There are a lot of rights holders cutting off their noses to spite their faces when it comes to streaming. It's not as if there's a clamor to license a lot of these songs and they have to pick a few high-profile, high-paying examples to prevent them from being overexposed. And especially for older music, I think it's more important to keep it in the public consciousness and introduce your artist to new audiences than wring every last penny out of an existing use.
For an example, I believe the Hendrix estate is notorious for licensing his music very sparingly and expensively. And I would estimate that he's fading into obscurity among younger potential fans who may be familiar with other artists of the era.
I will miss Evil. The Kings gave us an ardently weird television show, unique in its creepiness and quirks. They achieved something special here which I fear went under-appreciated.
I’ve been working my way slowly through the Homicide DVD set for a few years, so I just tried watching the next episode on Peacock. While it’s nice to see the picture in better quality and 16:9 format, and nicer still to have subtitles, I’m not sure losing the music is worth it for me, it’s such an evocative part of the experience. Going back to the DVDs.
Unfortunately, unlike the Wire, the 16:9 framing appears to be cropped from the original 4:3. So they're essentially chopping off the top and/or the bottom of each frame to make it look more modern.
Feel like I owe it to the thread to follow up and say I'm now 3 seasons in, and as a first time viewer I'm enjoying the hell out of this show. I'd still prefer they kept the 4:3 framing and I'm bummed to be missing out on the original soundtrack but I'm not thinking about any of that when I'm watching. So I'll chalk them up as necessary evils to get an amazing show on streaming.
I have one episode left to watch of Evil (and will read the rest of your article when done) but I just wanted to join in praising this show! It’s not even a genre I like (horror) but it was so compelling across 4 seasons. My favorite episodes were on tech (the Kings have always interrogated tech thoughtfully on all of their shows) as well as imaginative episodes like the silent one. I hate to do the overarching narrative but boy there is a lot of bloated meh streaming TV these days. Evil actually made episodes that were economic while still touching on serial arcs. I want more of that from today’s TV. Alas, it’s hard to find.
This site has a record of songs episode by episode for Homicide if you want to compare episodes. There are some where I can hardly tell the difference but I am almost up to “The Gas Man,” which relies heavily on oldies and I think I will watch the original first.
Compliments to Alan on a very nice note about H:LOTS being available for streaming. A small addendum: the show's extended finale, "Homicide: The Movie," is not streaming at present. It is only available for sale, not rent, from Amazon. It was an Emmy nominee for best writing and is well worth your time if you enjoy the show.
I'd like pile on Universal more, but it's included in the package (listed below the S7 finale). The only episodes not streamable are the L&O halves of the crossovers.
I just checked Hate Crimes (4x05) and they replaced the perfect song that was there originally ("What a Good Boy" by Barenaked Ladies) with something else that's *fine* but not *right*. Same with "Bleed" by Collective Soul being replaced for Prison Riot (5x03). It's expected, but annoying.
I'm so frustrated that Peacock remains a US-based streamer, only. I've always wanted to watch Homocide, but I still can't, as there's no real option in Canada. The music piece is always really frustrating to hear about too. I remember spending like a full day trying to figure out which version of Quantum Leap I should bother with, given all of the music that was removed/replaced.
So, Alan, with "Evil", it didn't bother you that so many of the stories were effectively unresolved, there were so many threads left hanging, and almost nothing that happened ever really mattered?
The Kings and their writing staff clearly liked throwing ideas at the screen, but they did not seem to have a way to make it work as an ongoing cohesive narrative.
I think they did the best they could under extremely trying circumstances. There was just no way to adequately wrap up the story they had been telling in the space of only four episodes.
I too am upset about all of the unresolved storylines. I love the show and am holding out hope there is more eventually. But it kind of feels like the Kings should’ve had an idea that every season could’ve been their last and had a way to resolve things. I still think the show was excellent regardless.
Looking forward to returning to the world of Pachinko. But I have to confess--I think I'm going to have to do some homework to remember where it left off.
Thanks for sharing the quote from Rod Serling. I'm struck by the incredible humility it takes to make a statement like that.
There are a lot of rights holders cutting off their noses to spite their faces when it comes to streaming. It's not as if there's a clamor to license a lot of these songs and they have to pick a few high-profile, high-paying examples to prevent them from being overexposed. And especially for older music, I think it's more important to keep it in the public consciousness and introduce your artist to new audiences than wring every last penny out of an existing use.
For an example, I believe the Hendrix estate is notorious for licensing his music very sparingly and expensively. And I would estimate that he's fading into obscurity among younger potential fans who may be familiar with other artists of the era.
I agree 100.
Many streaming shows feel padded but a show called “The DNC” had four perfect episodes including a great finale!
The people who were expecting Beyoncé might disagree, I suppose
I will miss Evil. The Kings gave us an ardently weird television show, unique in its creepiness and quirks. They achieved something special here which I fear went under-appreciated.
I’ve been working my way slowly through the Homicide DVD set for a few years, so I just tried watching the next episode on Peacock. While it’s nice to see the picture in better quality and 16:9 format, and nicer still to have subtitles, I’m not sure losing the music is worth it for me, it’s such an evocative part of the experience. Going back to the DVDs.
Unfortunately, unlike the Wire, the 16:9 framing appears to be cropped from the original 4:3. So they're essentially chopping off the top and/or the bottom of each frame to make it look more modern.
Sam Adams wrote about this exact problem.
https://slate.com/culture/2024/08/homicide-life-on-the-street-streaming-tv-show-peacock-andre-braugher-remastered.html
Feel like I owe it to the thread to follow up and say I'm now 3 seasons in, and as a first time viewer I'm enjoying the hell out of this show. I'd still prefer they kept the 4:3 framing and I'm bummed to be missing out on the original soundtrack but I'm not thinking about any of that when I'm watching. So I'll chalk them up as necessary evils to get an amazing show on streaming.
There really should be some kind of compulsory music license for shows over 25 years old.
I have one episode left to watch of Evil (and will read the rest of your article when done) but I just wanted to join in praising this show! It’s not even a genre I like (horror) but it was so compelling across 4 seasons. My favorite episodes were on tech (the Kings have always interrogated tech thoughtfully on all of their shows) as well as imaginative episodes like the silent one. I hate to do the overarching narrative but boy there is a lot of bloated meh streaming TV these days. Evil actually made episodes that were economic while still touching on serial arcs. I want more of that from today’s TV. Alas, it’s hard to find.
This site has a record of songs episode by episode for Homicide if you want to compare episodes. There are some where I can hardly tell the difference but I am almost up to “The Gas Man,” which relies heavily on oldies and I think I will watch the original first.
https://www.tunefind.com/show/homicide-life-on-the-street
"Beverly Hills, 90210" has extensive music rights issues and executive producer Charles Rosin has been fighting with Paramount about it. Wrote about it a few years ago... https://teendramawhore.substack.com/p/teen-drama-replacement-songs-restore-music
Compliments to Alan on a very nice note about H:LOTS being available for streaming. A small addendum: the show's extended finale, "Homicide: The Movie," is not streaming at present. It is only available for sale, not rent, from Amazon. It was an Emmy nominee for best writing and is well worth your time if you enjoy the show.
I'd like pile on Universal more, but it's included in the package (listed below the S7 finale). The only episodes not streamable are the L&O halves of the crossovers.
https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/playback/vod/GMO_00000000510840_01/10b0c856-a555-301f-a8a4-120769aafec0
Thanks for the correction, MHkhan7. The movie is not part of the DVD boxed set, however.
Nothing to see here; move along, move along...
It is though. I literally have it and watched it on that.
Well I'm an idiot.
I am serious, and don't call me Serling.
I just checked Hate Crimes (4x05) and they replaced the perfect song that was there originally ("What a Good Boy" by Barenaked Ladies) with something else that's *fine* but not *right*. Same with "Bleed" by Collective Soul being replaced for Prison Riot (5x03). It's expected, but annoying.
I went right to that episode since Bleed has been on my playlist for years. Imagine my disappointment.
I’ve been slowly bingeing Homicide since Friday afternoon. Thank goodness my son has Peacock so I don’t have to sign up for it.
I'm so frustrated that Peacock remains a US-based streamer, only. I've always wanted to watch Homocide, but I still can't, as there's no real option in Canada. The music piece is always really frustrating to hear about too. I remember spending like a full day trying to figure out which version of Quantum Leap I should bother with, given all of the music that was removed/replaced.
So, Alan, with "Evil", it didn't bother you that so many of the stories were effectively unresolved, there were so many threads left hanging, and almost nothing that happened ever really mattered?
The Kings and their writing staff clearly liked throwing ideas at the screen, but they did not seem to have a way to make it work as an ongoing cohesive narrative.
I think they did the best they could under extremely trying circumstances. There was just no way to adequately wrap up the story they had been telling in the space of only four episodes.
I too am upset about all of the unresolved storylines. I love the show and am holding out hope there is more eventually. But it kind of feels like the Kings should’ve had an idea that every season could’ve been their last and had a way to resolve things. I still think the show was excellent regardless.
Looking back, it’s a miracle that all the music was intact for Miami Vice’s streaming rights.
I’m looking forward to interviews with the creators of “Sunny” to tell me what happened.
Looking forward to returning to the world of Pachinko. But I have to confess--I think I'm going to have to do some homework to remember where it left off.
Thanks for sharing the quote from Rod Serling. I'm struck by the incredible humility it takes to make a statement like that.