Homicide: Second Shift was a pioneering Internet web series that tied into the TV series Homicide: Life on the Street. The web-show started 21 February 1997.[1] The show featured detectives of the homicide squad that worked the second shift, after the television detectives went home for the day. Several of the characters from Homicide: Second Shift had cameos on Homicide: Life on the Street, and the show had one story crossover with the television show.
The on-air/online crossover—the first such crossover for NBC.[2]—was a three-part story-line. “Homicide.com”, a season 7 episode Homicide: Life on the Street, was the middle part of the crossover with Homicide: Second Shift. Though the television episode was self-contained, parts one and three which were online only provided expanded context for the story.[3]
The show was ultimately cancelled due to financial constraints. Having a separate cast of actors, scripts, and productions proved too expensive to be supported by internet-based advertising revenue of the time. The innovative web-show did, however, garner critical praise and win internet awards.
| Character | Portrayed by | Character Role |
|---|---|---|
| Walter F. Neal | Joe Grifasi | Lieutenant |
| Raymonda "Ray" Cutler | Allison Janney | Detective |
| Layton "Lee" Johnson | Ray Anthony Thomas | Detective |
| Tony Bonaventura | Michael Ornstein | Detective |
| Joe Landau | Josh Pais | Detective |
| L. Z. Austin | Murphy Guyer | Detective |
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