REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 1, 1999 — “Homicide”
fans will be given a special treat on Feb. 5 when the plot lines of
“Homicide: Life on the Street”
and the Internet spinoff series
“Homicide: Second Shift”
cross over in a very special episode titled
“Homicide.com.”
Detectives Sheppard (Michael Michele) and Bayliss (Kyle Secor) team up with
“Second Shift”
Detectives Bonaventura (guest star Michael Ornstein) and Austin (guest star Murphy Guyer) to investigate a ritual murder that is streamed over the Internet. The two teams of detectives trace the suspect online by looking for clues in Web sites, which leads to an online confrontation between Sheppard and the suspect.
“Homicide”
fans can view essential elements of the case on Feb. 3 and 4 when the
“Homicide: Second Shift”
Web site ( http://www.nbc.com/homicide/ ) launches. The two plot lines merge on television Feb. 5 on
“Homicide: Life on the Street.”
Once the on television episode is completed, fans can return to the Web site for the online plot resolution on Feb. 12 and 19. Internet users will be able to view
“Homicide” webcasts with the Microsoft® Windows® Media Player and will have access on their computers to the same evidence the
“Homicide”
detectives receive during the on-air episode.
-
Part 1 (online Feb. 3 and 4). Viewers witness a ritual killing streamed online with the Windows Media Player. Witnesses call the homicide unit, but during the course of the investigation the detectives determine that the crime appears to be a hoax.
-
Part 2 (on-air Feb. 5). As the eerie case progresses, both teams of detectives challenge the perpetrator to stage another Internet event – and attempt to apprehend the suspect before the next ritual is performed.
-
Part 3 (online Feb. 12 and 19). The online story is resolved and its implications explored.
“‘Homicide.com’ is more than a simple tie-in between a Web site and a television show; it is an actual convergence of entertainment media,”
said Thomas Hjelm, director of interactive programming and executive producer, NBC Digital Productions.
“We’ve matched the best show on television with the best show on the Internet, fully integrated the plot between the two platforms, and provided a compelling story to both the on-air and online audiences of ‘Homicide.'”
The three-part story was developed in a unique collaboration between NBC Digital Productions and
“Homicide,”
as
“Second Shift”
Producer Ayelet Sela and
“Homicide: Life on the Street”
Co-Producer Sara Charnotogether conceived the episode. Charno wrote the
“Homicide.com”
teleplay and Sela created the online script.
“We are excited to be working with NBC to deliver compelling ‘Homicide’ video content to the broadest Internet audience,”
said Will Poole, senior director business development and strategy at Microsoft.
“Internet users will benefit from seeing exclusive ‘Homicide’ video content online with the Windows Media Player both before and after watching the ‘Homicide’ television program Feb. 5.”
Leading Web sites such as NBC.com are delivering Internet content to millions of consumers each month with Windows Media Technologies. Since its latest release in July, more than 19 million consumers have downloaded the Windows Media Player to experience streaming audio and video over the Internet. Microsoft Web Events ( http://windowsmedia.com/ ) offer consumers an easy guide to exciting streaming multimedia programming on the Internet.
Since its groundbreaking launch in February 1997,
“Homicide: Second Shift”
has run for three online seasons on NBC.com, telling the story of the other side of the Baltimore Homicide Unit – the virtual shift of detectives who work the hours opposite those of the on-air crew of
“Homicide: Life on the Street.”
This original cast of cops works the same streets and sits at the same desks as their TV counterparts, but cases are recorded on the flip side of the precinct’s murder board. Previously,
“Homicide”
crossovers with
“Second Shift”
have included online appearances by such on-air characters as Detectives Kellerman (Reed Diamond), Falsone (Jon Seda) and Bayliss (Kyle Secor), as well as on-air cameos by members of the online cast.
“Homicide.com,”
however, marks the series’ first fully integrated crossover of plot and characters.
“Homicide: Life on the Street,”
one of only two comedy or drama series to be honored with three Peabody Awards, entered its seventh season this fall on NBC. Also a winner of three Emmy Awards and two Writers Guild Awards, the series is a gritty and realistic portrayal of life in a police homicide division.
Paul Attanasio is the creator of
“Homicide: Life on the Street,”
which is a production of Baltimore Pictures and Fatima Productions in association with NBC Studios. Barry Levinson, Tom Fontana and Jim Finnerty are the executive producers and Anya Epstein and Gail Mutrux are the consulting producers.
“Homicide.com”
is the fourth in NBC’s original online series,
“Homicide: Second Shift.”
The series features original cases of the Baltimore Homicide Unit, where the audience pursues cases along with award-winning actors in streaming audio, video, stills and animation. The much-heralded Internet series has amassed numerous awards, including two Invision Awards for Story/Script and Web Design and a prestigious 1998 ID Magazine Media Design Review.
“Homicide: Second Shift”
is produced by NBC Digital Productions. Thomas Hjelm is the executive producer. Ayelet Sela is the producer, writer and director. Content development assistance, Internet production and technical services are provided by USWeb/CKS Corp., a leading strategic Internet services firm.
“Homicide.com”
features actors Joe Grifasi, Allison Janney, Murphy Guyer, Michael Ornstein, Josh Pais and Stanley Mathis.
About NBC
NBC, the leader among traditional media companies in Internet and new media businesses, holds an equity stake in Snap!, the free Internet portal service from NBC and CNET, Talk City and iVillage, the Women’s network. NBC maintains NBC.com, the first TV network Web site to feature original programming including
“Homicide: Second Shift,” “Late Night With Conan O’Brien Online,” “TNBC Online,” “Saturday Night Live Online”
and
“The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Online.”
In addition, NBC operates NBC Interactive Neighborhood, a localized Internet community guide, and owns VideoSeeker, an on-demand Internet video service operated with InterVU Inc.
With Microsoft, NBC owns and operates MSNBC, a 24-hour cable news network and Internet news service at www.msnbc.com. Also, together with Microsoft and Dow Jones, NBC operates CNBC/Dow Jones Business Video, offering video- and audio-based financial news and information to financial professionals and institutions. Other new media innovations from NBC include interactive television initiatives with Microsoft WebTV
™
for Windows and the WebTV Network
™
Plus service, Wink-enhanced programming with Wink Communications, NBC
Intercast with Intel Corp., electronic program guides with Gemstar and on-demand video services with Intertainer.
About Windows Media Technologies
Microsoft Windows Media Technologies, including Windows Media Player,
Windows NT® Server NetShow
™
Services and NetShow Theater Server, provide corporate, education and Internet customers with a platform for developing richer business and entertainment solutions using streaming media. More information can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/ . Windows Media Player is available for free download at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/mediaplayer/download/ (connect-time charges may apply).
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, Windows, WebTV, WebTV Network, Windows NT and NetShow are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information page.
