Homicide: Life on the Street Easter Egg - Poke at Internet Fans

Actress Melissa Leo, popular among Internet fans, was fired from the show at the end of the 5th season (1997). During the summer, angry fans in the newsgroup alt.tv.homicide hashed over the rumors that Shannen Doherty or Sherry Stringfield were going to be hired as Melissa's replacement.

When these fans learned executive producer Tom Fontana himself leaked these false rumors to keep them guessing, they weren't happy at all.

In the season 6 premiere, "Blood Ties, Part 1", new female detective Laura Ballard is introduced. Look very closely at the names under her section of the Board (where they track each detective's individual cases). You will see the last names Doherty and Stringfield under her name. A strange jab to the fans, since millions of viewers probably never noticed, but it's a great Egg.