 " Bop Gun " won a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay of an Episodic Drama . It defeated competing episodes of Northern Exposure and NYPD Blue , as well as another second season Homicide episode , " A Many Splendored Thing " . Robin Williams also received an Emmy Award nomination for Guest Actor in a Drama Series . It was the only Emmy nomination Homicide : Life on the Street received in the 46th Primetime Emmy Awards ; the series received four nominations the previous year . Williams lost the award to Richard Kiley for his performance in CBS drama series Picket Fences ; the other nominees were Dan Hedaya , James Earl Jones and Tim Curry . 
