Go back to previous topic | Forum name | Pass The Popcorn | Topic subject | Why Is Homicide: Life on the Street So Underappreciated? (Vulture swipe) | Topic URL | http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=6&topic_id=684989 |
684989, Why Is Homicide: Life on the Street So Underappreciated? (Vulture swipe) Posted by CherNic, Sun Sep-07-14 12:34 PM
http://www.vulture.com/2014/09/why-is-homicide-so-underappreciated.html
9/5/2014 at 3:27 PM Why Is Homicide: Life on the Street So Underappreciated? By Margaret Lyons When you write about television, lots and lots of people want to talk to you about The Wire. That's fine. An occupational perk. And after I listen to this engaged citizen rave on and on about David Simon's masterpiece, I ask: "Have you watched Homicide?" And god damn it, most people say no. Then it's my turn to launch into a hagiography. Homicide is the best. Homicide is arguably the best cop show of all time. Homicide is as dramatically intense and as emotionally nuanced as Mad Men. And yet, somehow, Homicide is often left out of "the canon."
I rewatched all of season three of Homicide in putting together my list of the 100 best episodes of the '94–'95 TV season. I could easily have included all 20 episodes. There's an enthralling serial-killer arc, and if you like True Detective's ruminations on the nature of good and evil and murderthoughts, well, you'll like these more since they are more interesting and surprising. There's terrific guest roles from Steve Buscemi and Bruno Kirby, among others. And there's a dark, cynical comedy that runs through the show, too. A few of our detectives go in on buying a pub together in season three, and when the woman from the bank tells them they've been approved for a loan, they're all happy but surprised. "We're homicide detectives," Munch (Richard Belzer) explains. "We never give people good news face-to-face unless, oh, it's someone who's thrilled to hear their spouse has been murdered." "Well, that's not never!" the bank lady responds brightly and weirdly. Ha? Ha. The characters themselves make jokes — Munch in particular — but one-off marginal characters have senses of humor, too. (For those not in the know: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit's Detective Munch actually originated on Homicide. The shows, and OG L&O, had a few cross-over episodes, too. NBC synergy!)
You want riveting interrogations? We've got riveting interrogations. You want season-long arcs about police corruption? We've got season-long arcs about police corruption. You want villainous yet alluring drug lords? A commentary on the fractured state of American racial politics? Stories about working-class people? A fraught father-and-son relationship where they're both cops? Well! Have I got a show for you. As a bonus, said son is played by Breaking Bad's beloved Giancarlo Esposito. Some of us have enjoyed his work since far before Gus was a glimmer in anyone's meth eye.
NBC was not a particularly hospitable home to Homicide. The show faced out-of-order scheduling, was off for almost a year in between the nine-episode first season and the four-episode second season, and was frequently a bubble show when it came time for renewals. But Homicide eventually ran for seven seasons, with a total of 122 episodes, plus a made-for-TV movie. It wasn't a hit show, but critics sure loved it, and it won three Peabodys. It has that same "underappreciated in its time" vibe as The Wire, and yet David Simon's second project gets so much more love.
But I'm not pitting Homicide against The Wire. I'm pitting Homicide against No Homicide. My fondest wish is for the show to land on Netflix streaming, but until then it's widely available on DVD and through less savory means. Homicide needs to be widely embraced and venerated, and then the groundswell will start. People will begin chitter-chattering about it. The vast Internet will suddenly become filled with pro-Homicide propaganda. The tides will have turned. And then my other fondest wish can come true: Homicide reunion movie.
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684992, I don't even have to read this Posted by nipsey, Sun Sep-07-14 02:30 PM
H:LOTS is always the GOAT to me. Ahead of its time and woefully under appreciated.
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684995, Make that two of us Posted by Wordman, Sun Sep-07-14 07:17 PM
This rash of "Hey, this entertainment thing back in the day was really good!" articles gets very tiresome.
"Your current frequencies of understanding outweigh that which has been given for you to understand." Saul Williams
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685020, Co-Sign Posted by spenzalii, Mon Sep-08-14 11:23 AM
I always have and always will ride for this show. Except maybe the last season, which was ass.
Luther Mahoney was that dude
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685022, I disagree about Luther Mahoney Posted by handle, Mon Sep-08-14 11:36 AM
>Luther Mahoney was that dude
Luther Mahoney seemed to be a super-villian in an otherwise grounded show.
He slipped through the justice system way too easily, often, and wink-a-ly. And then when his sister took over it got even sillier.
I love the show, but it had it's ups and downs.
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685035, Don't get me started on that last season.... Posted by nipsey, Mon Sep-08-14 03:44 PM
>I always have and always will ride for this show. Except >maybe the last season, which was ass.
That isht was horrible! Shephard, Falsone, Ballard, Gharty. Not to mention shoehorning Mike (Al Jr.) Giardello into the last season. I get mad thinking about it.
>Luther Mahoney was that dude
I loved Luther. I hated how they didn't let the story end with his shooting. All the stuff about Junior Bunk and Luther's sister was just dumb. But his character was great and obviously the inspiration for Antoine Mitchell on "The Shield".
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685116, Don't get me started on Antoine Mitchell Posted by spenzalii, Wed Sep-10-14 10:36 AM
That shit pissed me off. AA did his thing with that role, but it was such an obvious copy that I couldn't enjoy it. But that's a whole other show worthy of a whole other topic (for the record, I really liked The Shield, but it was nowhere near as good as H:LOTS)
Anyway...
Yeah, the Georgia Brown and Junior Bunk shit got carried away. Best thing that came out of that was watching Pembleton take Kellerman down.
Favorite scene with Luther Mahoney was probably when he walked in the cop bar and Meldrick gave his speech.
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685127, You and me are >< right here. Posted by nipsey, Wed Sep-10-14 12:07 PM
>That shit pissed me off. AA did his thing with that role, but >it was such an obvious copy that I couldn't enjoy it. But >that's a whole other show worthy of a whole other topic (for >the record, I really liked The Shield, but it was nowhere near >as good as H:LOTS)
Antwoine Mitchell was a copy, but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the character. AA played him well, but I accepted it was a rip for Luther. Agreed, The Shield, was a great show, but H:LOTS had better writing and acting overall. I do think The Shield did a lot of things well and was served well with the 13 episode seasons. Not too much filler. H:LOTS had to deal with filler being a broadcast network show.
> >Anyway... > >Yeah, the Georgia Brown and Junior Bunk shit got carried away. >Best thing that came out of that was watching Pembleton take >Kellerman down. > >Favorite scene with Luther Mahoney was probably when he walked >in the cop bar and Meldrick gave his speech.
"You know me detective, you arrest me know, I'll be buying you a drink tonight." Luther was a beast.
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685228, *daps* Posted by spenzalii, Fri Sep-12-14 04:51 PM
Yeah, I dug The Shield. It did some of the things H:LOTS did (aside from cribbing Mahoney), but the focus was mainly on Vic (the anti hero), and how far off the edge he was going to go. Some of the story lines were there for shock value, and some didn't quite work out. Still, I watched until the end. Really wanted him to pop Shane in the shoulder when he admitted he offed Lem...
Another thread, another time
'You're on my corner...' http://youtu.be/JiA0LZmTkQA
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685042, The only thing that makes up for the last season Posted by Wordman, Mon Sep-08-14 07:37 PM
Is that the movie wasn't as bad.
"Your current frequencies of understanding outweigh that which has been given for you to understand." Saul Williams
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685028, It was one of the best shows on TV at the time Posted by SammyJankis, Mon Sep-08-14 01:02 PM
Shame that it's not widely appreciated. I would love to revisit it on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon streaming.
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685218, Still my favorite cop show Posted by Rockscissorspaper, Fri Sep-12-14 01:04 PM
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685221, one of my favorite shows of all time, hands down Posted by BabySoulRebel, Fri Sep-12-14 02:59 PM
hell the reason I even got excited for the wire in the first place was because I knew David Simon from Homicide.
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685470, i got the dvd from netflix for the and watch the first 3 EPs Posted by amplifya7, Sat Sep-20-14 02:02 PM
strictly due to this post...enjoying it so far. thanks!
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685477, It get's so much better by S3 Posted by spenzalii, Sat Sep-20-14 10:15 PM
Enjoy the ride
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685471, its not, not by me anyways... Posted by Voodoochilde, Sat Sep-20-14 02:15 PM
its one of my all time favorites. Andre Brauer? cmon... the whole cast...
that show was just ahead of its time with how it did everything. Tv then just wasn't ready for it really...
i've been waiting for a blu-ray set to come out, but not sure if it'll ever happen...
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748720, Graphic Novel (2 volumes) Posted by Sponge, Wed Jul-26-23 05:28 PM
Volume 1 released yesterday. Volume 2 in December- https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250624628/homicidethegraphicnovelpartone
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750653, Complete DVD on Sale at Amazon $36 (7/16/24) Posted by handle, Tue Jul-16-24 11:08 AM
https://www.amazon.com/Homicide-Street-Complete-Andre-Braugher/dp/B06Y3WJFZ8?ref=dlx_prime_dg_dcl_B06Y3WJFZ8_dt_sl7_4a
35 DVDs.
I don't think the movie is included.
EDIT:It's the Shout Factory version so it's good, but I don't know if crossover episodes to L&O:SVU are included.
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750660, Maybe because it wasn’t on cable TV (HBO)? Posted by ProgressiveSound, Thu Jul-18-24 01:55 PM
Just guessing because I haven’t actually watched it myself. I even have the book, but haven’t read it yet.
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750665, Finally Gets Streaming Home at Peacock Posted by handle, Mon Jul-22-24 03:49 PM
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/homicide-life-on-the-street-streaming-peacock-1235953551/
‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ Finally Gets Streaming Home at Peacock The drama starring Andre Braugher, Richard Belzer and Kyle Secor is also remastered for HD and 4K viewing.
One of the more critically acclaimed dramas of the past 30 years has at last found a streaming home.
Starting Aug. 19, Peacock will feature Homicide: Life on the Street. All seven seasons and 122 episodes of the former NBC show, as well as the series-wrapping Homicide: The Movie from 2000, will be available, remastered for HD and 4K viewing.
Homicide was based on David Simon’s book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets and created by Paul Attanasio; Tom Fontana was the showrunner and executive produced with Barry Levinson, Henry Bromell and Jim Finnerty. The series followed detectives in Baltimore’s homicide unit and was praised for its acting and a more realistic depiction of detective work — including some cases that don’t get solved — than on many other network crime dramas.
Over the show’s seven seasons, the cast featured Andre Braugher — who won his first Emmy 1998 for playing Detective Frank Pembleton — Ned Beatty, Richard Belzer, Yaphet Kotto, Melissa Leo, Giancarlo Esposito, Daniel Baldwin, Jon Polito, Clark Johnson, Kyle Secor, Reed Diamond, Michelle Forbes, Peter Gerety, Isabella Hofmann, Toni Lewis, Michael Michele, Max Perlich, Jon Seda and Callie Thorne.
The series had several crossovers with NBC’s Law & Order franchise, and Belzer would continue his character of Detective John Munch on Law & Order: SVU for more than a decade after Homicide ended.
Simon, who worked as a writer and producer on the series, hinted at a streaming announcement in June: “Word is that NBC has managed to finally secure the music rights necessary to sell Homicide: Life on the Street to a streaming platform,” Simon wrote on X. “Andre, Richard, Yaphet, Ned, and so many others who labored on that wonderful show on both sides of the camera will soon regain a full share of their legacy.”
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750671, Fantastic news! Posted by Pamalama, Wed Jul-24-24 07:09 AM
Too bad neither of the people listed below (outside of Simon)got the chance to see this come to fruition. > >Simon, who worked as a writer and producer on the series, >hinted at a streaming announcement in June: “Word is that >NBC has managed to finally secure the music rights necessary >to sell Homicide: Life on the Street to a streaming >platform,” Simon wrote on X. “Andre, Richard, Yaphet, Ned, >and so many others who labored on that wonderful show on both >sides of the camera will soon regain a full share of their >legacy.”
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750799, The first episode looks rough Posted by handle, Sun Aug-25-24 03:29 PM
I know it was a low budget TV show, especially for the first 2 seasons, but watching this zoomed in shows not only giant film grain but crazy artifacts.
I have a 83" TV - I think it might be better on a 32".
I'm going to watch more - I'm hoping the transfer quality improves as the show goes on, but they can't perform miracles.
I wonder if leaving it at 4:3 would have helped it.
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750801, For the record, I haven't seen the Peacock cut of the video stock Posted by obsidianchrysalis, Sun Aug-25-24 10:48 PM
But, if memory serves me well, I think some of the "grainy-ness" is intentional. I remember the show's visual style being "harsher" than many other shows of its time.
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750807, If he's looking at the show on an 83 inch screen Posted by Numba_33, Mon Aug-26-24 09:29 AM
he's probably right given that the original show pre-dated HD technology.
I've watched through the first part of the third season so far and I've seen some minor grainy images here and there, but the imaging wasn't so bad as to take me out of enjoying the show. I am watching the show on a fairly bunk 50 inch HD Vizio TV.
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750786, ^Up now that it’s streaming on Peacock Posted by Pamalama, Wed Aug-21-24 02:06 PM
.
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750793, I watched an episode earlier this week. Posted by Numba_33, Thu Aug-22-24 01:38 PM
I forget the exact episode number, but it was the top tier episode that featured Andre Braugher's character getting a false confession from Isaiah Washington's character (interestingly enough titled Layne Staley) due to pressure from Yaphet Koto's character. Masterclass scenes involving all three.
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750794, I DID THIS FOR YOU G!!!! Posted by Pamalama, Thu Aug-22-24 10:34 PM
My husband and I regularly say this when we do something for each other.
We also started taking pictures in triplicate or more because of this show’s habit of repeating phrases or specific shots.
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750806, Sounds like that's a tight relationship Posted by Numba_33, Mon Aug-26-24 09:25 AM
to be able to readily recall such a deep cut of a line like that.
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750787, Thanks for the recommendation y'll. Posted by bwood, Thu Aug-22-24 05:31 AM
Watched the first 3 episodes on Peacock last night. This show is bleak, but I'm into it.
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750792, I'm jealous Posted by Numba_33, Thu Aug-22-24 01:34 PM
that you'll get to watch this show with completely fresh eyes.
**edit**
I should also mention that there are some comedic elements to the show; from memory, Clark Johnson, Ned Beaty, and Richard Belzer did a good job balancing out the morbid aspects to the show with their subtle comedic storylines.
I will warn you that the show does suffer in quality towards the end of it's run, but the first 4-5 seasons are top notch TV detective drama if my memory serves me right.
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