developer, is mysteriously slain with a spade after following Melissa Warren into the forest. In search of Frank J.R. encounters Emily and her nieces Melissa and Sarah at Big Cedar Lodge, who kill any intruder and J.R. will be their next target.
#20 - 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.
#21 - Sister of Death
Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/6/1977
When someone pulls the plug of comatose Marie's life support machine, her natural sister, a nun, is accused of murder. Barnaby and J.R. try to prove Sister Terry's innocence and find out that Marie was a prostitute involved in a blackmailing plot.
#22 - 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.
#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 - 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.
#25 - Duet for Danger
Season 5 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/5/1977
The singing sisters Ruby and Pearl Connors from the episode ""Duet for Dying"" join a prison escape and seek Lester Gibson's help to travel to Nashville. His bride Mary Beth asks Barnaby to find Lester. When Ruby and Pearl try to cheat club owner De Marco he forces them to distract gambler Kingston. Eventually Barnaby and J.R. must come to the rescue of Lester and the duo.