I miss homicide

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Oops. I should’ve capitalized the “h” in Homicide. It’s amazing how a single typo can lead to the gross misinterpretation of a mundane proclamation of love for a television show. A lesser person would purposely employ such a glaring punctuation error soley for the shock value and the increased readership it would result in.

Sigh.

I used to look SO FORWARD to Friday evenings. I’m a pretty reserved 20 year old guy who isn’t into the party scene, doesn’t make friends easily, what with my shyness and all, and didn’t have use of a car until just recently, so watching Homicide: Life on the Street was The Big, End of the Week Event for me, an incentive and a reassurance that, if God did exist, He at least demonstrated a modicum of compassion and decency by allowing the perpetually Neilsen-impaired program to remain on the air. Now it’s gone.

I’ve never felt so impassioned about a fictional ensamble of characters, whether it be one I experienced within the pages of any number of books or the gatherings of Hollywood superstars with whom I spent a couple of hours during any movie. They seemed real, and I actually gave a damn about them. If you ever get a chance to watch classic episodes of H:LotS, such as “Crosetti,” “Every Mother’s Son,” “Heart of a Saturday Night,” “Subway,” etc., you’ll agree that this was the Shakespeare (Forgive my forwardness, but I don’t care if I misspelled the bard’s name) of the 90s. Mind you, I’m just randomly lamenting in lieu of bestowing trenchant insight upon the peoples wandering the gaudily electric halls of the Great Debates forum, of which I am already growing weary.

Not only is it a shame that it’s been cancelled (although I must applaud NBC for keeping it on life-support for the past 6 years), what’s even worse is the fact that the average shmuck on the street hasn’t even heard of it, let alone watched it, all the more depressing considering said shmuck’s seemingly vast knowledge of television programming compared to, say, foreign relations and the most elementary principles of U.S. government and such.

I’m done now. But I still miss it, damn it all.

“The Good deserve a higher plane of existence than this life can offer, The Bad an even higher.”

2

Junior -

I loved that show!!! Even more because it was shot in Baltimore. Thank god for the reruns on Court TV and my roomie’s collection of EVERY ep on tape.

And FYI for those of you who watched the show…there will be a TV movie on February 13th on NBC. With ALL the old characters - Pembleton, Kellerman, Kay Howard… I can’t wait. Even if it’s only one TV movie, I get them all back for ONE NIGHT! Woohoo!

“You are sweet, kind, and considerate… Like a grown up boy scout with tits!” - Brian, aka SDMB’s one and only Satan.

3

I absolutely agree. You will end of doing what I did watching old Hill Street Blues episodes in syndication, following their lives evolving again knowing what is going to happen but enjoying it again, unfortunately knowing when it will all end. (Wow, that sounds like what God does.) Remember the episode (1st year) when Robin Williams wife was killed? I still get goose bumps, that was so vivid and beleievable and so easy to project yourself into his position. What the hell is the matter with the television viewing audience?

4

When this program aired it’s last episode last Spring I asked a TV salesman at the NBC station why the show was cancelled.
He said “It never found it’s audience.” He thought the show was too dark and brooding for a general audience.
I think “dark and brooding” may mean “too realistic.”
It was well thought out. The acting was great. I admit sometimes the show could wring you out (remember the episode last season where almost all the action happened in a stairwell–trying to talk a depressed Dad into releasing the two kids he hijacked?)

5

I didn’t see much of it in its last few seasons, unfortunately, but I watched it religiously until 1996 (when I became TV-less). The ex and I had a Friday night ritual: curry, X-Files and Homicide. Oh how I miss it. Thanks for the tip about the TV movie, Falcon!

And I’ll second the nod for “Crosetti.” The entire episode is brilliant, especially Meldrick, but the final scene with Pembleton is the single most touching thing I’ve ever seen on a television show.

6

Damn, I was hoping for that Juniorbunk was going to confess to murder…

Well, now that I’m here, somebody better.

“What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch?” --W.C. Fields

7

Confess to murder? Well, as fans of the show know, in the episode “Fallen Heroes (pt. 1),” I opened fire in a crowded Baltimore squadroom, killing three uniformed police officers.

(Note: I didn’t pick the nickname Juniorbunk because I condone that sort of activity, but because…well…I like the name “Junior Bunk.”)

It made my heart soar to hear (almost immediately) from people who Get It. Thanks, guys and girls. BTW…the episode with R. Williams was the season two premiere, “Bop Gun,” and the season seven episode with the father holding his two kids hostage was entitled, “Lines of Fire.” I know it’s really anal and nerdy, but I know all the episode titles.

Incidently, both eps were shown out of order. “Bop Gun” was originally the season finale (I believe…only 4 episodes comprised season 2), but was slotted as the premiere so that HLOTS’ ratings would balloon at the beginning of its sophomore season (which it did…“Bop Gun” was HLOTS’ highest rated episode). “Lines of Fire,” along with two or three other season 7 eps, were shuffled around due to the Columbine fallout. With “Bop Gun” there’s no problem. The ep was completely self-contained with no references to other episodes, but those not in the know were left scratching their heads during season 7’s (HLOTS’ last season, which makes the injustice especially aggravating) final episodes.

And Falcon, you God(dess), you! I knew there would be a tele-movie soon (ask me if you want some spoilers/plot summaries), but didn’t know exactly when. Now I know what night to unplug all of the phone lines. Where’d you hear that? Hey, incidently, did you also know that NBC is releasing another video collection in February?

Bayliss: “You never say ‘please.’ You never say ‘thank you.’”
Pembleton: “Please don’t be an idiot. Thank you.”
**Homicide: Life on the Street, “Stakeout”

8

Add me to the list of fans. I watched from the very first show (after waiting about a half-hour before the Superbowl postgame drivel went on). I doubt I missed an episode.

I’m also looking forward to the movie. Thanks for the date. (You think they’re going to arrest Bayliss?)

“East is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does.” – Marx

Read “Sundials” in the new issue of Aboriginal Science Fiction. www.sff.net/people/rothman

9

There were some weaker episodes, but the good ones (the overwhelming majority) were T.V. at its finest. Period. God, that series was good!! The only character I could never empathize with was Munch (not really a Belzer fanatic…).

It was the critics’ darling but the viewing public never caught on. The literal no-brainers are, more often than not, hands-down favourites.

What also amazes me in superior shows such as HLotS, Law and Order, etc. is the quality of the performance of the secondary characters. I am reminded especially of the drug lord (Luther Mahoney) who was gunned down by Kellerman: that guy bowled me over both by his physical presence and by his mastery of his role! He just stood out! Kudos to the casting team (and the directors).

But all good things must come to an end, I guess (doubly ironic when you consider the replacement!).

BTW, that was great news Falcon. Let’s just hope we won’t be disappointed. (Highly doubtful!)

Jr., you HLotS nut, you probably already know of this site (and perhaps of better ones):

http://epguides.com/HomicideLifeontheStreet/

OT: You seem an articulate, intelligent young fellow (shyness does have its virtues): don’t hesitate to grace us with more of your posts. Welcome aboard!

10

Jr.–your sarcasm, bitter irony, & general peevishness indicate moral depravity, lack of faith in God & Man , & the serious need for a long stretch in Sunday School or the State Home for the Congenitally Foolish.
I like you.

Welcome to the SD, you kindred spirit, you.

:slight_smile:

“Show me a sane man, and I will cure him for you.”----Jung

11

I watched Homicide regularly the first couple seasons, lost track of it, watched it somtimes… A show like that can be harder to just come into the middle of (particularly, in Homicide’s case, with the big Kellerman storyline) than a sitcom with no episode-to-episode continuity–and a lot more annoying (to certain people) with its lack of closure during such storylines.
But you get some great cinematic storytelling that way. So, is it worth it? Depends on how much mental investment you want to make in an ongoing series.
Was Homicide brooding? Very, at times. Dark? Well, it wasn’t NBC’s Profiler, which I eventually couldn’t watch anymore. It was tough, human, … well, I usually liked it.
…gonna be missed…

fool’sguinea

“The universe is female, eluding the science of men…” Steve Kilbey

12

It feels so nice to get compliments, even from people whose faces you can’t see. I think if one gets used to experiencing bad and painful things, even the most mundane of nice things feel wonderful. Thank you, Omni-Not and Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor (notice I took the time to type out your entire name)…I know I’m sappy, but thanks.

As for the webbie, yeah, I knew about it. IN FACT, go to the episode capsule for “Full Court Press” and see a little contribution I made concerning Bayliss’ sunglasses. Go to http://members.aol.com/hlotslinks for a listing of every HLOTS website known to man.

Thanks for your support.

13

Sorry it took so long to get back to this…was away for the weekend.

I have to say that the ep “Documentary” was one of my favorites ever…a little bit on the lighter side, yet still good. And juniorbunk - you can ask the Doper I was with this weekend. I started SCREAMING when I saw this thread - “THAT’S where his name’s from! Oh my God!” (And btw…yes, I’m a girl.)

And for those wanting info on the movie: I have a TON of spoilers I know. I can pass them on or not, depending on your preference. As for how I know…I’m on a couple of mailing lists that share info, which is where I heard the release date. It’s been confirmed to be showing on Feb 13th, 9pm eastern. Everyone from almost ALL the seasons will be back. (I’m just thrilled Pembleton will be back!) And omni-not? From what I’ve heard…you all WON’T be disappointed!!

“You are sweet, kind, and considerate… Like a grown up boy scout with tits!” - Brian, aka SDMB’s one and only Satan.

14

I thought Homicide was one of THE best dramas ever on TV. Read the book, if you haven’t; it’s one of the best nonfiction cop books you’ll read. What’s cool too, is that you’ll recognize a lot of the early storylines in it.

What sucks is Homicide got canceled so NBC basically could bring us more of “America’s Stupidest Videos”–something that has no production cost or substance. I sympathize with the Hill Street fans.

As an aside, I lived in Baltimore and once went to a fund-raiser where the cast was the drawing card. People were getting autographs and photos with the cast in the bar. Me, I had my picture taken with me lying on the sidewalk outside with ‘Bayliss’ and ‘Stivers’ looking over my “dead” body. The guy (my brother’s friend) who’s camera we used, never sent the photo to me! Ugh!