SINdication

When was the last time you found yourself being lulled into a Lenny
Briscoe stupor?  Chances are it was sometime earlier today, last
night or maybe even during your lunch break. For no matter what time
you turn on the tube, you're bound to find an episode of Law & Order
nudged between commercials for Nero Wolfe or Witchblade.   And
whether Detective Briscoe sidekicks with Mike Logan or Ray Curtis,
or whether Kragen or Van Buren are providing the buffer between the
New York City detectives and the DA's office, Law & Order seems to
be America's favorite pastime.  A quick check of the local listing
guides turn up over 50 airings of the Dick Wolf original drama alone
during a one week period, not to mention his other spin offs that
complete the trilogy. There are more episodes of L&O on A&E and TNT
then combined home runs by the American League during any given
week.  Not to mention L&O's continuously strong showing on NBC.

So, why all the fuss over such a top rated series?  Because as the
credits roll on, it reminds me over and over that Homicide fans have
always been sorely neglected.  OK, sure, there's the memory of the
long abandoned marathons and the cameo spots of all the great
Homicide police promoting their new home on Court TV.  And there is
some vague recollection of a rumor of it popping up on the USA
network, which at least was available to most everyone with basic
cable.  Of course, least we forget there still is the weeknight late
late airings that should satisfy any Homicide insomniac who is lucky
enough to get CourtTV.  It finds its place nestled right after the
second showing of the night of NYPD Blue, which also airs in
syndication on TNT.  Then there's the late afternoon airing on
Sunday that shows up after an all day informercial, if it isn't
pre-empted like it was this Sunday afternoon. Did I mention that L&O
airs simultaneously twice per day on A&E and TNT?  What a perfect
time for picture in picture.

It's not that I don't enjoy L&O or SVU or CI.  Surely I'm a huge fan
of New York City as the backdrop to the highly plot driven series.
And who could argue that having John Munch back on the Friday night
schedule isn't a sweet deal.  Nonetheless, when you think about
syndication- think SINdication in all matters related to Homicide,
for it's a sin that this great series has been taken for granted
once again.  There is no good explanation for why Homicide is
treated like the crime genre's second-class citizen.  Although
knowing that NBC and CourtTV are programming buddies, it's no big
surprise that it's become a cast off again.

Reviewing the phenom of reruns, it's clear that most prime time
series turn up in multiple slots on multiple networks that are
widely subscribed to by local broadbands.   Now, even though CourtTV
has begun to produce it's own prime time series, the cable network
still doesn't show up on the primary schedules of a number of
markets across the US, including San Francisco and St. Louis.  In my
own Detroit market, I still remember when CourtTV first was brought
to our area over a year after Homicide began its run in syndication.
At that time, CourtTV aired weekdays and switched to the
informercial network exactly at 6 pm, supposedly when court
proceedings had been completed for the day.  I still remember to my
horror when my cable service switched in mid-scene exactly at 6 pm
from Homicide to someone hawking a Vege-matic for $19.95 as I
watched Crosetti with virgin eyes during a Memorial Day marathon.

It wasn't so long ago when CourtTV first acquired the syndication
rights for Homicide that they proudly promoted it as the critically
acclaimed cop drama that it is.  And they aired the series two or
three times per night, ensuring that it was understood that they
knew what good TV was and that they deserved to be recognized for
it. But as they acquired more and more syndicated series, none of
which could compare to it's first, as well as created their own,
Homicide got pushed deeper and deeper into the dead of night.

So now, as NYPD Blue airs on CourtTV at that very respectable 8 pm
time slot and returns for a midnight run, Law and Order airs on TNT.
There are reruns of the X-Files, ER, the Practice, and Third Watch
(coming to A&E in September), at nearly any timeslot imaginable on a
variety of networks, each likely picking up new viewers with the
exposure.

Nonetheless, even with this apparent shunning, there are still many
devoted fans of the series.  Fans that choose to meet yearly as a
group during an October weekend on the hallowed grounds of Fells
Point.  Others who make it on their own to wander the cobblestone
streets and sneak a peak into the Waterfront.  And still others that
keep updated websites, carry on discussion groups, or write fanfic.
There have been bricks laid in its honor, as well as plaques to the
series and to the sadly missed icon, Dr. Scheiner.  And Homicide has
inspired art and provided other creative outlets for those who were
touched by its gritty sensitivity.  So, if it's any consolation,
with or without NBC or CourtTV, one thing does appear certain,
Homicide will surely survive the test of time.  Now, if only Bravo
or another network would pick it up to give it the time slot it
deserves.  If not, then I'm sure TVLand will have it slated for
regular airings in the year 2027.

Written by K, a long time Homicide devotee and writer, who continues
to search for meaningful police dramas, but is always disappointed.
She still holds out hope that it will somehow be reincarnated to a
spin off series.