Homicide: Life on the Street: classic or the best show ever created?

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god I remember Perlich being such a controversial person (as a character, and as a human being). Wasn't he involved in some kind of drug fiasco or violent-beating-someone-up thing? Whatever happened to him?

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 21 October 2004 17:20 (nineteen years ago) link

two weeks pass...

So Netflix sent me the wrong Homicide DVD and I was so utterly distraught. It just goes to show how much I have come to rely on my friends from Baltimore. I also find myself bemoaning the fact that my workplace is not like the station in Homicide, full of characters and playful banter.

― adam... (nordicskilla), Monday, 8 November 2004 21:26 (nineteen years ago) link

I discovered tonight that there is a new cop shop called Hack on ITV3 with Andre Braugher. He plays second lead to the rather wet tall thin curly haired guy out of St Elsewhere. It's a pleasure to see Braugher in action again.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 8 November 2004 22:03 (nineteen years ago) link

it got cancelled after about six episodes, unfortunately

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 8 November 2004 22:05 (nineteen years ago) link

I thought there were six series? Netflix only has 5. I am starting Season 4 today...

Also! I saw this picture online today and it confused me greatly! WHO THE HELL ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE?
ihttp://members.aol.com/brendag3/KylePhotos/HomicideMovieCast_15.jpg

― adam... (nordicskilla), Thursday, 18 November 2004 19:58 (nineteen years ago) link

Anybody in that photo you don't recognize by Season Four, you don't wanna know. Believe me.

― Huk-L, Thursday, 18 November 2004 20:24 (nineteen years ago) link

haha

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 18 November 2004 21:06 (nineteen years ago) link

Stivers, actually, was okay, but Gerety and whatserface, and Falsone all suck the bag! The last seasons do have pretty good Meldrick content though. And where's Mike Giardello and Mike Kellerman in that picture? Huh? HUH?
(Kellerman has a great cameo in SWAT, directed by Meldrick Lewis) (yes I know that those are the names of the characters not the actors, but the characters never let me down by appearing in bad Canadian newsroom dramas)

― Huk-L, Thursday, 18 November 2004 21:11 (nineteen years ago) link

meldrick's mlk flick was astonishingly good

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 18 November 2004 21:14 (nineteen years ago) link

i always liked it when kay howard and frank pembleton had a scene together if only cuz they were the two best detectives in the department, and they knew it, and kay was just a little better than frank and they knew that too.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 18 November 2004 21:16 (nineteen years ago) link

i liked gerety, or at least I liked the idea of him, they didn't really develop the character the way they could have though. I think falsone gets a bad rap. Stivers was fine. What's her face though was fucking terrible. Really the only bad, bad misstep. She went on to be terrible on ER, then disappeared.

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 18 November 2004 23:16 (nineteen years ago) link

At the back of that picture - is that really BAYLISS with a BEARD???

I have the fear!

― adam... (nordicskilla), Thursday, 18 November 2004 23:17 (nineteen years ago) link

bayliss got heavy into buddhism, exploring his sexuality, the internet those last couple of years.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 19 November 2004 03:27 (nineteen years ago) link

one thing watching the dvds that really comes across is how there are episodes where they're clearly at least begrudgingly paying some heed to notes from network and others where they're 'fuck it, we're gonna get canceled anyway, let's do what we want.'

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 19 November 2004 03:28 (nineteen years ago) link

I dunno, Falsone always seemed like an attempt at a sympathetic and "good-looking" Felton, just like Gerety eventually became Big Man-Lite, and they never really dealt with the stuff that his character had done when he was first introduced (though in the movie, we were reminded of his original nature) and Ballard was just, uh. Sorta good looking. No wait, you weren't talking about Ballard! I had totally forgotten about the model! Michael Michelle, what was her cop name? Shit.
How many former Homicide TV cops went on to be TV doctors? (Gideon's Crossing, the short-lived Andre Braugher doc-vehicle co-starring Ruben Blades seemed good in the pilot).

SWAT was kind of like that too. I felt there were a lot of moments where you could Johnson/Meldrick was trying to put some really cool cop drama moments into the Big Budget Summer Blockbuster the Studio had hired him to make. They're all in the first half.

Adam, the Homicide movie is one of the biggest WTFs in the history of Yaphet Kotto.

― Huk-L, Friday, 19 November 2004 05:27 (nineteen years ago) link

This is normally the part on ILX where I throw out my "YOU SUCK BELZER" story, but I'm not going to.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Friday, 19 November 2004 06:22 (nineteen years ago) link

no tell it

when I said stivers was fine up above, I meant ballard. again, they didn't spend enough time developing her, but she was interesting. she's more interesting on the Wire though.

I hold out hope that Belzer will bail on SVU and take Munch to the Wire but it probably won't happen

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 19 November 2004 07:47 (nineteen years ago) link

haha - she's gotten nekkid on the wire

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 19 November 2004 07:53 (nineteen years ago) link

the thing with ballard was that it was clearly a response to a memo saying 'more women' (and with network memos women = babes)(this doesn't always ruin a show; jill hennesy is still my fave l&o lawyer). alot of the scorn she got guilt by association with michael michelle, who was really awful. gerty did become big man-lite didn't he? i always remembered him as the cop who sat in his car during the 911 call so him being promoted to homicide just seemed perfect, a sorta comment on baltimore pd politics.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 19 November 2004 08:02 (nineteen years ago) link

also i'm sure this is a 'no duh' but anyone who liked homicide really needs to check out the wire. i haven't been able to watch it this season, i've missed too many episodes and that's a show where if you don't watch every episode (preferably twice) you're fucked.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 19 November 2004 08:04 (nineteen years ago) link

i'm in the same boat, I missed two in a row, coudln't find them on bittorrent, so I'll have to wait until it gets rerun. maybe I should go back and watch the first season on dvd though anyway.

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 19 November 2004 08:26 (nineteen years ago) link

Has The Wire reached the UK yet, does anyone know?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 19 November 2004 13:35 (nineteen years ago) link

Do I need to know anything more than "really good cop drama" about The Wire, or should I just go buy the flipping DVD box?

― Huk-L, Friday, 19 November 2004 17:50 (nineteen years ago) link

Biography for
Richard Belzer
Nickname
The Belz
Height
6' 1" (1.85 m)
Mini biography

A social misfit, was kicked out of every school he ever attended, due to his uncontrollable wit. His mother (Frances) died of breast cancer when Richard was 18. His father (Charles) committed suicide when he was 22. A dedication is written to him in Richard Belzer's "UFO's, JFK, and Elvis: Conspiracies You Don't Have To Be Crazy To Believe" (Ballantine Books, 1999).

IMDb mini-biography by
Tom Myers
Spouse
Harlee McBride
(1985 - present)
Dalia Danoch
(1976 - 1978) (divorced)
Gail Susan Ross
(1966 - 1972) (divorced)
Trivia

Wrestler Hulk Hogan hurt him while demonstrating a wrestling move on a 1986 TV show called 'Hot Properties'. He was knocked unconscious and required stitches on his head. He sued Hulk for $5 million, but later settled out of court.
Is a frequent guest on the Howard Stern Radio Show.
Has played the same character, Detective John Munch, on 5 different TV shows: "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993) (originating series), "Law & Order" (1990) (crossovers), _"The X-Files" (1993)_ (crossover), _"The Beat" (2000)_ (guest-appearance in the short-lived UPN series), and _"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1998)_ , where he currently stars.
Appeared on the 25 March 1978 episode of "Saturday Night Live" (1975) with Christopher Lee as the host and musical guest, Meatloaf.
Appeared on the 2 October 1976 episode of "Saturday Night Live" (1975) with Eric Idle as the host and musical guests George Harrison, Joe Cocker, and Stuff.
Played himself in the movie Fame (1980).
Robert De Niro studied Belzer for his role in King of Comedy, The (1983).
Auditioned for the role of Groucho Marx in the Tommy Tune production "A Day in Hollywood, a Night in the Ukraine." Belzer taught himself two songs from the 1930s ("Satin Doll" and "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"), but did not get the part.
Was going to appear in Chevy Chase's movie, Modern Problems (1981), but scheduling conflicts could not be worked out. The date for the shooting of his scene was postponed twice and the day his scene was supposed to be shot, Belzer had a lucrative club date in New York, which was postponed at the last minute.
Testified on behalf of a low-level criminal who ran onto the set of "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993) while fleeing actual Baltimore police and surrendered to the actors; Belzer said the look on the guy's face was sufficient punishment

Cousin of Henry Winkler.

― adam... (nordicskilla), Saturday, 20 November 2004 07:47 (nineteen years ago) link

Last year I picked up a tabloid that had 'SVU star in gay sex scandal!" and it was RICHARD BELZER.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Saturday, 20 November 2004 12:48 (nineteen years ago) link

one month passes...

Last night we watched an episode from Season 4 called The Hat. It had Lily Tomlin as am opera-loving femme fatale. Then we re-watched it with commentary from Clark Johnson and the writer of that episode. It was very illuminating. Clark Johnson sounds just like Lewis only with a bit less of an accent. He was funny and put down NYPD Blue and said that he had been drunk for the whole series. I also didn't realize that he directed some episodes of The Shield (now it all comes full circle) andthat he sometimes goes by the name "Clark Slappy Jackson".

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 15:52 (nineteen years ago) link

He also said that Richard Belzer has a house in the South of France which he visits every summer. That was sweet!

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 15:53 (nineteen years ago) link

I'm sure I've said that Clark Johnson (a Cdn citizen, I should add) has directed The Shield (I think he even did the pilot!).
I need to get me some of these DVDs.

― Huk-L, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 15:56 (nineteen years ago) link

I have never seen Homicide. I would really like to, since I'm sure I would love it, but I'm not about to pay $80 for a box set of a show I've never seen, and they don't have it at my video store. Hmm.

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 15:59 (nineteen years ago) link

NETFLIX

Huck, maybe you did say that. But he's originally from Philly.

Biography for
Clark Johnson (I)

Date of birth (location)
September 1954
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Height
6' 2" (1.88 m)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trade mark
Often casts one of his wives or ex-wives.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trivia
Brother of jazz singer Molly Johnson.

Played Canadian collage football while attending Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec.

He has 2 daughters

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:03 (nineteen years ago) link

I also like it that he (presumably) cast himself as "Deke's Handsome Partner" in SWAT!

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:04 (nineteen years ago) link

When are the final seasons going to come out on DVD?

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:04 (nineteen years ago) link

I know he wasn't born in Canada. But he was actually living in Toronto during Homicide. His sister (who still lives there) told me that he coached his daughter's basketball team and would jet back and forth between Balto and T.O.

Have you seen the episode where Meldrick has a fight with his wife?

Also, did you know that Ami Brabson (or something close to that) who played Pembleton's wife is actually Andre Braugher's real wife (or was at the time)?

― Huk-L, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:07 (nineteen years ago) link

I didn't know that. I haven't seen the episode where Pembleton fights with his wife...yet.

So do they EVER explain why Bo and Bolander get suspended for drunken behaviour and then NEVER come back??

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:09 (nineteen years ago) link

And on Pembleton...I enjoyed the scenes where he was suspended and you saw him at home in an apron desperately trying to cook for his wife. Domesticated!

I am also about 85% certain that I will be getting the Homicide book for christmas and maybe...just maybe...one of The Shield box sets, finally.

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:13 (nineteen years ago) link

Only in passing. Bolander opts for early retirement and Beau...you do know what happens to Felton, don't you?

― Huk-L, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:14 (nineteen years ago) link

Errrr, no probably not. Don't say! It's "Beau" not "Bo"? Well, I guess I'd never seen it written down.

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:15 (nineteen years ago) link

No, it's when Meldrick fights with his wife, when Brody comes over for dinner...Teddy Pendergrass plays a role. In the fight, not in the episode.

― Huk-L, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:16 (nineteen years ago) link

Do we like Brody?

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:17 (nineteen years ago) link

Bo is on Days of our Lives, Beau is on Homicide.

I guess they deal with the final fate of Beau Felton in one of the later seasons, with the "younger, sexier" cast.

I like Brody.
Have you seen the one where they watch Brody's documentary? A lot of that is lifted straight from the book. A lot of the first season is too. It's pretty cool the way the characters started out as pretty straight takes on the people in the book and then by the end they were all really different. Good writing or something, I guess.

― Huk-L, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:18 (nineteen years ago) link

Have you seen the one where they watch Brody's documentary?

No!

One of my favorite episodes is still that one in the first season where they spend the whole night in the station and it's hot and there's wall-to-wall music.

Some of the music is a bit weird, though. Belly playing while Pembleton and Bayliss go smashing down doors and looking for suspects?

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:21 (nineteen years ago) link

I love that one! Where Frank won't even loosen his tie and he's drinking coffee and Gee wants to kill him. And the kid who had Adina Watson library book. Oh yeah. Fuck Christmas, I'm staying home and watching all my tapes. Which are unlabeled.

― Huk-L, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:26 (nineteen years ago) link

Adina Watson, do they ever solve it in like, the last episode or something?

And WHAT is an "Araber"? Is it a Baltimore thing?

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:30 (nineteen years ago) link

I think it might be a Baltimore thing. It's someone who sells produce--usually apples--from a horse & cart. (the produce is stored in the cart, not that horse, that would be gross)

― Huk-L, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:32 (nineteen years ago) link

Is Brody == David Simon?

― alex in montreal, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:36 (nineteen years ago) link

Max Perlich

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:37 (nineteen years ago) link

sort of. loosely. Same way that Giardello is really the Gary D'Addario (the real-life Balto PD Lt. who frequently cameoed as the commander of the QRT (SWAT) unit.

― Huk-L, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:40 (nineteen years ago) link

You know who never fails to crack me up?

http://members.aol.com/hlots98/barnfather.jpg

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:43 (nineteen years ago) link

What is Ned Beatty best known for? Deliverance?

― Dial Rat For Terror (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:49 (nineteen years ago) link

The actor's name: Clayton LaBoeuf
How cool is that?

xpost

And Superman I & II

― Huk-L, Wednesday, 22 December 2004 16:49 (nineteen years ago) link

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