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Homicide: Life on the Street is an American police procedural television series that follows the work of a fictional version of the Homicide Unit of the Baltimore Police Department. It aired on NBC for seven seasons from 1993 to 1999, and was followed by a TV movie that also served as the series' de facto conclusion. Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, by David Simon, was the inspiration for the series. Many of the characters and incidents in the program were inspired by the events detailed in the book, which also served as the inspiration for Simon's own HBO series, The Wire. Despite the fact that Homicide had an ensemble cast, Andre Braugher's portrayal of Frank Pembleton made him the series' breakout star. In 1996, 1997, and 1998, the show received Television Critics Association Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Drama. In 1993, 1995, and 1997, it became the first drama to win three Peabody Awards for best drama. "Prison Riot" was voted No. 32 on TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time list in 1997. It was named one of Time magazine's "Best TV Shows of All-Time" in 2007. The series was rated 'The Best Show You're Not Watching' by TV Guide in 1996. On Entertainment Weekly's "New TV Classics" list, the show was ranked #46.