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Homicide: Life on the Street

Homicide: Life on the Street is an American police drama television series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Police Department's Homicide Unit. It ran for seven seasons (122 episodes) on NBC from January 31, 1993, to May 21, 1999, and was succeeded by Homicide: The Movie (2000), which served as the series finale. The series was created by Paul Attanasio and based on David Simon's book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets (1991). Many of the characters and stories used throughout the show were based on events depicted in the book.

Homicide: Life on the Street
Genre
Created byPaul Attanasio
Based onHomicide: A Year on the Killing Streets
by David Simon
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons7
No. of episodes122 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Gail Mutrux
  • Julie Martin
  • James Yoshimura
  • Anya Epstein
Running time44 to 49 minutes (per episode)
Production companies
  • Baltimore Pictures
  • Reeves Entertainment (1993, Season 1)
  • MCEG Sterling Incorporated (1994–1999, Seasons 2–7)
  • Fatima Productions
  • NBC Productions (1994–1996, Seasons 3–4)
  • NBC Studios (1996–1999, Seasons 5–7)
DistributorNBCUniversal Television Distribution
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseJanuary 31, 1993 (1993-01-31) –
May 21, 1999 (1999-05-21)

While Homicide featured an ensemble cast, Andre Braugher emerged as a breakout star through his portrayal of Detective Frank Pembleton.[1] The show won Television Critics Association Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Drama in 1996, 1997, and 1998. It also became the first drama ever to win three Peabody Awards for drama in 1993, 1995, and 1997. It received recognition from the Primetime Emmy Awards, Satellite Awards, Image Awards, Viewers for Quality Television, GLAAD Media Awards and Young Artist Awards. In 1997, the fifth season episode "Prison Riot" was ranked No. 32 on TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time.[2][3]

In 2007, it was listed as one of TIME magazine's "Best TV Shows of All-TIME."[4] In 1996, TV Guide named the series 'The Best Show You're Not Watching'.[5] The show placed #46 on Entertainment Weekly's "New TV Classics" list.[6] In 2013, TV Guide ranked it #55 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time.[7]

Characters

Character Portrayed by Occupation Seasons
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Movie
Beau Felton Daniel Baldwin Detective Main Main
John Munch Richard Belzer Detective Main
Frank Pembleton Andre Braugher Detective Main Main
Meldrick Lewis Clark Johnson Detective Main
Al Giardello Yaphet Kotto Lieutenant Main
Kay Howard Melissa Leo Detective / Sergeant Main Main
Steve Crosetti Jon Polito Detective Main Main
Tim Bayliss Kyle Secor Detective Main
Stanley Bolander Ned Beatty Detective Main Main
Megan Russert Isabella Hofmann Lieutenant / Captain / Detective Main Guest Main
Mike Kellerman Reed Diamond Detective / Private Investigator Main Guest Main
Julianna Cox Michelle Forbes Chief Medical Examiner Main Main
J. H. Brodie Max Perlich Crime Scene Videographer Guest Main Main
Stuart Gharty Peter Gerety Officer / Detective / Lieutenant Recurring Main
Paul Falsone Jon Seda Detective Guest Main
Laura Ballard Callie Thorne Detective Main
Terri Stivers Toni Lewis Detective Recurring Main
Rene Sheppard Michael Michele Detective Main
Michael Giardello Giancarlo Esposito FBI Agent / Officer Main
Ed Danvers Željko Ivanek Assistant State's Attorney Recurring Main

Overview

Homicide: Life on the Street was adapted from Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, a non-fiction book by Baltimore Sun reporter David Simon, based on his experience following a Baltimore Police Department homicide unit for all of 1988. Simon, who became a consultant and producer with the series, said he was particularly interested in the demythification of the American detective. While detectives are typically portrayed as noble characters who care deeply about their victims, Simon believed real detectives regarded violence as a normal aspect of their jobs.[8]

Simon sent the book to film director and Baltimore native Barry Levinson with the hopes that it would be adapted into a film, but Levinson thought it would be more appropriate material for television because the stories and characters could be developed over a longer period of time. Levinson believed that a television adaptation would bring a fresh and original edge to the police drama genre because the book exploded many of the myths of the police drama genre by highlighting that cops did not always get along with each other, and that criminals occasionally got away with their crimes.[9]

Levinson approached screenwriter Paul Attanasio with the material, and Homicide became Attanasio's first foray into television writing. Subsequently, all episodes of Homicide display the credit, "Created by Paul Attanasio" at the end of their opening sequence, a credit which both Eric Overmyer and James Yoshimura dispute on the DVD audio commentary to the season 5 episode, "The Documentary", claiming instead the show was created by Tom Fontana and Yoshimura. The series title was originally Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, but NBC changed it so that viewers would not believe it was limited to a single year; the network also believed the use of the term "life" would be more reaffirming than the term "killing streets". Levinson was indifferent to the change, asserting that viewers would probably casually refer to the series as "Homicide" in either case.[10] The opening theme music was composed by Baltimore native Lynn F. Kowal, a graduate of the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

The greatest lie, I think, in dramatic TV is the cop who stands over a body and pulls up the sheet and mutters, 'Damn' and looks down sadly. To a real homicide detective, it's just a day's work.

David Simon[8]

Homicide's purpose was to provide its viewers with a no-nonsense, police procedural-type glimpse into the lives of a squad of inner-city detectives. As opposed to many television shows and movies involving cops, Homicide initially opted for a bleak sort of realism in its depiction of "The Job", portraying it as repetitive, spiritually draining, an existential threat to one's psyche, often glamour- and glory-free—but, nonetheless, a social necessity. In its attempt to do so, Homicide developed a trademark feel and look that distinguished itself from its contemporaries. For example, the series was filmed with hand-held 16 mm cameras almost entirely on-location in Baltimore (making the idiosyncratic city something of a character itself). It also regularly used music montages, jump cut editing, and the three-times-in-a-row repetition of the same camera shot during particularly crucial moments in the story. The episodes were also noted for interweaving as many as three or four storylines in a single episode. NBC executives often asked the writers to focus on a single homicide case rather than multiple ones, but the show producers tended to resist this advice.[10]

Despite premiering in the coveted post-Super Bowl time slot, the show opened to lackluster ratings, and cancellation was an immediate threat. However, the show's winning of two Emmy Awards (for Levinson's direction of "Gone for Goode" and Fontana's writing of "Three Men and Adena") and the success of another police drama—the more sensational NYPD Blue—helped convince NBC to give it another chance beyond the truncated, nine-episode-long first season. Homicide consistently ranked behind ABC's 20/20 and CBS's Nash Bridges in the Nielsen ratings. Despite the poor ratings, reviews were consistently strong from the beginning of the series. Commentators were especially impressed with the high number of strong, complex, well-developed and non-stereotypical African American characters like Pembleton, Lewis and Giardello.[11]

The police department scenes were shot at the historic City Recreation Pier in the Fells Point neighborhood in Baltimore. Although NBC occasionally pressured the show's producers to write happy endings to the homicide cases, the network gave an unusual amount of freedom for the writers to create darker stories and non-traditional detective story elements, like unsolved cases where criminals escape.[12] Nevertheless, in its attempt to improve Homicide's ratings, NBC often insisted on changes, both cosmetic and thematic. For example, by the beginning of the third season, talented but unphotogenic veteran actor Jon Polito had been ordered dropped from the cast.

Considered by critics to be one of television's most authentic police dramas, as well as an excellent dramatic series propelled by a talented ensemble cast, Homicide garnered three straight TCA (Television Critics Association) Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Drama from 1996 to 1998 and was the first drama ever to win three of the prestigious Peabody Awards for best drama (1993, 1995, 1997).

The show was originally a production of Baltimore Pictures in association with Thames Television's subsidiary studio Reeves Entertainment, an American studio. Inbetween the first and second season, Reeves had closed due to Pearson plc's acquisition of their parent company Thames, and the latter's requirement of either spinning off the studio or transferring their existing properties still in production which included Home in late 1993.[13] After the four-episode second season had aired, NBC negotiated with Thames and MCEG Sterling Entertainment, who oversaw and held interest on the Homicide property on behalf of Thames, on the show's renewal for an order for a third season alongside taking over co-ownership, co-production duties, and copyright, though Pearson (whose television division and library is now owned by Fremantle) continued to hold international distribution rights outside of North America.[14][15]

The reality of Homicide's low Nielsen ratings hovered over all things, however, and always left the show in a precarious position; it also had a harder time gaining a large audience because fewer viewers are at home watching TV on Friday nights. Despite this, the network managed to keep what TV Guide referred to as "The Best Show You're Not Watching" on the air for five full seasons and seven seasons in all. In July 1997, NBC gave the series producers an ultimatum to make Homicide more popular than Nash Bridges or face cancellation. When this goal was not reached, the studio gave serious consideration to canceling the show, but a number of shocks at NBC increased Homicide's value. Among those factors were the loss of the popular series Seinfeld and the $850 million deal needed to keep ER from leaving the network.[12]

Homicide was at one time syndicated on Lifetime and Court TV as well as the all-crime television cable station Sleuth, and aired on WGN America. Episodes of Homicide have aired on TNT as part of several crossovers the series had with Law & Order, which TNT owns broadcast rights for; in these cases both crossover episodes aired back to back. It was recently televised on the Centric channel.

All seven seasons are available on DVD. One DVD set combines the first two seasons. Additional sets contain the complete third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh seasons. A boxed set shaped like a filing cabinet features an additional disc containing the Homicide TV movie and the relevant Law & Order crossover episodes – those without this disc had to rely on Law & Order recap clips on the season DVDs. Significantly, the DVDs contain the episodes in the producers' intended order, not the order in which NBC aired them.

The show has spawned changes in the real life Baltimore homicide unit. As seen in the show, the unit originally used a dry-erase board in order to visually track detectives' progress at solving crimes. After the show began to air, the Baltimore Police Department discontinued the practice, believing the board, which concentrated on "clearance rates" for crimes, had a negative impact on publicity. It was brought back later at the insistence of the detectives.[16]

Broadcast history

Season Episodes Title Airdate U.S. Viewers (in millions) Title Airdate U.S. Viewers (in millions) TV Season Time Slot (ET) Nielsen Ratings (in millions)
1 9 Gone for Goode January 31, 1993 28.9 “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” March 24, 1993 10.5 1992–93 Wednesday at 9:00 pm 8.7
2 4 “See No Evil” January 13, 1994 18.2 “Bop Gun” January 6, 1994 24.9 1993–94 Thursday at 10:00 pm 12.7
3 20 “Nearer My God To Thee” October 14, 1994 11.0 The Gas Man May 5, 1995 10.0 1994–95 Friday at 10:00 pm 7.8
4 22 Fire (Part 1) October 20, 1995 13.0 “Worked Related” May 17, 1996 13.0 1995–96 8.5
5 22 “Hostage, Part 1” September 20, 1996 11.0 “Strangers and Other Things” May 16, 1997 11.0 1996–97 7.7
6 23 “Blood Ties, Part 1” October 17, 1997 11.4 “Fallen Heroes, Part 2” May 8, 1998 12.2 1997–98 7.5
7 22 “La Flamiglia” September 25, 1998 9.85 “Forgive Us Our Trespasses” May 21, 1999 11.4 1998–99 10.2

Plot

 
Several regulars from across the series's seven-year run. Left to right: Ned Beatty, Clark Johnson, Richard Belzer, Melissa Leo, Kyle Secor, Andre Braugher, Callie Thorne, Yaphet Kotto, Peter Gerety, Toni Lewis, Jon Seda.

Seasons 1 and 2

The first season saw the introductions of Detectives Frank Pembleton (Andre Braugher), Stan Bolander (Ned Beatty), Kay Howard (Melissa Leo), Meldrick Lewis (Clark Johnson), John Munch (Richard Belzer), Tim Bayliss (Kyle Secor), Beau Felton (Daniel Baldwin) and Steve Crosetti (Jon Polito), as well as the Commander, Lieutenant Al Giardello (Yaphet Kotto).

Season 3

The third season saw the first changes in the character lineup; when Detective Steve Crosetti (Jon Polito) was not seen in any episodes, his body was found in a death by suicide in the sixth episode of the season. Isabella Hofmann joined the cast as Lieutenant Megan Russert, the commander of the other Homicide shift, it also dealt with her promotion to Captain, and saw the last appearances of Felton and Bolander (Daniel Baldwin, Ned Beatty).

Seasons 4 and 5

The fourth season saw the departure of Daniel Baldwin and Ned Beatty, who played Beau Felton and Stan Bolander respectively. In the story, the two detectives had recently been given a 22 week suspension, as related in the opening scene of the season's first episode. Bolander went on to retirement, and Felton, recruited for deep undercover work, was killed (off-screen) in the line of duty during the fifth season. The characters returned in the movie. This season also sees Mike Kellerman (Reed Diamond) join the cast. Isabella Hofmann (newly demoted, Detective Megan Russert) left at the end of Season 4, but returned in the Season 5 finale, in which she, Kay Howard (Melissa Leo) and J.H. Brodie (Max Perlich) made their last appearances. Season 5 also saw the addition of Chief Medical Examiner Julianna Cox (Michelle Forbes) and Detective Terri Stivers (Toni Lewis).

Season 6

The sixth season was the first not to feature Leo as Sergeant Kay Howard, and the last to feature Braugher as Detective Frank Pembleton and Forbes as Chief Medical Examiner Julianna Cox. Jon Seda, Callie Thorne and Peter Gerety joined the cast as Detectives Paul Falsone, Laura Ballard and Stuart Gharty. J.H. Brodie (Max Perlich) is no longer present, nor is Detective Meg Russert (Isabella Hofmann).

Season 7

Following the events of the sixth season finale, Detective Frank Pembleton (Braugher) and Detective Mike Kellerman (Diamond) are no longer regulars; neither is Chief Medical Examiner Julianna Cox (Forbes), who left mid-season. Braugher and Forbes did not return until the movie, while Diamond made a two-episode guest appearance. Michael Michele stars in this season as Det. Rene Sheppard and Giancarlo Esposito is cast as Giardello's son Mike, who is assigned to Homicide as an FBI Liaison.

Homicide: The Movie

In 2000, following the conclusion of the series, a TV film titled Homicide: The Movie was shown on NBC. The squad's former Lieutenant, Al Giardello, was running for mayor on a controversial pro-drug-legalization platform, and is close to victory when he is gunned down. The assassination attempt inspires the return of the entire unit, past and present, in an effort to apprehend the gunman.

Crossovers

Homicide: Life on the Street executive producer Tom Fontana and Law & Order creator Dick Wolf became close friends in the 1980s while working as writers in the same building, at the same time, on the series St. Elsewhere (Fontana) and Hill Street Blues (Wolf).[17]

In the 1990s, the two friends decided to do a small crossover between their (then) current shows, with Law & Order NYPD Detective Mike Logan (Chris Noth) delivering a fugitive to Homicide: Life on the Street's BPD Detective Frank Pembleton during the prologue of the season 3 episode "Law & Disorder".[18][19]

The concept proved popular with fans and with both Fontana and Wolf.[17] As of the 2015–2016 television season, this first crossover by Wolf has been followed by 15 other crossover stories in his numerous Law & Order and Chicago franchises. Fontana expanded the Homicide: Life on the Street crossovers to include characters from St. Elsewhere, years after that series had ended its run. Wolf would adopt the same post-cancellation crossover concept when Homicide: Life on the Street characters Meldrick Lewis and Billie Lou Hatfield (Ellen McElduff) appeared, 14 years after their series ended, at John Munch's retirement party from the NYPD on the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Wonderland Story".

Homicide Episode Crossover Series Nature of crossover
S3 Ep15: "Law & Disorder"
Chris Noth has a cameo in the prologue as Detective Mike Logan, arriving at Baltimore's Penn Station to deliver a prisoner to Detective Pembleton.
S4 Ep04: "A Doll's Eyes"
Law & Order
Law & Order
S6 Ep16: "Mercy"
Alfre Woodard reprises her St. Elsewhere role as Dr. Roxanne Turner.
S7 Ep15: "Sideshow (Part 2)"
Law & Order
series regular
John Munch, created for Homicide: Life on the Street and played by Richard Belzer, moved to New York and joined the NYPD's Special Victims Unit for 15 years (15 seasons of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit).
St. Elsewhere
and
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
  • Ed Begley Jr. plays a surgeon identified in the closing credits as his St. Elsewhere character, Dr. Victor Ehrlich.
  • Now a regular character on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NYPD Det. John Munch (Richard Belzer) returns to Baltimore to help investigate the shooting of Al Giardello.
series regular
Multiple
Combined with being a multi-season character on Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, John Munch (played by Richard Belzer) has been credited 459 times, on a total of 9 different television shows across five different networks, including Law & Order, The Beat, The X-Files, Arrested Development, 30 Rock, The Wire and Law & Order: Trial by Jury.
series regulars
When Det. Munch retired from the NYPD, 13 years after Homicide: The Movie aired, Homicide: Life on the Street characters Det. Meldrick Lewis (Clark Johnson) and Munch's ex-wife Billie Lou Hatfield (Ellen McElduff) were present at his New York party, on the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Wonderland Story".

Other cast members

Recurring cast members

Homicide featured a number of recurring characters, who starred alongside the ensemble. Wendy Hughes (Carol Blythe), Ami Brabson (Mary Pembleton) and Željko Ivanek (Ed Danvers) are the most notable, with the first appearing in Season 1, and the other two appearing in Seasons 1–6 and Seasons 1–7 respectively. Clayton LeBouef played Captain and later Colonel George Barnfather throughout the run. Ralph Tabakin played Dr. Scheiner in all seven seasons. The recurring cast also included: Gerald F. Gough as Col. Burt Granger (seasons 1–3); Lee Tergesen as Officer Chris Thormann (seasons 1, 3 and 5); Sean Whitesell as Dr. Eli Devilbiss (seasons 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7); Michael Willis as Darin Russom (seasons 1–7); Sharon Ziman as Naomi (seasons 1–7); Judy Thornton as Judy (seasons 2–7); Herb Levinson as Dr. Lausanne (seasons 2–7); Gary D'Addario as Lt. Jasper (seasons 3–7); Walt MacPherson as Capt. Roger Gaffney (seasons 3–7); Harlee McBride as Alyssa Dyer (seasons 3–7); Rhonda Overby as Reporter Dawn Daniels (seasons 3–7); Kristin Rohde as Officer Sally Rogers (seasons 3–7); Mary B. Ward as Beth Felton (season 3); Christopher Meloni as bounty hunter Dennis Knoll (season 7); Erik Dellums as Luther Mahoney (seasons 4 and 5); Mekhi Phifer as Junior Bunk (seasons 5 and 6); Hazelle Goodman as Georgia Rae Mahoney (season 6); Ellen McElduff as Billie Lou Hatfield (seasons 5–7); Austin Pendleton as Dr. George Griscom (season 7), and Jason Stanford as Joe Ryblack (seasons 6 and 7). Joey Perillo as Bernard Munch (Seasons 3 and 6).

Notable guest appearances

A number of well-known actors and celebrities appeared on the show, including Steve Allen, Lewis Black, Wilford Brimley, Steve Burns, Steve Buscemi, Bruce Campbell, Joan Chen, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jeffrey Donovan, Tate Donovan, Charles Durning, Charles S. Dutton, Richard Edson, Kathryn Erbe, Edie Falco, Peter Gallagher, Paul Giamatti, John Glover, Moses Gunn, Luis Guzmán, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marcia Gay Harden, Neil Patrick Harris, Pat Hingle, James Earl Jones, Terry Kinney, Bruno Kirby, Tony LoBianco, Julianna Margulies, Jena Malone, Anne Meara, Christopher Meloni, David Morse, Terry O'Quinn, Joe Perry, Chris Rock, J. K. Simmons, Fisher Stevens, Jerry Stiller (in a different season from wife Anne Meara), Eric Stoltz, Tony Todd, Lily Tomlin, Kate Walsh, Isaiah Washington, John Waters, Robin Williams, Dean Winters, Elijah Wood, and Alfre Woodard. Jason Priestley joined the cast in the climactic television movie, during which his character referred to Pembleton and Bayliss as "legends". Typically, well-known actors making guest appearances on Homicide were cast in fully developed roles central to the episode in which they appeared. Robin Williams's portrayal of a grieving widower and father in the second-season, "Bop Gun", is a notable example, as is Steve Buscemi's role as a suspected gunman in the third-season "End Game."

Some celebrities made cameo appearances that were more lighthearted in style. Director (and Baltimore native) John Waters—who called the show "the grittiest, best-acted, coolest-looking show on TV"[20]—appeared twice, once as a nameless bartender listening to a disconsolate Detective Bolander, and another time as a talkative prisoner transferred from New York to Baltimore by Det. Mike Logan (played by Chris Noth). Waters and Noth received "special thanks" in the episode's closing credits. Out traveling on his motorcycle, Jay Leno stopped in at the Waterfront to have a soft drink, quickly departing after finding his bartenders strangely silent. In one particularly self-referential episode, journalist Tim Russert appeared as himself, bickering about birthday presents with his "cousin", Lieutenant Megan Russert. Film director Barry Levinson, who also executive produced Homicide, acted as himself directing an episode for a show-within-a-show called Homicide in the episode, "The Documentary".

Psychobilly legend The Reverend Horton Heat made a brief appearance as Preacher Lemuel Galvin, a resident at a motel where the killing of a biker is investigated.

The Mayor of Baltimore (Kurt Schmoke) and the Governor of Maryland (Parris Glendening) made brief appearances in the episode about the death of Beau Felton, appearing at the memorial press conference for Felton's death in the line of duty.

Recurring characters of particular note include the Mahoney crime family. Luther Mahoney, played by Erik Dellums, appears in seasons four and five. Mahoney is a crime and drug kingpin who uses others to do his dirty work and masterfully manipulates the law to repeatedly escape conviction and hide his connection to the crimes committed by his underlings. At first, he is depicted as an almost friendly rival, with both Mahoney and the police mutually amused by Mahoney's antics. Gradually, however, the police—particularly Kellerman and Lewis—grow frustrated with Mahoney, until Lewis viciously beats him during an arrest, and Kellerman fatally shoots Mahoney under questionable circumstances.

In the following season, the Mahoney organization is taken over by Luther's sister Georgia Rae, played by Hazelle Goodman, who seeks both legal and illegal revenge against the Baltimore Police Department.

Mekhi Phifer makes several appearances as Junior Bunk, a dim-witted street thug who is initially depicted as someone with the potential to go straight. His crimes grow increasingly violent, however, and in his final appearance he is revealed to be Georgia Rae's son, with the real name "Nathaniel Lee Mahoney". Junior's final appearance takes place after the character has been hardened by jail time, and the once minor criminal deals the homicide department a major blow with a multiple shooting in the police station, killing three uniformed cops and injuring two of the detectives. In retaliation, the police declare all-out war on the Mahoney crime organization. Several cops, including Bayliss, are injured, and several criminals, including Georgia Rae, are killed as a result; in addition, both Pembleton and Kellerman turn in their badges.

Episodes

Home media

A&E Home Video (under license by NBC Entertainment) released all seven seasons of Homicide: Life on the Street on DVD in Region 1 between 2003 and 2005. The TV movie Homicide: The Movie was released on DVD in Region 1 by Trimark Pictures on May 22, 2001. A&E Home Entertainment also released a complete series set in collectible 'file cabinet' packaging on November 14, 2006. The complete series was subsequently re-released in regular packaging on October 20, 2009. FremantleMedia Ltd handled distribution rights of all 7 seasons via international.

On April 5, 2017, it was announced that Shout! Factory had acquired the rights to the series in Region 1 and would re-release Homicide: Life on the Street - The Complete Series on DVD on July 4, 2017.[21]

In Australia, Region 4, the releases were the same as the Region 2 release. These were distributed by Roadshow Entertainment. The Complete Series collection was distributed by Shock Entertainment and packaged as the Region 1 releases with Series 1 & 2 and Series 3 through to 7. Via Vision Entertainment obtained the rights to the series and released 'The Complete Series (Special Edition)' boxset in May 2021 in the same format of the shock releases.

DVD Name Episodes Release dates
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
The Complete Seasons 1&2 13 May 27, 2003 February 26, 2007 (Series 1) June 30, 2009 (Series 1)
The Complete Season 3 20 October 28, 2003 July 16, 2007 (Series 2) September 30, 2009 (Series 2)
The Complete Season 4 22 March 30, 2004 September 24, 2007 (Series 3) December 2, 2009 (Series 3)
The Complete Season 5 22 September 28, 2004 February 4, 2008 (Series 4) February 2, 2010 (Series 4)
The Complete Season 6 23 January 25, 2005 May 5, 2007 (Series 5) May 5, 2011 (Series 5)
The Complete Season 7 22 June 28, 2005 June 2, 2007 (Series 6) TBA (Series 6)
Homicide: The Movie 1 May 22, 2001 N/A N/A
The Complete Series 122 November 14, 2006
July 4, 2017 (re-release)
March 29, 2010 October 3, 2012[22] May 19, 2021 (Re-Release)

Spin-off series

The show inspired the spin-off Homicide: Second Shift, which was shown exclusively online and did not include the regular cast.

Nielsen ratings

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominee(s) Result
1993 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directing - Drama Series Barry Levinson Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Gwen Verdon Nominated
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series Barry Levinson Won
Outstanding Graphic Design and Title Sequences Mark Pellington Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Tom Fontana Won
Writers Guild of America Awards Episodic Drama Tom Fontana & Frank Pugliese Won
Paul Attanasio Nominated
1994 Peabody Awards N/A Homicide: Life on the Street Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Robin Williams Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards Episodic Drama David Simon, David Mills, & Tom Fontana Won
Noel Behn & Tom Fontana Nominated
1995 Viewers for Quality Television Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series Andre Braugher Won
Writers Guild of America Awards Episodic Drama Bonnie Mark, Tom Fontana & Julie Martin Nominated
1996 Image Awards Outstanding Drama Series Homicide: Life on the Street Nominated
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Andre Braugher Nominated
Yaphet Kotto Nominated
Peabody Awards N/A Homicide: Life on the Street Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Casting for a Series Louis DiGiaimo, Pat Moran, Brett Goldstein Nominated
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Lily Tomlin Nominated
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Andre Braugher Nominated
Television Critics Association Awards Program of the Year Homicide: Life on the Street Won
Outstanding Achievement in Drama Homicide: Life on the Street Won
Viewers for Quality Television Best Quality Drama Series Homicide: Life on the Street Won
1997 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directing - Drama Series Barbara Kopple Won
Image Awards Outstanding Drama Series Homicide: Life on the Street Nominated
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Andre Braugher Nominated
Yaphet Kotto Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Casting for a Series Louis DiGiaimo, Pat Moran, Brett Goldstein Nominated
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Anne Meara Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Actor – Television Series Drama Andre Braugher Nominated
Best Television Series – Drama Homicide: Life on the Street Nominated
Television Critics Association Awards Individual Achievement in Drama Andre Braugher Won
Outstanding Achievement in Drama Homicide: Life on the Street Won
TCA Award for Program of the Year Homicide: Life on the Street Nominated
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Drama Series – Guest Starring Younger Actor Elijah Wood Nominated
1998 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directing - Drama Series Steve Buschemi Nominated
Image Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Andre Braugher Nominated
Yaphet Kotto Nominated
Peabody Awards N/A Homicide: Life on the Street Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Casting for a Series Louis DiGiaimo, Pat Moran, Brett Goldstein Won
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Charles Durning Nominated
Vincent D'Onofrio Nominated
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Alfre Woodard Nominated
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Andre Braugher Won
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series James Yoshimura Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Television Series – Drama Homicide: Life on the Street Nominated
Television Critics Association Awards Individual Achievement in Drama Andre Braugher Won
Outstanding Achievement in Drama Homicide: Life on the Street Won
Viewers for Quality Television Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series Andre Braugher Nominated
Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series Kyle Secor Nominated
Best Quality Drama Series Homicide: Life on the Street Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards Episodic Drama David Mills, James Yoshimura, & David Simon Nominated
Eric Overmyer Nominated
James Yoshimura Nominated
1999 GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Drama Series Homicide: Life on the Street Nominated
Image Awards Outstanding Drama Series Homicide: Life on the Street Nominated
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Andre Braugher Nominated
Yaphet Kotto Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Giancarlo Esposito Nominated
Clark Johnson Nominated
Toni Lewis Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series Edwin Sherin Nominated
Television Critics Association Awards Outstanding Achievement in Drama Homicide: Life on the Street Nominated
2000 Image Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Michael Michele Nominated

References

  1. ^ Fretts, Bruce (May 1, 1998). "The show that wouldn't die". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 18, 2008.
  2. ^ "Special Collectors' Issue: 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time". TV Guide (June 28 – July 4). 1997.
  3. ^ "TV Guide's list of top 100 episodes". Associated Press. June 22, 1997. from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Poniewozik, James (September 6, 2007). . TIME. Time, Inc. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
  5. ^ TV Guide Book of Lists. Running Press. 2007. p. 212. ISBN 978-0-7624-3007-9.
  6. ^ "The New Classics: TV". Entertainment Weekly. June 18, 2007. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  7. ^ "TV Guide Magazine's 60 Best Series of All Time". TV Guide.
  8. ^ a b Simon, David (November 4, 1998). Anatomy of "Homicide: Life on the Street" (Documentary). Baltimore, Maryland: Public Broadcasting Service.
  9. ^ Kalat, David P. (1998). Homicide: Life on the Street: The Unofficial Companion. Los Angeles, California: Renaissance Books. p. 102. ISBN 1-58063-021-9.
  10. ^ a b Levinson, Barry (2003). Homicide Life on the Street – The Seasons 1 & 2 (DVD). A&E Home Video. (per audio commentary)
  11. ^ Leonard, John (November 4, 1998). Anatomy of "Homicide: Life on the Street" (Documentary). Baltimore, Maryland: Public Broadcasting Service.
  12. ^ a b Bogosian, Theodore (November 4, 1998). Anatomy of "Homicide: Life on the Street" (Documentary). Baltimore, Maryland: Public Broadcasting Service.
  13. ^ Lowry, Brian (September 3, 1993). "Reeves, New World end deal". Variety. Variety. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  14. ^ "'Homicide' gets new Life on NBC". Variety. Variety. February 17, 1994. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  15. ^ "Fremantle". Fremantle. Fremantle. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  16. ^ . Archived from the original on March 16, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
  17. ^ a b "Dick Wolf Interview". Archive of American Television. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation. April 21, 2003. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  18. ^ James, Caryn (February 7, 1996). "CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK;'Law and Order' Meets 'Homicide'". New York Times. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  19. ^ Pierce, Scott D. (February 7, 1996). "'LAW & ORDER'-'HOMICIDE' CROSSOVER CLICKS". Deseret News. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  20. ^ "John Waters' top ten". Artforum International. October 1, 1998.
  21. ^ . tvshowsondvd.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017.
  22. ^ "Sharkie Emergency Plumbing Cronulla". Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
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  24. ^ "Final Ratings for '97–'98 TV Season". The San Francisco Chronicle. September 16, 2010.

Bibliography

  • Bobby, J. (c. 2000). "The Homicide: Life on the Street Glossary". Retrieved September 24, 2007.

External links

  • Homicide: Life on the Street at IMDb
  • Homicide: Life on the Street at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Homicide: The Movie at IMDb
  • Homicide: Links on the Sites – News links, web sites, merchandise

homicide, life, street, american, police, drama, television, series, chronicling, work, fictional, version, baltimore, police, department, homicide, unit, seven, seasons, episodes, from, january, 1993, 1999, succeeded, homicide, movie, 2000, which, served, ser. Homicide Life on the Street is an American police drama television series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Police Department s Homicide Unit It ran for seven seasons 122 episodes on NBC from January 31 1993 to May 21 1999 and was succeeded by Homicide The Movie 2000 which served as the series finale The series was created by Paul Attanasio and based on David Simon s book Homicide A Year on the Killing Streets 1991 Many of the characters and stories used throughout the show were based on events depicted in the book Homicide Life on the StreetGenreCrime drama Police proceduralCreated byPaul AttanasioBased onHomicide A Year on the Killing Streetsby David SimonStarringDaniel Baldwin Richard Belzer Andre Braugher Clark Johnson Yaphet Kotto Melissa Leo Jon Polito Kyle Secor Ned Beatty Isabella Hoffman Reed Diamond Michelle Forbes Max Perlich Peter Gerety Jon Seda Callie Thorne Toni Lewis Michael Michelle Giancarlo EspositoCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishNo of seasons7No of episodes122 list of episodes ProductionExecutive producersJim Finnerty Tom Fontana Barry Levinson Henry BromellProducersGail Mutrux Julie Martin James Yoshimura Anya EpsteinRunning time44 to 49 minutes per episode Production companiesBaltimore Pictures Reeves Entertainment 1993 Season 1 MCEG Sterling Incorporated 1994 1999 Seasons 2 7 Fatima Productions NBC Productions 1994 1996 Seasons 3 4 NBC Studios 1996 1999 Seasons 5 7 DistributorNBCUniversal Television DistributionReleaseOriginal networkNBCOriginal releaseJanuary 31 1993 1993 01 31 May 21 1999 1999 05 21 While Homicide featured an ensemble cast Andre Braugher emerged as a breakout star through his portrayal of Detective Frank Pembleton 1 The show won Television Critics Association Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Drama in 1996 1997 and 1998 It also became the first drama ever to win three Peabody Awards for drama in 1993 1995 and 1997 It received recognition from the Primetime Emmy Awards Satellite Awards Image Awards Viewers for Quality Television GLAAD Media Awards and Young Artist Awards In 1997 the fifth season episode Prison Riot was ranked No 32 on TV Guide s 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time 2 3 In 2007 it was listed as one of TIME magazine s Best TV Shows of All TIME 4 In 1996 TV Guide named the series The Best Show You re Not Watching 5 The show placed 46 on Entertainment Weekly s New TV Classics list 6 In 2013 TV Guide ranked it 55 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time 7 Contents 1 Characters 2 Overview 3 Broadcast history 4 Plot 4 1 Seasons 1 and 2 4 2 Season 3 4 3 Seasons 4 and 5 4 4 Season 6 4 5 Season 7 4 6 Homicide The Movie 5 Crossovers 6 Other cast members 6 1 Recurring cast members 6 2 Notable guest appearances 7 Episodes 8 Home media 9 Spin off series 10 Nielsen ratings 11 Awards and nominations 12 References 12 1 Bibliography 13 External linksCharacters EditCharacter Portrayed by Occupation Seasons1 2 3 4 5 6 7 MovieBeau Felton Daniel Baldwin Detective Main MainJohn Munch Richard Belzer Detective MainFrank Pembleton Andre Braugher Detective Main MainMeldrick Lewis Clark Johnson Detective MainAl Giardello Yaphet Kotto Lieutenant MainKay Howard Melissa Leo Detective Sergeant Main MainSteve Crosetti Jon Polito Detective Main MainTim Bayliss Kyle Secor Detective MainStanley Bolander Ned Beatty Detective Main MainMegan Russert Isabella Hofmann Lieutenant Captain Detective Main Guest MainMike Kellerman Reed Diamond Detective Private Investigator Main Guest MainJulianna Cox Michelle Forbes Chief Medical Examiner Main MainJ H Brodie Max Perlich Crime Scene Videographer Guest Main MainStuart Gharty Peter Gerety Officer Detective Lieutenant Recurring MainPaul Falsone Jon Seda Detective Guest MainLaura Ballard Callie Thorne Detective MainTerri Stivers Toni Lewis Detective Recurring MainRene Sheppard Michael Michele Detective MainMichael Giardello Giancarlo Esposito FBI Agent Officer MainEd Danvers Zeljko Ivanek Assistant State s Attorney Recurring MainOverview EditHomicide Life on the Street was adapted from Homicide A Year on the Killing Streets a non fiction book by Baltimore Sun reporter David Simon based on his experience following a Baltimore Police Department homicide unit for all of 1988 Simon who became a consultant and producer with the series said he was particularly interested in the demythification of the American detective While detectives are typically portrayed as noble characters who care deeply about their victims Simon believed real detectives regarded violence as a normal aspect of their jobs 8 Simon sent the book to film director and Baltimore native Barry Levinson with the hopes that it would be adapted into a film but Levinson thought it would be more appropriate material for television because the stories and characters could be developed over a longer period of time Levinson believed that a television adaptation would bring a fresh and original edge to the police drama genre because the book exploded many of the myths of the police drama genre by highlighting that cops did not always get along with each other and that criminals occasionally got away with their crimes 9 Levinson approached screenwriter Paul Attanasio with the material and Homicide became Attanasio s first foray into television writing Subsequently all episodes of Homicide display the credit Created by Paul Attanasio at the end of their opening sequence a credit which both Eric Overmyer and James Yoshimura dispute on the DVD audio commentary to the season 5 episode The Documentary claiming instead the show was created by Tom Fontana and Yoshimura The series title was originally Homicide A Year on the Killing Streets but NBC changed it so that viewers would not believe it was limited to a single year the network also believed the use of the term life would be more reaffirming than the term killing streets Levinson was indifferent to the change asserting that viewers would probably casually refer to the series as Homicide in either case 10 The opening theme music was composed by Baltimore native Lynn F Kowal a graduate of the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore The greatest lie I think in dramatic TV is the cop who stands over a body and pulls up the sheet and mutters Damn and looks down sadly To a real homicide detective it s just a day s work David Simon 8 Homicide s purpose was to provide its viewers with a no nonsense police procedural type glimpse into the lives of a squad of inner city detectives As opposed to many television shows and movies involving cops Homicide initially opted for a bleak sort of realism in its depiction of The Job portraying it as repetitive spiritually draining an existential threat to one s psyche often glamour and glory free but nonetheless a social necessity In its attempt to do so Homicide developed a trademark feel and look that distinguished itself from its contemporaries For example the series was filmed with hand held 16 mm cameras almost entirely on location in Baltimore making the idiosyncratic city something of a character itself It also regularly used music montages jump cut editing and the three times in a row repetition of the same camera shot during particularly crucial moments in the story The episodes were also noted for interweaving as many as three or four storylines in a single episode NBC executives often asked the writers to focus on a single homicide case rather than multiple ones but the show producers tended to resist this advice 10 Despite premiering in the coveted post Super Bowl time slot the show opened to lackluster ratings and cancellation was an immediate threat However the show s winning of two Emmy Awards for Levinson s direction of Gone for Goode and Fontana s writing of Three Men and Adena and the success of another police drama the more sensational NYPD Blue helped convince NBC to give it another chance beyond the truncated nine episode long first season Homicide consistently ranked behind ABC s 20 20 and CBS s Nash Bridges in the Nielsen ratings Despite the poor ratings reviews were consistently strong from the beginning of the series Commentators were especially impressed with the high number of strong complex well developed and non stereotypical African American characters like Pembleton Lewis and Giardello 11 The police department scenes were shot at the historic City Recreation Pier in the Fells Point neighborhood in Baltimore Although NBC occasionally pressured the show s producers to write happy endings to the homicide cases the network gave an unusual amount of freedom for the writers to create darker stories and non traditional detective story elements like unsolved cases where criminals escape 12 Nevertheless in its attempt to improve Homicide s ratings NBC often insisted on changes both cosmetic and thematic For example by the beginning of the third season talented but unphotogenic veteran actor Jon Polito had been ordered dropped from the cast Considered by critics to be one of television s most authentic police dramas as well as an excellent dramatic series propelled by a talented ensemble cast Homicide garnered three straight TCA Television Critics Association Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Drama from 1996 to 1998 and was the first drama ever to win three of the prestigious Peabody Awards for best drama 1993 1995 1997 The show was originally a production of Baltimore Pictures in association with Thames Television s subsidiary studio Reeves Entertainment an American studio Inbetween the first and second season Reeves had closed due to Pearson plc s acquisition of their parent company Thames and the latter s requirement of either spinning off the studio or transferring their existing properties still in production which included Home in late 1993 13 After the four episode second season had aired NBC negotiated with Thames and MCEG Sterling Entertainment who oversaw and held interest on the Homicide property on behalf of Thames on the show s renewal for an order for a third season alongside taking over co ownership co production duties and copyright though Pearson whose television division and library is now owned by Fremantle continued to hold international distribution rights outside of North America 14 15 The reality of Homicide s low Nielsen ratings hovered over all things however and always left the show in a precarious position it also had a harder time gaining a large audience because fewer viewers are at home watching TV on Friday nights Despite this the network managed to keep what TV Guide referred to as The Best Show You re Not Watching on the air for five full seasons and seven seasons in all In July 1997 NBC gave the series producers an ultimatum to make Homicide more popular than Nash Bridges or face cancellation When this goal was not reached the studio gave serious consideration to canceling the show but a number of shocks at NBC increased Homicide s value Among those factors were the loss of the popular series Seinfeld and the 850 million deal needed to keep ER from leaving the network 12 Homicide was at one time syndicated on Lifetime and Court TV as well as the all crime television cable station Sleuth and aired on WGN America Episodes of Homicide have aired on TNT as part of several crossovers the series had with Law amp Order which TNT owns broadcast rights for in these cases both crossover episodes aired back to back It was recently televised on the Centric channel All seven seasons are available on DVD One DVD set combines the first two seasons Additional sets contain the complete third fourth fifth sixth and seventh seasons A boxed set shaped like a filing cabinet features an additional disc containing the Homicide TV movie and the relevant Law amp Order crossover episodes those without this disc had to rely on Law amp Order recap clips on the season DVDs Significantly the DVDs contain the episodes in the producers intended order not the order in which NBC aired them The show has spawned changes in the real life Baltimore homicide unit As seen in the show the unit originally used a dry erase board in order to visually track detectives progress at solving crimes After the show began to air the Baltimore Police Department discontinued the practice believing the board which concentrated on clearance rates for crimes had a negative impact on publicity It was brought back later at the insistence of the detectives 16 Broadcast history EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed June 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Season Episodes Title Airdate U S Viewers in millions Title Airdate U S Viewers in millions TV Season Time Slot ET Nielsen Ratings in millions 1 9 Gone for Goode January 31 1993 28 9 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes March 24 1993 10 5 1992 93 Wednesday at 9 00 pm 8 72 4 See No Evil January 13 1994 18 2 Bop Gun January 6 1994 24 9 1993 94 Thursday at 10 00 pm 12 73 20 Nearer My God To Thee October 14 1994 11 0 The Gas Man May 5 1995 10 0 1994 95 Friday at 10 00 pm 7 84 22 Fire Part 1 October 20 1995 13 0 Worked Related May 17 1996 13 0 1995 96 8 55 22 Hostage Part 1 September 20 1996 11 0 Strangers and Other Things May 16 1997 11 0 1996 97 7 76 23 Blood Ties Part 1 October 17 1997 11 4 Fallen Heroes Part 2 May 8 1998 12 2 1997 98 7 57 22 La Flamiglia September 25 1998 9 85 Forgive Us Our Trespasses May 21 1999 11 4 1998 99 10 2Plot Edit Several regulars from across the series s seven year run Left to right Ned Beatty Clark Johnson Richard Belzer Melissa Leo Kyle Secor Andre Braugher Callie Thorne Yaphet Kotto Peter Gerety Toni Lewis Jon Seda Seasons 1 and 2 Edit Main articles Homicide Life on the Street season 1 and Homicide Life on the Street season 2 The first season saw the introductions of Detectives Frank Pembleton Andre Braugher Stan Bolander Ned Beatty Kay Howard Melissa Leo Meldrick Lewis Clark Johnson John Munch Richard Belzer Tim Bayliss Kyle Secor Beau Felton Daniel Baldwin and Steve Crosetti Jon Polito as well as the Commander Lieutenant Al Giardello Yaphet Kotto Season 3 Edit Main article Homicide Life on the Street season 3 The third season saw the first changes in the character lineup when Detective Steve Crosetti Jon Polito was not seen in any episodes his body was found in a death by suicide in the sixth episode of the season Isabella Hofmann joined the cast as Lieutenant Megan Russert the commander of the other Homicide shift it also dealt with her promotion to Captain and saw the last appearances of Felton and Bolander Daniel Baldwin Ned Beatty Seasons 4 and 5 Edit Main articles Homicide Life on the Street season 4 and Homicide Life on the Street season 5 The fourth season saw the departure of Daniel Baldwin and Ned Beatty who played Beau Felton and Stan Bolander respectively In the story the two detectives had recently been given a 22 week suspension as related in the opening scene of the season s first episode Bolander went on to retirement and Felton recruited for deep undercover work was killed off screen in the line of duty during the fifth season The characters returned in the movie This season also sees Mike Kellerman Reed Diamond join the cast Isabella Hofmann newly demoted Detective Megan Russert left at the end of Season 4 but returned in the Season 5 finale in which she Kay Howard Melissa Leo and J H Brodie Max Perlich made their last appearances Season 5 also saw the addition of Chief Medical Examiner Julianna Cox Michelle Forbes and Detective Terri Stivers Toni Lewis Season 6 Edit Main article Homicide Life on the Street season 6 The sixth season was the first not to feature Leo as Sergeant Kay Howard and the last to feature Braugher as Detective Frank Pembleton and Forbes as Chief Medical Examiner Julianna Cox Jon Seda Callie Thorne and Peter Gerety joined the cast as Detectives Paul Falsone Laura Ballard and Stuart Gharty J H Brodie Max Perlich is no longer present nor is Detective Meg Russert Isabella Hofmann Season 7 Edit Main article Homicide Life on the Street season 7 Following the events of the sixth season finale Detective Frank Pembleton Braugher and Detective Mike Kellerman Diamond are no longer regulars neither is Chief Medical Examiner Julianna Cox Forbes who left mid season Braugher and Forbes did not return until the movie while Diamond made a two episode guest appearance Michael Michele stars in this season as Det Rene Sheppard and Giancarlo Esposito is cast as Giardello s son Mike who is assigned to Homicide as an FBI Liaison Homicide The Movie Edit Main article Homicide The Movie In 2000 following the conclusion of the series a TV film titled Homicide The Movie was shown on NBC The squad s former Lieutenant Al Giardello was running for mayor on a controversial pro drug legalization platform and is close to victory when he is gunned down The assassination attempt inspires the return of the entire unit past and present in an effort to apprehend the gunman Crossovers EditHomicide Life on the Street executive producer Tom Fontana and Law amp Order creator Dick Wolf became close friends in the 1980s while working as writers in the same building at the same time on the series St Elsewhere Fontana and Hill Street Blues Wolf 17 In the 1990s the two friends decided to do a small crossover between their then current shows with Law amp Order NYPD Detective Mike Logan Chris Noth delivering a fugitive to Homicide Life on the Street s BPD Detective Frank Pembleton during the prologue of the season 3 episode Law amp Disorder 18 19 The concept proved popular with fans and with both Fontana and Wolf 17 As of the 2015 2016 television season this first crossover by Wolf has been followed by 15 other crossover stories in his numerous Law amp Order and Chicago franchises Fontana expanded the Homicide Life on the Street crossovers to include characters from St Elsewhere years after that series had ended its run Wolf would adopt the same post cancellation crossover concept when Homicide Life on the Street characters Meldrick Lewis and Billie Lou Hatfield Ellen McElduff appeared 14 years after their series ended at John Munch s retirement party from the NYPD on the Law amp Order Special Victims Unit episode Wonderland Story Homicide Episode Crossover Series Nature of crossoverS3 Ep15 Law amp Disorder Law amp Order Chris Noth has a cameo in the prologue as Detective Mike Logan arriving at Baltimore s Penn Station to deliver a prisoner to Detective Pembleton S4 Ep04 A Doll s Eyes Chicago Hope The organs of a Baltimore murder victim are shipped to various hospitals across the country The heart is placed in a cooler with the destination label Chicago Hope Hospital and during a montage is received in Chicago by a heart surgeon played by Mandy Patinkin presumably as Chicago Hope surgeon Jeffrey Geiger Homicide Life on the Street executive producer Tom Fontana and Chicago Hope executive producer John Tinker were friends who won the 1986 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series along with John Masius for St Elsewhere S4 Ep12 For God and Country Law amp Order This episode acts as the conclusion of a two part crossover with the Law amp Order episode Charm City which aired two nights earlier Law amp Order characters appearing on this episode of Homicide Life on the Street were Jerry Orbach as NYPD Det Lennie Briscoe Benjamin Bratt as NYPD Det Rey Curtis Jill Hennessy as New York ADA Claire Kincaid S6 Ep05 Baby It s You Part 2 Law amp Order This episode acts as the conclusion of a two part crossover with the Law amp Order episode Baby It s You Part 1 which aired two nights earlier Law amp Order characters appearing on this episode of Homicide Life on the Street were Jerry Orbach as NYPD Det Lennie Briscoe Benjamin Bratt as NYPD Det Rey Curtis Sam Waterston as New York Exec ADA Jack McCoy Carey Lowell as New York ADA Jamie Ross S6 Ep16 Mercy St Elsewhere Alfre Woodard reprises her St Elsewhere role as Dr Roxanne Turner S7 Ep15 Sideshow Part 2 Law amp Order This episode acts as the conclusion of a two part crossover with the Law amp Order episode Sideshow Part 1 which aired two nights earlier Law amp Order characters appearing on this episode of Homicide Life on the Street were Benjamin Bratt as NYPD Det Rey Curtis Jerry Orbach as NYPD Det Lennie Briscoe Sam Waterston as New York Exec ADA Jack McCoy S Epatha Merkerson as NYPD Lt Anita Van Buren uncredited in opening flashback series regular Law amp Order Special Victims Unit John Munch created for Homicide Life on the Street and played by Richard Belzer moved to New York and joined the NYPD s Special Victims Unit for 15 years 15 seasons of Law amp Order Special Victims Unit Homicide The Movie St ElsewhereandLaw amp Order Special Victims Unit Ed Begley Jr plays a surgeon identified in the closing credits as his St Elsewhere character Dr Victor Ehrlich Now a regular character on Law amp Order Special Victims Unit NYPD Det John Munch Richard Belzer returns to Baltimore to help investigate the shooting of Al Giardello series regular Multiple Combined with being a multi season character on Homicide Life on the Street and Law amp Order Special Victims Unit John Munch played by Richard Belzer has been credited 459 times on a total of 9 different television shows across five different networks including Law amp Order The Beat The X Files Arrested Development 30 Rock The Wire and Law amp Order Trial by Jury series regulars Law amp Order Special Victims Unit When Det Munch retired from the NYPD 13 years after Homicide The Movie aired Homicide Life on the Street characters Det Meldrick Lewis Clark Johnson and Munch s ex wife Billie Lou Hatfield Ellen McElduff were present at his New York party on the Law amp Order Special Victims Unit episode Wonderland Story Other cast members EditRecurring cast members Edit Homicide featured a number of recurring characters who starred alongside the ensemble Wendy Hughes Carol Blythe Ami Brabson Mary Pembleton and Zeljko Ivanek Ed Danvers are the most notable with the first appearing in Season 1 and the other two appearing in Seasons 1 6 and Seasons 1 7 respectively Clayton LeBouef played Captain and later Colonel George Barnfather throughout the run Ralph Tabakin played Dr Scheiner in all seven seasons The recurring cast also included Gerald F Gough as Col Burt Granger seasons 1 3 Lee Tergesen as Officer Chris Thormann seasons 1 3 and 5 Sean Whitesell as Dr Eli Devilbiss seasons 1 3 4 6 and 7 Michael Willis as Darin Russom seasons 1 7 Sharon Ziman as Naomi seasons 1 7 Judy Thornton as Judy seasons 2 7 Herb Levinson as Dr Lausanne seasons 2 7 Gary D Addario as Lt Jasper seasons 3 7 Walt MacPherson as Capt Roger Gaffney seasons 3 7 Harlee McBride as Alyssa Dyer seasons 3 7 Rhonda Overby as Reporter Dawn Daniels seasons 3 7 Kristin Rohde as Officer Sally Rogers seasons 3 7 Mary B Ward as Beth Felton season 3 Christopher Meloni as bounty hunter Dennis Knoll season 7 Erik Dellums as Luther Mahoney seasons 4 and 5 Mekhi Phifer as Junior Bunk seasons 5 and 6 Hazelle Goodman as Georgia Rae Mahoney season 6 Ellen McElduff as Billie Lou Hatfield seasons 5 7 Austin Pendleton as Dr George Griscom season 7 and Jason Stanford as Joe Ryblack seasons 6 and 7 Joey Perillo as Bernard Munch Seasons 3 and 6 Notable guest appearances Edit A number of well known actors and celebrities appeared on the show including Steve Allen Lewis Black Wilford Brimley Steve Burns Steve Buscemi Bruce Campbell Joan Chen Vincent D Onofrio Jeffrey Donovan Tate Donovan Charles Durning Charles S Dutton Richard Edson Kathryn Erbe Edie Falco Peter Gallagher Paul Giamatti John Glover Moses Gunn Luis Guzman Jake Gyllenhaal Marcia Gay Harden Neil Patrick Harris Pat Hingle James Earl Jones Terry Kinney Bruno Kirby Tony LoBianco Julianna Margulies Jena Malone Anne Meara Christopher Meloni David Morse Terry O Quinn Joe Perry Chris Rock J K Simmons Fisher Stevens Jerry Stiller in a different season from wife Anne Meara Eric Stoltz Tony Todd Lily Tomlin Kate Walsh Isaiah Washington John Waters Robin Williams Dean Winters Elijah Wood and Alfre Woodard Jason Priestley joined the cast in the climactic television movie during which his character referred to Pembleton and Bayliss as legends Typically well known actors making guest appearances on Homicide were cast in fully developed roles central to the episode in which they appeared Robin Williams s portrayal of a grieving widower and father in the second season Bop Gun is a notable example as is Steve Buscemi s role as a suspected gunman in the third season End Game Some celebrities made cameo appearances that were more lighthearted in style Director and Baltimore native John Waters who called the show the grittiest best acted coolest looking show on TV 20 appeared twice once as a nameless bartender listening to a disconsolate Detective Bolander and another time as a talkative prisoner transferred from New York to Baltimore by Det Mike Logan played by Chris Noth Waters and Noth received special thanks in the episode s closing credits Out traveling on his motorcycle Jay Leno stopped in at the Waterfront to have a soft drink quickly departing after finding his bartenders strangely silent In one particularly self referential episode journalist Tim Russert appeared as himself bickering about birthday presents with his cousin Lieutenant Megan Russert Film director Barry Levinson who also executive produced Homicide acted as himself directing an episode for a show within a show called Homicide in the episode The Documentary Psychobilly legend The Reverend Horton Heat made a brief appearance as Preacher Lemuel Galvin a resident at a motel where the killing of a biker is investigated The Mayor of Baltimore Kurt Schmoke and the Governor of Maryland Parris Glendening made brief appearances in the episode about the death of Beau Felton appearing at the memorial press conference for Felton s death in the line of duty Recurring characters of particular note include the Mahoney crime family Luther Mahoney played by Erik Dellums appears in seasons four and five Mahoney is a crime and drug kingpin who uses others to do his dirty work and masterfully manipulates the law to repeatedly escape conviction and hide his connection to the crimes committed by his underlings At first he is depicted as an almost friendly rival with both Mahoney and the police mutually amused by Mahoney s antics Gradually however the police particularly Kellerman and Lewis grow frustrated with Mahoney until Lewis viciously beats him during an arrest and Kellerman fatally shoots Mahoney under questionable circumstances In the following season the Mahoney organization is taken over by Luther s sister Georgia Rae played by Hazelle Goodman who seeks both legal and illegal revenge against the Baltimore Police Department Mekhi Phifer makes several appearances as Junior Bunk a dim witted street thug who is initially depicted as someone with the potential to go straight His crimes grow increasingly violent however and in his final appearance he is revealed to be Georgia Rae s son with the real name Nathaniel Lee Mahoney Junior s final appearance takes place after the character has been hardened by jail time and the once minor criminal deals the homicide department a major blow with a multiple shooting in the police station killing three uniformed cops and injuring two of the detectives In retaliation the police declare all out war on the Mahoney crime organization Several cops including Bayliss are injured and several criminals including Georgia Rae are killed as a result in addition both Pembleton and Kellerman turn in their badges Episodes EditMain article List of Homicide Life on the Street episodesHome media EditA amp E Home Video under license by NBC Entertainment released all seven seasons of Homicide Life on the Street on DVD in Region 1 between 2003 and 2005 The TV movie Homicide The Movie was released on DVD in Region 1 by Trimark Pictures on May 22 2001 A amp E Home Entertainment also released a complete series set in collectible file cabinet packaging on November 14 2006 The complete series was subsequently re released in regular packaging on October 20 2009 FremantleMedia Ltd handled distribution rights of all 7 seasons via international On April 5 2017 it was announced that Shout Factory had acquired the rights to the series in Region 1 and would re release Homicide Life on the Street The Complete Series on DVD on July 4 2017 21 In Australia Region 4 the releases were the same as the Region 2 release These were distributed by Roadshow Entertainment The Complete Series collection was distributed by Shock Entertainment and packaged as the Region 1 releases with Series 1 amp 2 and Series 3 through to 7 Via Vision Entertainment obtained the rights to the series and released The Complete Series Special Edition boxset in May 2021 in the same format of the shock releases DVD Name Episodes Release datesRegion 1 Region 2 Region 4The Complete Seasons 1 amp 2 13 May 27 2003 February 26 2007 Series 1 June 30 2009 Series 1 The Complete Season 3 20 October 28 2003 July 16 2007 Series 2 September 30 2009 Series 2 The Complete Season 4 22 March 30 2004 September 24 2007 Series 3 December 2 2009 Series 3 The Complete Season 5 22 September 28 2004 February 4 2008 Series 4 February 2 2010 Series 4 The Complete Season 6 23 January 25 2005 May 5 2007 Series 5 May 5 2011 Series 5 The Complete Season 7 22 June 28 2005 June 2 2007 Series 6 TBA Series 6 Homicide The Movie 1 May 22 2001 N A N AThe Complete Series 122 November 14 2006July 4 2017 re release March 29 2010 October 3 2012 22 May 19 2021 Re Release Spin off series EditThe show inspired the spin off Homicide Second Shift which was shown exclusively online and did not include the regular cast Nielsen ratings EditSeason 1 99 8 789 000 Season 2 24 12 717 000 23 Season 3 89 7 822 800 citation needed Season 4 66 8 535 100 citation needed Season 5 68 7 760 000 citation needed Season 6 77 7 546 000 24 Season 7 66 10 238 200 citation needed Awards and nominations EditYear Association Category Nominee s Result1993 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directing Drama Series Barry Levinson NominatedPrimetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Gwen Verdon NominatedOutstanding Directing in a Drama Series Barry Levinson WonOutstanding Graphic Design and Title Sequences Mark Pellington NominatedOutstanding Writing for a Drama Series Tom Fontana WonWriters Guild of America Awards Episodic Drama Tom Fontana amp Frank Pugliese WonPaul Attanasio Nominated1994 Peabody Awards N A Homicide Life on the Street WonPrimetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Robin Williams NominatedWriters Guild of America Awards Episodic Drama David Simon David Mills amp Tom Fontana WonNoel Behn amp Tom Fontana Nominated1995 Viewers for Quality Television Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series Andre Braugher WonWriters Guild of America Awards Episodic Drama Bonnie Mark Tom Fontana amp Julie Martin Nominated1996 Image Awards Outstanding Drama Series Homicide Life on the Street NominatedOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Andre Braugher NominatedYaphet Kotto NominatedPeabody Awards N A Homicide Life on the Street WonPrimetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Casting for a Series Louis DiGiaimo Pat Moran Brett Goldstein NominatedOutstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Lily Tomlin NominatedOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Andre Braugher NominatedTelevision Critics Association Awards Program of the Year Homicide Life on the Street WonOutstanding Achievement in Drama Homicide Life on the Street WonViewers for Quality Television Best Quality Drama Series Homicide Life on the Street Won1997 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directing Drama Series Barbara Kopple WonImage Awards Outstanding Drama Series Homicide Life on the Street NominatedOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Andre Braugher NominatedYaphet Kotto NominatedPrimetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Casting for a Series Louis DiGiaimo Pat Moran Brett Goldstein NominatedOutstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Anne Meara NominatedSatellite Awards Best Actor Television Series Drama Andre Braugher NominatedBest Television Series Drama Homicide Life on the Street NominatedTelevision Critics Association Awards Individual Achievement in Drama Andre Braugher WonOutstanding Achievement in Drama Homicide Life on the Street WonTCA Award for Program of the Year Homicide Life on the Street NominatedYoung Artist Awards Best Performance in a Drama Series Guest Starring Younger Actor Elijah Wood Nominated1998 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directing Drama Series Steve Buschemi NominatedImage Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Andre Braugher NominatedYaphet Kotto NominatedPeabody Awards N A Homicide Life on the Street WonPrimetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Casting for a Series Louis DiGiaimo Pat Moran Brett Goldstein WonOutstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Charles Durning NominatedVincent D Onofrio NominatedOutstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Alfre Woodard NominatedOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Andre Braugher WonOutstanding Writing for a Drama Series James Yoshimura NominatedSatellite Awards Best Television Series Drama Homicide Life on the Street NominatedTelevision Critics Association Awards Individual Achievement in Drama Andre Braugher WonOutstanding Achievement in Drama Homicide Life on the Street WonViewers for Quality Television Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series Andre Braugher NominatedBest Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series Kyle Secor NominatedBest Quality Drama Series Homicide Life on the Street NominatedWriters Guild of America Awards Episodic Drama David Mills James Yoshimura amp David Simon NominatedEric Overmyer NominatedJames Yoshimura Nominated1999 GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Drama Series Homicide Life on the Street NominatedImage Awards Outstanding Drama Series Homicide Life on the Street NominatedOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Andre Braugher NominatedYaphet Kotto NominatedOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Giancarlo Esposito NominatedClark Johnson NominatedToni Lewis NominatedPrimetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series Edwin Sherin NominatedTelevision Critics Association Awards Outstanding Achievement in Drama Homicide Life on the Street Nominated2000 Image Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Michael Michele NominatedReferences Edit Fretts Bruce May 1 1998 The show that wouldn t die Entertainment Weekly Retrieved December 18 2008 Special Collectors Issue 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time TV Guide June 28 July 4 1997 TV Guide s list of top 100 episodes Associated Press June 22 1997 Archived from the original on January 8 2021 Retrieved April 23 2022 Poniewozik James September 6 2007 The 100 Best TV Shows of All TIME TIME Time Inc Archived from the original on October 13 2007 Retrieved March 4 2010 TV Guide Book of Lists Running Press 2007 p 212 ISBN 978 0 7624 3007 9 The New Classics TV Entertainment Weekly June 18 2007 Retrieved February 21 2012 TV Guide Magazine s 60 Best Series of All Time TV Guide a b Simon David November 4 1998 Anatomy of Homicide Life on the Street Documentary Baltimore Maryland Public Broadcasting Service Kalat David P 1998 Homicide Life on the Street The Unofficial Companion Los Angeles California Renaissance Books p 102 ISBN 1 58063 021 9 a b Levinson Barry 2003 Homicide Life on the Street The Seasons 1 amp 2 DVD A amp E Home Video per audio commentary Leonard John November 4 1998 Anatomy of Homicide Life on the Street Documentary Baltimore Maryland Public Broadcasting Service a b Bogosian Theodore November 4 1998 Anatomy of Homicide Life on the Street Documentary Baltimore Maryland Public Broadcasting Service Lowry Brian September 3 1993 Reeves New World end deal Variety Variety Retrieved June 3 2019 Homicide gets new Life on NBC Variety Variety February 17 1994 Retrieved June 3 2019 Fremantle Fremantle Fremantle Retrieved June 3 2019 Homicide Life on the Street The Board Archived from the original on March 16 2005 Retrieved December 19 2008 a b Dick Wolf Interview Archive of American Television Academy of Television Arts amp Sciences Foundation April 21 2003 Retrieved May 10 2016 James Caryn February 7 1996 CRITIC S NOTEBOOK Law and Order Meets Homicide New York Times Retrieved April 18 2019 Pierce Scott D February 7 1996 LAW amp ORDER HOMICIDE CROSSOVER CLICKS Deseret News Retrieved April 18 2019 John Waters top ten Artforum International October 1 1998 Homicide Life on the Street DVD news Re Release for The Complete Series TVShowsOnDVD com tvshowsondvd com Archived from the original on April 10 2017 Sharkie Emergency Plumbing Cronulla Archived from the original on November 12 2013 Retrieved November 12 2013 TV Ratings gt 1993 1994 ClassicTVHits com Archived from the original on January 6 2010 Retrieved November 8 2013 Final Ratings for 97 98 TV Season The San Francisco Chronicle September 16 2010 Bibliography Edit Bobby J c 2000 The Homicide Life on the Street Glossary Retrieved September 24 2007 External links Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to Homicide Life on the Street Homicide Life on the Street at IMDb Homicide Life on the Street at Rotten Tomatoes Homicide The Movie at IMDb Homicide Links on the Sites News links web sites merchandise Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Homicide Life on the Street amp oldid 1122564074, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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