The spring fling of putting a hit TV series on a long hiatus has been a resounding failure. The networks didn’t even wait to learn whether the long absences would have a residual effect on habit viewing of popular shows.
NBC felt compelled to rush “ER” back on the air a week sooner than scheduled because of the audience shortfall of its replacements. ABC’s “The Practice,” though it might be a survivor, hasn’t approached the customary ratings of “NYPD Blue.” And “Crisis Center,” when it wasn’t benefiting from the glow of opening night or from low-rated basketball as competition, has generated bottom-of-the-heap ratings in the “Homicide: Life in the Street” time period.
However, one interesting development has evolved. To combat withdrawal pangs among “Homicide” fans, NBC has devised an Internet spinoff called “Homicide: Second Shift” (http://www.nbc.com).
Ever wonder who occupies the desks and what they do when the featured characters from “Homicide” (the TV show) go home? “Second Shift” answers these questions.
A new cast of fictional characters intent on solving their own big board of murders has been created. Sophisticated computers with the latest bells and whistles can pull in visuals and provide audio of the detectives reciting their lines. Fans with less advanced rigs can read along as the show is presented in the form of a script.
With the producers of the real thing involved as advisers, the Internet version retains the same gritty feel as “Homicide.” The case involves a serial rapist-murderer. The dialogue is frank and some of the visual images disturbing. A yellow warning cautions that this is not intended for children.
“Second Shift” was introduced on Feb. 14. As with the TV series, Friday is the key day for the cyberspace edition; that’s when a new “episode,” which advances the plot, is rolled out. It is available from then on 24 hours a day. Thus it is possible to log in now and get up to date.
Net surfers are invited to participate in the investigation. Recently, a press conference was staged with a real detective fielding questions.
The case was solved April 11–coincidentally, the day “Homicide: Life on the Street” returned to NBC.
Thanks to a response in the thousands (large by Internet standards), another case will be introduced soon, according to Edmond Sanctis, the senior vice president and general manager of NBC Digital Products. The launch date and length of the followup have not been determined, he said. However, it won’t be long after the first case is resolved. With TV’s summer doldrums looming, the Internet is an ingenious way to retain loyalty for a series.
Viewer loyalty is one of the reasons “Homicide” was chosen as the guinea pig. Other shows have higher ratings, but few have more dedicated fans. ” `Homicide’ was on the Internet long before `Second Shift’ was,” Sanctis said. “Fans would chat about plot developments and the lives of the characters. They are very passionate about this show.”
