Ho Ho Homicide Life on the Street Anyone?

[kristin724]

Hey gang. :popcorn:

I know its an old show now, but are there any Homicide Life on The Street Fans out there? We're an intelligent bunch, so someone else here must like this critics darling.

I keep asking myself where I was when this show was originally on in the 90s. I think I was playing ice hockey and I had been out of cop shows for awhile at that point anyway-growing up on everything from Hill Street Blues to Cagney and Lacey! (TJ Hooker!) :crazy:

My sister got me into SVU, and I really think the Munch character has become a waste on the show, so I did some research and discovered Homicide. The rest as they say is history.

I watched Seasons 1-4 unspoiled, but I've read up on 5, 6, and 7. I don't have those seasons on DVD but I'm workng towards it. So far, my mind's been blown!
:banana:

While Munch is still my favorite and I was absolutely smitten by the show for the show, I must admit I am enjoying the pretty boy addition of Kellerman. I remembered Reed Diamond from Memphis Belle. Love that movie!

And so, after I blabbed all that, any takers? My honey and my dad have both watched a handful of episodes and say its really great and they'd love to see more, but they aren't as addicted or obsessive as I am!


:Thumbs:

[beezle]

Yeah, I enjoyed it when it was on. Has a lot more style and soul than Law and Order or CSI.

[Stephen Davis]

Great show, especially in its early years. Actually, the show never went downhill for me. Even the movie was great.

[zahra]

I loved this show. Theyr'e doing re-runs on ITV4 in the UK...Ahhhhh.

Great characters, great music, and the camera-work is so impressive. I loved Meldrick and both Giardelli, and how great were Bayliss and Pembleton together? Ballard and Falsone rocked, too. And Stivers! Loved her. I must admit, I thought it'd go downhill when they brought in that really beautiful mixed-race girl - when they start bringing in totty, you get a bit worried - but it never flagged and her character was just as rounded as the others'. And the movie made me cry.

I've got some episodes taped - did you see the Robin Williams one? Got that somewhere. And how scary was Georgia Rae Mahoney?

Honestly, though we've had The Wire and Law and Order and The Shield, I think Homicide had the best-drawn, most interesting and most complex characters of all the cop shows.

[jodiodi]

I loved that show when it was on. Bayliss and Pembleton were my favorite characters. I catch a rerun now and then, but can never remember when it's on or where.

[kristin724]

I have noticed that HLOTS is more popular overseas than here. Kind of odd for it being such a Baltimore show. I think one has to be familiar with Baltimore to get everything in the show. Strangely one of the places I played hockey back in the day was Balitmore.

Anyhoo I think its network shaft and otherwise popularity is because of the way NBC had to tone it down on the grittty scale yet sex it up otherwise. Still I love all the seasons. I think its jind of telling that most of the votes at jump the shark claim Homicide never jumped. And to think Henry Winkler is Richard Belzer's cousin.

[kristin724]

Jodi, get the DVDs if you can. There's extras, and the shows are in order, which I understand was another thing NBC toyed with-moving things around for sweeps and therefore messing up continuity.

I expected Pembleton to be my dad's favorite, but so far he thinks he's a jerk. Does anyone else think Bayliss and Pembleton are a lot like Blake and Avon from Blake's 7? Now there's a show that's going back!

[MattW]

I loved Homicide while it was on. The L&O crossovers were good too.

And Kristen is right - Munch was absolutely wasted on SVU.

[kristin724]

Here Here!

I have a lot on my plate but I've been tempted to do reviews and captures of Homicide. I made a few icons, but its tough to capture, with all the jump cuts, moving hand helds and gritty looks.

Now my Dad keeps asking me, "Do they find out who killed Adena?"

[zahra]

Watching, as I write, on ITV3, the episode with the guy who's been pushed under a train. God. What utterly, utterly compelling television. I've seen it before, and now I see the victim is that guy from Criminal Intent (Mark Ruffalo?) What a brilliant actor. This is what TV should be like.

(Oh, and I'm taping Heroes in the other room.)

[kristin724]

Yes Z. It makes me feel so intelligent to watch Homicide! It doesn't show in reruns where I'm at, but I hear its on international stations quite a bit. Modern TV seems so dumbing down somehow. Again after getting into the 1st season eps with my dad, even the best SVU feels subpar. And of course, they are rerun to death on the USA Network.

Some think Seasons 6 and 7 were a let down but critics still vote them superior to anything on TV. A lot of links regarding HLOTS seem broken, but a lot of DVD review sites still praise it.

[zahra]

I expected Pembleton to be my dad's favorite, but so far he thinks he's a jerk. !

Yeah, but he IS a bit of a jerk, sometimes. That's what makes him rounded. Sometimes you just want to slap him on the back of the head and say, 'Dismount from that high-horse, Frank, and don't let the saddle hit you on the ass on the way down.'

Oh, that under-the-train episode made me weepy. Have to go and drink some gin now.

[kristin724]

I didn't cry until the Crosetti episode in Season 3. Frank is a jerk most of the time but after the white glove murders and his loss of faith, the end of that episode is kicker.

I like how its a very serious show, but the balance between humor and wit is perfect. Part of that is Munch's craziness, but a lot of the pricky or snark is so real you can't help it.

"There's no absolutes in life, only in vodka." hehe

[kristin724]

Wow, took awhile to find this thread! I got the Homicide Megaset and finished Seasons 5, 6, 7, and The Movie. 7 was touch and go, but I really liked the movie. I've been rewatching again with my Dad. Sometimes he finds the series slow and wishes things were nice and simple one off episodes. I still don't think its possible, however, for someone to watch the first season and not get hooked on this show!