Homicide: Life on the Street
Autofocus
TV Flash files “Autofocus” as hour 36 of 122 in the TV Flash guide — Homicide: Life on the Street (1993–1999) on NBC, season 4, episode 3, aired 1995-11-03, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S04E03: listed hour 36 of 122 in the Homicide: Life on the Street guide, hour 3 of 22 in season 4. It aired 1995-11-03 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “Fire, Part 2” (S04E02). Next is “Thrill of the Kill” (S04E04).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Since Lewis has unsuccessfully been partnered with every member of the squad, the newbie (Kellerman) is assigned to him. Their first case involves the shooting death of an elderly lady waiting at a bus stop. A young man has captured the shooter stashing his gun, but he has trouble getting the cops to watch the tape. Howard has made sergeant and is trying to establish her authority in the squad, but irritates her colleagues. The climax is an arrest of the groom during a wedding ceremony.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Autofocus sit in the Homicide: Life on the Street guide?
S04E03 is listed hour 36 of 122 — hour 3 of 22 in season 4, season 4 episode 3.
When did Homicide: Life on the Street S04E03 air?
Autofocus aired 1995-11-03 and is listed at 60 minutes.
What is it based on?
David Simon's nonfiction book about a year with Baltimore homicide detectives — reporting texture, not cop-show candy.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Baltimore detectives, handheld grit, and cases that refuse to tidy up for sweeps. Paul Attanasio developed David Simon's reporting into literary cop TV: Andre Braugher's Pembleton turning interrogation into theater, a red/black board, and moral ambiguity as house style. The missing link between Hill Street and The Wire — network crime that reads like a novel.
The useful first thing *Homicide: Life on the Street* does is refuse catharsis. Baltimore detectives work murders with handheld grit, a red/black name board, and moral ambiguity that will not tidy up for sweeps. Paul Attanasio developed David Simon's nonfiction *Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets* into NBC drama (1993–1999). Andre Braugher's Frank Pembleton turns interrogation rooms into theaters of intellect and rage. Yaphet Kotto, Kyle Secor, Richard Belzer, Clark Johnson, Melissa Leo: the unit as a city…
Open the Homicide: Life on the Street package · Season 4 hub
Filed against
- Andre Braugher as Frank Pembleton
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- Kyle Secor as Tim Bayliss
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- Richard Belzer as John Munch
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- Clark Johnson as Meldrick Lewis
Clark Johnson played Meldrick Lewis on Homicide: Life on the Street — Baltimore detectives, handheld grit, cases that refuse to tidy up for sweeps. Paul Attanasio from David Simon's reporting: Andre Braugher's Pembleton turning…
- Melissa Leo as Kay Howard
Melissa Leo’s Kay Howard walked Homicide: Life on the Street like Baltimore would not tidy up for sweeps — 1990s literary cop TV, handheld grit, a red/black board, Paul Attanasio from David Simon’s reporting. Interrogation as theater. TV…