Nearer My God to Thee (Homicide: Life on the Street)
| "Nearer My God to Thee" | |
|---|---|
| Homicide: Life on the Street episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Tim Hunter |
| Story by |
Tom Fontana Jorge Zamacona |
| Teleplay by | Jorge Zamacona |
| Cinematography by | Jean de Segonzac |
| Production code | 301 |
| Original air date | October 14, 1994 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
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"Nearer My God to Thee" is the third season premiere of the American police drama television series Homicide: Life on the Street, and the fourteenth overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on October 14, 1994. In the episode, the homicide department is assigned to the politically volatile murder of a beloved social worker, whose body is found wearing nothing but a pair of white gloves. Meanwhile, Felton struggles with marital problems, while Lewis and Munch try to find a business partner with whom to open a bar.
Directed by Tim Hunter, the episode written by Jorge Zamacona based on a story by Zomacona and executive producer Tom Fontana. It marked the debut of regular cast member Isabella Hofmann as Lt. Megan Russert, who was added to the show in part based a network desire for more women in the cast. It also included the first appearances of recurring detective characters Roger Gaffney (Walt MacPherson) and Willard Higby (Beau James).
"Nearer My God to Thee" began a three-episode story arc about the "white glove murders", which involved religious themes and a crisis of faith suffered by Frank Pembleton, whose Jesuit background mirrors that of Tom Fontana. The Waterfront Bar, which Lewis and Munch attempt to buy, was based on a real-life Baltimore bar often frequented by the Homicide cast after filming. According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by 7.63 million household viewers. It received generally positive reviews.
The dead body of Katherine Goodrich, who was named Baltimore's "Good Samaritan of the Year" for opening a women's emergency services shelter, is found in a dumpster near a Catholic church in the middle of the night, completely naked except for a pair of white cotton gloves. Megan Russert (Isabella Hofmann), a new shift commander with the homicide department, is assigned to handle the case, but Colonel Granger (Gerald F. Gough) does not trust her with the politically volatile case and asks Giardello (Yaphet Kotto) to help her. Giardello calls his detectives in to help those of Russert. Pembleton (Andre Braugher) clashes with the foul-tempered Roger Gaffney (Walt MacPherson), the primary detective on the Goodrich case. Russert explains Goodrich was beaten to death and they suspect she was raped, although the autopsy has not been completed yet. So far, the press is unaware of the killing. Russert's detectives voice their lack of respect for Russert based on her gender. Howard (Melissa Leo) vigorously defends her, but when the two meet later they do not get along.
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