Homicide: Life on the Screen [Paperback]

Tod Hoffman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998

Homicide: Life on the Screen is a comprehensive account of the series on screen and behind the scenes. Benefiting from the cooperation of Baltimore Pictures and NBC, Tod Hoffman's book makes use of unprecedented access to the set and exclusive interviews. Hoffman spent time in Baltimore absorbing a feel for the city that is such an important character on the show. He spoke with each member of the cast, several writers, and Executive Producers Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana. He met with the real Baltimore homicide detectives upon whom many of the stories are based. With all of this in hand, he critically evaluates the series' content.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tod Hoffman is the author of Secret Montreal and Montreal's Hidden Sites, Sounds, & Tastes.

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: ECW Press (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550223585
• ISBN-13: 978-1550223583
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,353,111 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice companion to both book and series, December 2, 1998

By 

Keith RA DeCandido (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Homicide: Life on the Screen (Paperback)

Hoffman's book is not quite up to the same level as David Kalat's companion book -- it's not as well organized, is less focused, and the episode guide is comparatively paltry -- but it is a fine analysis of, not just the TV series, but of the book on which it is based (David Simon's HOMICIDE: A YEAR ON THE KILLING STREETS).

The book is worth it purely for the present-day interviews with the cops that Simon followed around ten years ago. It is extremely enlightening to see what guys like Terry McLarney and Donald Worden and Tom Pellegrini are doing these days, and what they think of the show that is based on their work (not to mention the characters that are derived from them).

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good source of basic information about the show..., November 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Homicide: Life on the Screen (Paperback)

Though not enough behind the scenes info, it really paints a good picture of what the series Homicide: Life on the Street is about, and where it comes from.