Ghost of a Chance (Homicide: Life on the Street)

"Ghost of a Chance" is the second episode of the first season of the American police drama television series Homicide: Life on the Street. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on February 3, 1993. The teleplay was written Noel Behn based on a story by executive producer Tom Fontana, and the episode was directed by Martin Campbell. In it Bayliss begins his investigation into the murder of 11-year-old Adena Watson, Munch and Bolander investigate the unusual death of an elderly man, and Howard insists she is receiving advice about her murder case from a ghost.

The episode marked the first major developments in the Watson case, a major season one story arc based on the real-life slaying of Latonya Kim Wallace. The Wallace case was featured in David Simon's non-fiction book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, from which the series was adapted. Baltimore Detective Tom Pellegrini, who handled the Wallace case, appears on-screen as a detective in "Ghost of a Chance". The episode introduced several important supporting characters, including prosecuting attorney Ed Danvers (Željko Ivanek), Colonel Burt Granger (Gerald F. Gough), Captain George Barnfather (Clayton LeBouef) and Officer Chris Thormann (Lee Tergesen).

The episode introduces the concept of a "red ball", a high-profile case that draws close media and political attention. The term would be used frequently in future episodes. It was also the first episode to feature a murder in a wealthy rural setting. At the time, most American television police shows focused on crimes in poorer neighborhoods, so "Ghost of a Chance" was noted for demonstrating that murders can take place in various socioeconomic circumstances.

The episode, seen by 9.5 million households in its original broadcast, was considered a disappointment due to the drop in viewership from the post-Super Bowl series debut, which had more than 18 million viewers. It received generally positive reviews, and was later featured in a Court TV marathon of the top 15 Homicide episodes. Gwen Verdon was nominated for an Emmy Award for her guest performance as Jessie Doohen, the woman accused of killing her husband of 60 years. The episode, along with the rest of the first and second seasons of Homicide: Life on the Street was released on DVD in the United States on May 27, 2003.