"Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993) TV series 1993-1999

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Creator:

Paul Attanasio

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

31 January 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

A police homicide investigation unit investigates violent crimes in the city of Baltimore.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Baltimore Maryland | Murder | Police Detective | Based On Book

Awards:

Won 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 19 wins & 50 nominations

Cast

Richard Belzer	...	Det. John Munch / ... (122 episodes, 1993-1999)
Clark Johnson	...	Det. Meldrick Lewis (122 episodes, 1993-1999)
Yaphet Kotto	...	Lt. Al Giardello (122 episodes, 1993-1999)
Kyle Secor	...	Det. Tim Bayliss (122 episodes, 1993-1999)
Andre Braugher	...	Det. Frank Pembleton (100 episodes, 1993-1998)
Michael Ahl	...	Officer Phatt / ... (88 episodes, 1994-1998)
Melissa Leo	...	Det. Sgt. Kay Howard / ... (77 episodes, 1993-1997)
Reed Diamond	...	Det. Mike Kellerman / ... (68 episodes, 1995-1998)
Sharon Ziman	...	Naomi (49 episodes, 1993-1999)

Also Known As:

Homicide (USA) (informal short title)

Runtime:

60 min (122 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Finland:K-11 (DVD) (2007) | Australia:M | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Baltimore Pictures

Trivia:

Barry Levinson wanted Richard Belzer as Munch after hearing him on "The Howard Stern Radio Show". NBC suggested Jason Priestley but Levinson refused. Belzer was the last cast member to be hired.

Quotes:

Det. John Munch: [Bayliss is taking some pills for his back pain] What d'ya got there, Timmy? Some good stuff, huh? Percodan, Percocet, Tylenol, greenies?
Det. Tim Bayliss: They're muscle relaxants!
Det. John Munch: Even better.
Det. Tim Bayliss: You don't get any!
Det. John Munch: No-one's willing to share their drugs anymore.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Wire: Took (#5.7)" (2008)

"Homicide": the greatest show on television

It was a gloomy day when NBC cancelled this amazing show, but unfortunately, not enough viewers were watching. It can now be viewed in syndication - as of January 1999 it is shown on Court-TV weeknights. "Homicide" was an Emmy and Peabody-award-winning show. Because of its unique shooting style, magnificent writers, and terrific actors, it is the best show I ever watched. Other cop shows are no comparison. In fact, no other drama on network television had such a racially diverse cast. This is the only drama I have seen with African-American actors in leading roles. It is a sad fact that there aren't other shows like it out now.

This show truly did duck the "system" of other dramas, staying true to the source and portraying realistic characters. Anguish, joy, anger, humiliation, and respect are evident in the faces of the characters in assorted episodes. The first few seasons were the best, in my opinion, but the other seasons were still better than anything else on the networks. I shudder to think that "Nash Bridges" beat this amazing show in the ratings. If you are at all interested, try to find this show on television in your area. There is no middle ground with this show; you will either hate it or love it. All that I know have become addicted to it.