Homicide: Life on the Street

[Munchkin]

Having just completed my viewing of the recently released DVD set of its first two seasons, I'd like to open this board to a discussion of my favorite (and IMHO, the BEST) TV show ever: Homicide. It's hard to imagine that only 10 years ago, this awesome series debuted with so many changes to come (not all of which were good).



That back then, Clark Johnson was an actor in front of the camera as our favorite swaggering hipster Meldrick Lewis before becoming a feature film director behind it (the upcoming S.W.A.T.). That as the then-only female regular, Melissa Leo's loveably cranky Kay Howard had to wear make-up (!!). That Richard Belzer's De-tec-tive Munch worked actual cases of his own, was partnered with Ned Beatty (as Stan "The Big Man" Bolander) rather than Ice-T (on Law & Order: SVU), and was actually funny.



And most of all, that Andre Braugher was clearly the star of the show as Supercop Frank Pembleton and not a 'sidekick' like he is now in Hack (ironically, that show's star David Morse once guested on Homicide as one of Frank's suspects).



So feel free to remininsce about the great moments (usually involving Frank's interrogations in "The Box"), lament the bad ones (anything to do with the insufferably pompous Megan Russert, or that marble-mouthed moron Falsone), or just wonder aloud why this classic show was so unfairly ignored and mistreated in its entire run while overhyped, in-your-face dreck like "NYPD Blew" is still allowed to survive and set a bad example for other up-and-coming police shows to follow. But that's just my .11 cents. Enjoy!

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Dave C.

Edited by: Munchkin at: 8/1/03 12:57 pm

[emma peel]

I never could really get into Homicide, probably because I was initially put off by the "hand held camera" type filming they did when the show first started. However, I did watch it occasionally over the years, and I especially appreciated Yaphet Kotto's portrayal of "G." He's a very recognizable actor who was previously in lots of not so very good films, IMO, but I grew to appreciate his talent the times I did watch Homicide. He became an "actor" and a "character", not just a "black actor" or a "black character" to me on Homicide. Do you guys understand what I mean?

Also, I really preferred Richard Belzer's Munchkin to his stand up comedian stuff. I love him on L&O SVU.

Munchkin, even though I couldn't get into to the show, I have always appreciated your commentary on Homicide as well as your comments about the show that used to be Buffy.

Thanks.

Janice

[WebWarlock]

Easily one of the best shows on TV ever.



Now this is a DVD set I would own since I always felt that comercials really got in the way of the story telling.



This was a ritual for my wife and I in the early days of our dating and marriage. Watch "Xfiles" then "Homicide". Munch was always my fav, so yes I loved "Unusual Suspects".



Along with Andre Braugher (Pembleton) this was one of the best ensamble casts ever.



I even loved it in it's last years. It never jumped the shark, NBC abandoned it.



Warlock

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[roamin]

What great timing for this thread - I am working my way through the Season 1 & 2 DVDS. I just watched 3 men and Adena and was blown away all over again by the intensity of that episode.



I still miss tuning in Homicide on Friday nights.



While I enjoy the wire - I don't think anything will ever quite measure up to Homicide ( I do not include the god awful final season in this rave. The less said of Falsone the better), though I sure do enjoy seeing the Homicide alums showing up on The Wire (Luther as a Medical examiner for instance!).



It will be along time before we see the likes of it again. Hands down one of the best TV shows ever.