Homicide: Life on the Street 

Follows a police homicide unit which investigates violent crimes in the city of Baltimore.

Creator:

Paul Attanasio

Stars:

Richard Belzer, Clark Johnson, Yaphet Kotto

Top Rated TV #213 | Won 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 21 wins & 82 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Richard Belzer	...	John Munch 122 episodes, 1993-1999
Clark Johnson	...	Meldrick Lewis 122 episodes, 1993-1999
Yaphet Kotto	...	Al Giardello 122 episodes, 1993-1999
Kyle Secor	...	Tim Bayliss 122 episodes, 1993-1999
Andre Braugher	...	Frank Pembleton 100 episodes, 1993-1998
Melissa Leo	...	Kay Howard / ... 77 episodes, 1993-1997
Reed Diamond	...	Mike Kellerman 69 episodes, 1995-1998
Sharon Ziman	...	Naomi 51 episodes, 1993-1999

Storyline

A one-hour drama inspired by David Simon's acclaimed non-fiction book "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets." It is at once a mundane yet compelling look in and around a Homicide unit of the Baltimore Police Department, a group of determined individuals who are committed to their grim job at hand.

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Plot Keywords:

social commentary | justice | violence | police station | based on real person | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Trivia

Five of Detective Steve Crosetti's cases are alluded to throughout the first three seasons, but none of the investigations appear in any given episode. Thus, the viewers never get to witness Crosetti be the 'Primary'.

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Goofs

In a number of episodes, in-vehicle shots with a "back seat" perspective often show that the vehicle being filmed in is in fact a Chrysler-produced sedan. Note the older star-in-pentagon emblem on the steering wheel instead of the Chevy Cavaliers that the detectives drive. This is likely due to the lower headroom in the Cavalier, making it difficult to film that perspective.

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Quotes

Det. Tim Bayliss: You never say please. You never say thank you.
Det. Frank Pembleton: Please don't be an idiot. Thank you.

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Connections

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: New Boundaries: World Cinema in Africa, Asia & Latin America (2011)

User Reviews

The Power of the Loyal Viewer(and Critics)!

This show is an excellent drama of which you will rarely find on network TV(perhaps NYPD Blue in its first five or six years,St.Elsewhere,L.A.Law,Hill Street Blues might compare). This show,set in the Homicide division(of course) of the Baltimore Police Department and centered around the elite detectives of the precinct was an edgy,intense show which took some big-time chances(For example:One episode was set exclusively around two of the detectives grilling a suspect)and it's time slot,Friday nights at 10 eastern/9 central,made this a constant candidate for the cancellation blocks,but the loyal viewer-ship and the loud protestations of TV critics helped keep this show afloat for the six and a half years it ran. The acting and writing were by far some of the best on network t.v.,the characters fleshed out by Andre Braugher,Yaphett Kotto(As the chief),Ned Beatty,Melissa Leo,Isabella Hoffman,Clark Johnson,Daniel Baldwin,Kyle Secor,Reed Diamond and long-time stand-up comedian Richard Belzer,who has found his niche as a dramatic actor(and as the SAME character,Detective John Munch,in no fewer than five TV shows,now on Law and Order:Special Victims UNit)stand out maybe the most! I believe they could even revive this show someday in the future with some different characters in the roles and,with roughly the same writing and exactly the same kind of no-hold-barred risk-taking,could be at least half as good,if not equal.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 January 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Homicide

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Baltimore Pictures, Fatima Productions, NBC Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min (122 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1