Baltimore v New York

In this scene, from a cross-over episode between Homicide and Law and Order, Detective Logan brings an extradited prisoner, played by native Baltimorean John Waters, from New York to Baltimore and hands him over to Detective Pembleton. An exchange ensues comparing New York to Baltimore. Pembleton has only been living in Baltimore for ten years, having grown up in New York, and yet he defends his adopted city like the native Waters. This exchange is reminiscent of the criticism leveled against New York by native Baltimorean, journalist and social commentator, H. L. Mencken in the essay Totentanz in the series Prejudices: Fourth Series (1924). "Compare [Washington Square] to Mt Vernon Square in Baltimore: the difference is that between a charwoman and a grand lady."