Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (Homicide: Life on the Street)
"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" | |
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Homicide: Life on the Street episode | |
Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 8 |
Directed by | Wayne Ewing |
Written by | James Yoshimura Tom Fontana |
Cinematography by | Wayne Ewing |
Production code | 109 |
Original air date | March 24, 1993 |
Guest appearances | |
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"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" is the eighth episode of the first season of the American police drama television series Homicide: Life on the Street. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on March 24, 1993. In the episode, Howard and Bayliss attempt to quit smoking, Gee discovers secret asbestos removal in the squad room, and Munch and Bolander investigate the beating death of a 14-year-old boy. The episode was written by James Yoshimura and Tom Fontana, and was directed by Wayne Ewing, who doubled as director of photography.
The episode featured a cameo appearance by film director and
Since ratings for Homicide had gradually declined throughout the season, NBC announced a decision about whether the series would be renewed would depend on the
Plot summary
Howard (Melissa Leo) quits smoking, and her partner Felton (Daniel Baldwin) fears her edginess will endanger his safety. Bayliss (Kyle Secor) also tries to quit smoking, but tries to live vicariously through his smoking partner Pembleton (Andre Braugher). Howard and Bayliss petition Gee (Yaphet Kotto) to set up a non-smoking section for the squad room, but an amused Gee refuses because most of the detectives smoke. Howard, Felton, Bayliss and Pembleton find they share a common suspect in a Union Square murder, and plan a joint stakeout. Howard and Bayliss decide to ride together so Pembleton and Felton can smoke in the car. Although outwardly critical and skeptical, Pembleton and Felton are actually impressed with their partners' willpower and discuss the merits of quitting smoking. Howard and Bayliss, however, talk about nothing but smoking, prompting Bayliss to walk to Pembleton's car window and ask for a cigarette. As the result, the four detectives almost miss the suspect, and have to engage him in a foot chase to arrest him.
Meanwhile, an intrusive public works inspector (Carter Jahncke) tests the air quality at the squad room, but insists to an inquisitive Gee that everything is fine. The next day, however, Gee goes upstairs and finds a team wearing protective respirator suits removing hazardous asbestos from the wall. Gee angrily confronts Captain
Production
"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" was written by
"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" was originally supposed to be the Homicide: Life on the Street first season finale, but the episode "Night of the Dead Living" was moved to the end of the season. Although originally scheduled as the third episode, NBC programmers were worried "Night of the Dead Living", which takes place entirely within the detective's squad room, was too slow-paced for a series still trying to win viewers. Although Homicide producers felt "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" had a sense of resolving storylines, NBC executives believed it was too somber and preferred the ending of "Night of the Dead Living", which ends with the detectives happily smiling and laughing.[1]
During one scene in "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", Munch and Bolander force a suspect to take an "electrolyte neutron magnetic scan test", which involved placing his hand on a copy machine and photocopying his hand as they asked him questions. Prior to giving the exam, the detectives loaded papers with the words "True" and "False" into the machine, so when the final copies came out it appeared the machine was giving answers to the questions. The detectives pretended the test was radioactive and dangerous to further make the suspect nervous. This scene was based on a real-life trick used by Baltimore Police Department detectives in 1988. The real-life instance was featured in Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, the 1991 David Simon non-fiction book about a Baltimore Police Department, which was adapted into the Homicide series.[1] This hoax was also used in "More with Less", the fifth season premiere episode of David Simon's later police drama series, The Wire.[5]
Reception
Ratings for Homicide: Life on the Street gradually declined since the series first premiered. In response, NBC announced to fans that a decision about whether Homicide would be renewed or canceled would depend on how the last four episodes of the season fared in the ratings, including "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes".
Home media
"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and the rest of the first and second season episodes were included in the four-DVD box-set "Homicide: Life on the Street: The Complete Seasons 1 & 2", which was released by
References
- ^ ISBN 1-58063-021-9.
- ^ "TV notables". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. March 23, 1993. p. 2D.
- ^ Holbert, Ginny (March 24, 1993). "'48 Hours' Features Clinton Interview". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 46.
- ^ Erickson, Jennifer (March 24, 1993). "Television - Prime-Time Television". The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution. p. B10.
- ^ Peterson, Karla (January 4, 2008). "'Wire' still highly charged as series winds down". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. E1.
- ^ Lomartire, Paul (March 9, 1993). "ABC offers test for 'Homefront' fans". The Palm Beach Post. p. 7D.
- ^ a b "Nielsen Ratings/March 22–28". Press-Telegram. March 17, 1993. p. C6.
- ^ "Nielsen Ratings/March 8–14". Press-Telegram. March 17, 1993. p. C5.
- ^ Tan, Cheryl Lu-Lien (May 25, 2009). "DVDs mean never having to say "goodbye"; Fans can hoard - and re-watch- whole seasons of a favorite show". The Baltimore Sun. p. 2F.
External links
- "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" at IMDb