NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan.^[1] Each episode typically intertwined several plots involving an ensemble cast.

The show was created by Steven Bochco and David Milch and inspired by Milch's relationship with Bill Clark, a former member of the New York City Police Department who eventually became one of the show's producers. Its episodes were broadcast on the ABC network from its debut on September 21, 1993‚ and aired its final episode on March 1, 2005. It remains ABC's longest-running one-hour drama series.

In 1997, "True Confessions" (Season 1, Episode 4) was ranked #36 on TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time.^[2]

Main cast[link]

Cast list[link]

Production and crew[link]

Produced by 20th Century Fox and Steven Bochco Productions, film production primarily took place in the greater Los Angeles area. The show did film in New York but only for exterior shots that used New York landmarks. In the final season the show was filmed only in Los Angeles to save money.^[3]

• Steven Bochco – Executive Producer/Writer
• David Milch – Executive Producer/Writer
• Steven DePaul – Supervising Producer/Director
• Matt Olmstead – Executive Producer/Writer
• Nicholas Wootton – Executive Producer/Writer
• Bill Clark – Executive Producer/Writer
• Mark Tinker – Executive Producer/Director
• Hans VanDoornewaard – Executive Producer
• William M. Finkelstein – Executive Producer
• Gregory Hoblit – Executive Producer/Director
• Kathy Bates - Director
• Leonard Gardner – Producer/Writer
• Mike Post – Music
• Edward Rogers – Music

The show was initially a vehicle for David Caruso. In a departure from previous Bochco series, John Kelly was the main character and the first season revolved around him and his professional and personal lives (promo shots for the show depicted Caruso in the foreground and other first-season characters set off behind him). Season 2 saw the departure of John Kelly, and with his departure, the decision was made to return to a more ensemble series. Dennis Franz, as Andy Sipowicz, a veteran New York City Police detective, eventually evolved into the show's lead character, taking more and more of a mentorship role as the series progressed (to the point of finally being promoted to sergeant and running the detective squad at the end of the series finale). His principal co-stars included (Season 2 and beyond) Jimmy Smits as Det. Bobby Simone (1994–1998), Rick Schroder as Det. Danny Sorenson (1998–2001) and Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Det. John Clark Jr. (2001–2005). Each was paired with Franz's Sipowicz, providing a younger and more suave foil to the abrasive, tragedy-prone detective.

Plot[link]

Season 1[link]

John Kelly and Andy Sipowicz are detectives in the 15th squad. Sipowicz is the elder partner but is a drunk and a threat to the partnership lasting much longer. Kelly has a genuine affection for his partner but becomes increasingly exasperated by Sipowicz's behavior. In the pilot, Sipowicz is shot by a suspect that he had attacked and humiliated earlier. This leads to his decision to sober up and save his job.

While his partner is recuperating, Kelly is teamed up by the squad's Lieutenant, Arthur Fancy, with a young cop from Anti-Crime, James Martinez. Kelly's personal life is no less frenetic as he is going through a divorce from his wife, Laura, and is embarking on an affair with a uniformed cop, Janice Licalsi. To complicate matters further, Licalsi has been ordered to do a 'hit' on Kelly by mob boss Angelo Marino, otherwise Marino would turn in Licalsi's police officer father, who is on his payroll. Instead, Licalsi murders Marino and the repercussions come back to haunt both her and Kelly.

Sipowicz, meanwhile, sobers up and begins a relationship with A.D.A. Sylvia Costas while the other detective in the squad, Greg Medavoy, embarks on an affair of his own with the squad's new P.A.A., Donna Abandando.

Season 2[link]

Licalsi is found guilty of the manslaughter of Marino and his driver and is given a two year sentence. Because of his involvement with Licalsi, and the belief that he withheld evidence that could have given her a longer sentence, Kelly is transferred out of the 15th and chooses to leave the department altogether. He is replaced by Bobby Simone, a widower whose previous job was that of driver for the Police Commissioner. This does not sit well with Sipowicz but in time he learns to accept his new partner and, as his relationship with Sylvia leads down the aisle, asks Simone to be his best man.

After an affair with a journalist who uses information that he gives her in an article, Simone begins a relationship with another new officer in the squad, Diane Russell. Sipowicz, still a recovering alcoholic, recognizes in Russell's behavior that she also has a problem and, after much prompting, she herself goes to AA. Elsewhere, due to his lack of self-belief that a woman like Donna could love him, Medavoy's relationship with her breaks down, due in no small part to Donna's visiting sister.

Season 3[link]

At the beginning of the season Sylvia becomes pregnant with Andy's child. A baby boy, Theo, is born towards the end of the season. This is contrasted with the fate that awaits Sipowicz's older son, Andy Jr., who announces that he is to join the police force. Andy is finally bonding with his estranged son when he is gunned down, which leads the elder Sipowicz to fall off the wagon. Andy Jr's murderers are killed themselves by Simone in an act of self defense.

Bobby and Diane, whose relationship had been put on hold while she attended AA, resume their relationship only for Diane to begin drinking again when her abusive father beats her mother. Her father is eventually killed and her mother becomes the prime suspect.

James Martinez and new detective Adrienne Lesniak begin an affair but only after Lesniak tells Medavoy that she is gay, then that she is not; Martinez later breaks up with her due to her controlling and unpleasant behavior, and Lesniak eventually leaves the squad. Medavoy himself leaves his wife, recognizing that she is holding him back but it is too late to save his relationship with Donna who leaves to take up a job with Apple.

Later seasons[link]

During the next two seasons, there are a few minor cast changes: Donna is replaced by several PAA's, most notably by Gina Colon, played by Lourdes Benedicto, a character that eventually marries Martinez and is written out; and Det. Jill Kirkendall, played by Andrea Thompson is partnered up with Russell. Sipowicz's battle with prostate cancer and the up-and-down Simone/Russell relationship, which included Russell's revelation that she had been sexually abused by her father. Also during this time, Franz would win four Emmy Awards, and both Delaney and Clapp would each win an Emmy for supporting roles.

Season 6 becomes a major turning point in the history of the series, as Smits decides not to renew his contract and leaves the show. His exit is explained as Simone becoming ill with an enlarged heart, shortly after marrying Russell in a civil ceremony, and his body's subsequent rejection of a heart transplant. Smits was replaced by Rick Schroder as Det. Danny Sorenson. Also during Season 6, two other critical incidents occur: the heroin overdose death of PAA Dolores Mayo (played by Lola Glaudini), and the shocking death of Costas, gunned down at the courthouse trial of the suspect accused in Mayo's death by her distraught father. Costas's final words of 'Take care of the baby' to Sipowicz leads to his total initial withdrawal from the squad. Yet, his keen perceptiveness allows him to gain a confession from the accused suspect, who tried to buy his way out of trouble. Furthermore, Sipowicz reaches a level of understanding with PAA John Irvin (portrayed by Bill Brochtrup), whose homosexuality was a foible for Sipowicz in their interactions to that point.

The next two seasons see the continuation of the Sipowicz/Sorenson relationship, along with more changes in the squad: departing during this time were Kirkendall, Martinez, Fancy as squad leader (through a promotion to write him out), and even Russell herself for a leave of absence to grieve the loss of Simone. Arriving to replace them would be Det. Baldwin Jones, played by Henry Simmons, Det. Connie McDowell played by Charlotte Ross, and Lt. Tony Rodriguez, played by Esai Morales. At the end of Season 8, Sorenson is approached by the owners of a strip club to work for them providing information and such. After reporting this to Lt. Rodriguez, Sorenson goes undercover, but then turns up missing after a stripper he was seeing turns up dead in his apartment (not by his doing as it turns out). The Sorenson character would be written out at the start of Season 9 at the request of Schroder, who wanted to spend more time with his family in Montana.

The fourth and final phase of the show would take place over the final four seasons. In addition to the 'Sorenson missing' storyline, Season 9 would also initially tie-in with the September 11 terrorist attacks. A suspect trades immunity for a robbery and shooting in exchange for information on a buried rug in Brooklyn that turns out to include Sorenson's dead body. Filling the void as partner for Sipowicz is newly promoted Det. John Clark, played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar. As with Simone and Sorenson, there is initial tension between Clark and Sipowicz, largely due to an old feud from years earlier involving Sipowicz and Clark's father, John Clark Sr. (played in guest spots by Joe Spano). Season 9 also sees the introduction of Det. Rita Ortiz played by Jacqueline Obradors.

The remaining four years would see a continuing focus on Sipowicz as the main character, as had been the case since Simone's death. Another unlikely romance would develop between Sipowicz and McDowell. This came about due to her ability to stand up to Sipowicz's gruffness, and her tender relationship with Theo (played by Austin Majors). They would eventually marry, and after adopting McDowell's sister's baby daughter (following the sister's murder by her husband, Connie's brother-in-law), they would have a child of their own as well. The McDowell character would eventually become an off-screen character only in the final two seasons, due to issues between Ross and show executives. Other departures and arrivals: Rodriguez would be written out following a dispute with an IAB captain who shot him in a drunken rage; replacing him initially as head of the squad was Sgt. Eddie Gibson, played by former actual NYPD officer John F. O'Donohue, who had previously served in the squad both on night watch and briefly on the 'day tour'; Gibson was then removed and replaced at the start of Season 12 by Lt. Thomas Bale, played by Currie Graham; arriving and then departing was ADA Valerie Haywood, played by Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon; and replacing McDowell was young Det. Laura Murphy, played by Bonnie Somerville. The final few episodes involve the impending retirement of Det. Medavoy, long the bumbling but well-meaning court jester in the show, and Sipowicz's attempts to take the Sergeants exam.

Controversy[link]

The series included greater nudity than was common on broadcast television, which prompted Rev. Donald Wildmon and his American Family Association (AFA) to call it a "soft-core porn" series and take out full page ads in major newspapers, asking viewers to boycott the show. Fifty-seven of ABC's 225 affiliates preempted the first episode, mostly in smaller markets comprising 10–15% of potential viewers. The show's ratings success led most affiliates (and advertisers) to end their opposition. By the end of the first season the show was a Top 20 hit and protests by the AFA were countered by support from Viewers For Quality Television.

In 2005, L. Brent Bozell III told Time that the nudity on the series influenced him to establish the Parents Television Council, in which he served as president from 1995 to 2006.^[4] The PTC has directly criticized several episodes of the show for perceived vulgarity^[5][6][7] and filed complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over the use of obscene language in several episodes aired in early 2003, at the last half of the tenth season of the show,^[8] associating the series with a perceived increase in profanity^[9] and violence^[10] on prime-time television from the late 1990s to early 2000s. The FCC ruled that the language in the episodes was indecent but decided not to fine ABC because the episodes aired before a 2004 ruling that obscenities would lead to an automatic fine.^[11] However, on January 25, 2008, the FCC fined ABC $1.4 million for the episode "Nude Awakening" that aired on February 25, 2003, due to scenes of "adult sexual nudity".^[12] The fine was ultimately rejected by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on January 6, 2011.^[13]

According to NYPD Blue: A Final Tribute, a retrospective broadcast on the same night as the last episode, the controversy was not limited to what was on the screen. David Milch, the show's co-creator and head writer, was a controversial figure on the set during the seven years he was with the show. His working style and tendency to procrastinate or make last-minute, on-set changes contributed to a frustrating working environment for some of the cast and crew. Smits left the show when his contract ended because of it. Milch cites his own alcoholism and other addictions as factors contributing to the difficult environment.^[14] In spite of the controversy, Milch is usually credited as a major creative force during the years he worked on the show; Milch won two Emmy Awards for his writing, shared another as executive producer and shared in a further ten nominations for his writing and production.

The final episode[link]

The show's 261st and final episode, "Moving Day", aired on March 1, 2005, bringing an end to the show's 12 year run. The final episode depicted just another day on the job, with Sipowicz as the new squad room leader. In the final scene, previous squad leader Lieutenant Bale wishes Sipowicz good luck with his new position, looks around his old office and says "It's yours." After all the detectives come in, one by one, to wish Sipowicz goodnight, the last to say goodbye is John Clark with "Good night, Boss." Sipowicz surveys his new office, puts his reading glasses on, and begins to go through the paper work on his desk. The camera then moves out through the 15th precinct squad room and out the door. The final shot is the squad room sign over the door.

Awards and nominations[link]

Primetime Emmy Awards

• 1994 Nomination for Outstanding Drama Series
• 1994 Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (David Caruso)
• 1994 Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 1994 Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Gordon Clapp)
• 1994 Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Nicholas Turturro)
• 1994 Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Amy Brenneman)
• 1994 Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Gail O'Grady)
• 1994 Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Sharon Lawrence)
• 1995 Award for Outstanding Drama Series
• 1995 Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 1995 Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Jimmy Smits)
• 1995 Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Sharon Lawrence)
• 1995 Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Gail O'Grady)
• 1996 Nomination for Outstanding Drama Series
• 1996 Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 1996 Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Jimmy Smits)
• 1996 Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (James McDaniel)
• 1996 Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Sharon Lawrence)
• 1996 Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Gail O'Grady)
• 1997 Nomination for Outstanding Drama Series
• 1997 Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 1997 Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Jimmy Smits)
• 1997 Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Nicholas Turturro)
• 1997 Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Kim Delaney)
• 1998 Nomination for Outstanding Drama Series
• 1998 Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 1998 Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Jimmy Smits)
• 1998 Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Gordon Clapp)
• 1998 Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Kim Delaney)
• 1999 Nomination for Outstanding Drama Series
• 1999 Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 1999 Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Jimmy Smits)
• 1999 Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Kim Delaney)
• 2000 Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 2001 Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)

Golden Globe Awards

• 1993 Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series (David Caruso)
• 1993 Award for Best Drama Series
• 1993 Nomination for Best Supporting Actor (Dennis Franz)
• 1994 Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 1994 Nomination for Best Drama Series
• 1995 Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series (Jimmy Smits)
• 1995 Nomination for Best Drama Series
• 1996 Nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series (Jimmy Smits)
• 1996 Nomination for Best Drama Series
• 1997 Nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series (Kim Delaney)
• 1997 Nomination for Best Drama Series
• 1998 Nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series (Jimmy Smits)
• 1998 Nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series (Kim Delaney)

Screen Actors Guild Awards

• 1995 Award for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 1995 Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series
• 1996 Nomination for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 1996 Nomination for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series (Jimmy Smits)
• 1996 Nomination for Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series (Sharon Lawrence)
• 1996 Nomination for Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series
• 1997 Award for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 1997 Nomination for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series (Jimmy Smits)
• 1997 Nomination for Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series (Kim Delaney)
• 1997 Nomination for Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series
• 1998 Nomination for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 1998 Nomination for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series (Jimmy Smits)
• 1998 Nomination for Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series (Kim Delaney)
• 1998 Nomination for Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series
• 1999 Nomination for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 1999 Nomination for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series (Jimmy Smits)
• 1999 Nomination for Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series (Kim Delaney)
• 1999 Nomination for Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series
• 2000 Nomination for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 2000 Nomination for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series (Rick Schroder)
• 2000 Nomination for Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series
• 2001 Nomination for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 2002 Nomination for Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)

Satellite Awards

• 1996 Nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 1996 Nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series (Kim Delaney)
• 1996 Nomination for Best Drama Series
• 1996 Nomination for Best Supporting Actress (Gail O'Grady)
• 1997 Nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series (Dennis Franz)
• 1997 Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series (Jimmy Smits)
• 1997 Nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series (Kim Delaney)
• 1997 Award for Best Drama Series
• 1998 Nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series (Jimmy Smits)
• 1998 Nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series (Sharon Lawrence)
• 1998 Nomination for Best Drama Series

Television Critics Association Awards

• 1994 Nomination for Program of the Year
• 1994 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama
• 1995 Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Drama
• 1996 Nomination for Program of the Year
• 1996 Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Drama
• 1997 Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Drama
• 1997 Nomination for Individual Achievement in Drama (Dennis Franz)
• 1998 Nomination for Individual Achievement in Drama (Dennis Franz)
• 1999 Nomination for Program of the Year
• 1999 Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Drama
• 1999 Nomination for Individual Achievement in Drama (Dennis Franz)

Producers Guild of America Award

• 1993 Award for Television Producer of the Year

Writers Guild of America Awards

• 1996 Award for Best Dramatic Episode

Nielsen Ratings[link]

DVD releases[link]

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has released the first 4 seasons of NYPD Blue on DVD in Region 1, 2 and 4. All of the sets contain the original master recordings, the original ABC broadcasts, and custom-made credits. After the release of the fourth season in 2006, Fox announced that they would be reviewing the possibility of further releases, citing the lack of sales. To date, there have been no further DVD releases, and it is not known if Fox still retains the rights to the show, as it also no longer retains two other Bochco properties, Hill Street Blues and L. A. Law.

Episodes[link]

• Season 1
• Season 2
• Season 3
• Season 4
• Season 5
• Season 6
• Season 7
• Season 8
• Season 9
• Season 10
• Season 11
• Season 12

See also[link]

• Color of the day (police)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: NYPD Blue

• Official websites for the show from ABC, Court TV,TNT and Bravo!
• Series ending commentary from MSNBC, Slate, and the Christian Science Monitor
• Alan Sepinwall/Amanda Wilson entire series information and episode summary & review
• David Milch's Active Imagination, a May 2002 interview with Milch
• NYPD Blue at the Internet Movie Database
• NYPD Blue at TV.com

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (March 2009)

Mike Post (born Leland Michael Postil, September 29, 1944, Berkeley, California) is an American multi-Grammy and Emmy Award winning composer best known for his TV theme songs for such primetime series as Law & Order, NYPD Blue, The Rockford Files, L.A. Law, Quantum Leap, Magnum, P.I. and Hill Street Blues.

Early musical career[link]

Post's first credited work in music was cutting demos using two singing sisters, Terry and Carol Fischer; with Sally Gordon, they went on to become The Murmaids (their first single, "Popsicles and Icicles" was a #3 hit song in January 1964).

Post also provided early guidance for the garage rock band the Outcasts while in basic training in San Antonio, Texas; he was the songwriter and producer for both songs on the band's first single, released in 1965, and also arranged a local concert where they served as the back-up band.^[1]

He won his first Grammy at age 23 for Best Instrumental Arrangement on Mason Williams' "Classical Gas", a #2 hit song in 1968. He is also credited as the producer for Williams' LP that included this song, The Mason Williams Phonograph Record.

Billed as the Mike Post Coalition, their track "Afternoon of the Rhino" became a sought after Northern soul track.^[2] The single peaked at #47 in the UK Singles Chart in August 1975.^[3]

Post also worked with Kenny Rogers and produced the first three albums he recorded with his country/rock group the First Edition (between 1967 and 1969). Post also produced Dolly Parton's hit album 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs in 1981. Much later, in 1997, he produced Van Halen's Van Halen III album.

Television theme music[link]

One of his first jobs in television started when he was 24, as the musical director on The Andy Williams Show. Another early job was writing the theme music for the short-lived detective series Toma in 1973, but his big breakthrough (together with co-composer Pete Carpenter) came in the following year with his theme song for The Rockford Files, another series by producer Stephen J. Cannell. The theme also got cross-over Top 40 radio airplay and earned a second Grammy for Post.^[4] Post subsequently won Grammys for Best Instrumental Composition for the themes for the television shows Hill Street Blues in 1981 and L.A. Law in 1988 as well as another Grammy in 1981 for Best Instrumental Performance for the Hill Street Blues theme.^[4]

Post won an Emmy for his Murder One theme music, and had previously been nominated for NYPD Blue, among others. He has won BMI Awards for the music for L.A. Law, Hunter, and the various Law & Order series. The theme for The Greatest American Hero is one of the few television themes to reach as high as #2 as a single record on the Billboard Hot 100.^[4]

Other TV music works include The A-Team, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Blossom, CHiPs, The Commish, Doogie Howser, M.D., Hardcastle & McCormick, Hooperman, Hunter, Magnum, P.I., NewsRadio, Profit, Quantum Leap, Renegade, Riptide, Silk Stalkings, Stingray, Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, The White Shadow, Wiseguy, the BBC series Roughnecks, Law & Order, and Philly.

[edit] Inventions from the Blue Line

In 1994, Post released a CD, called Inventions from the Blue Line. The CD contained several of his well-known themes, featuring NYPD Blue and also including Law & Order, Silk Stalkings and Renegade. In the liner notes, he discussed his late father, Sam Postil, and the admiration for law enforcement officers that Sam instilled in Mike. He also referred to police in the traditional nickname of "blues", as in The Thin Blue Line (referring to the police in general and to police camaraderie). One of the tracks is called "The Blue Line", which Post calls "the comradery [sic] theme".

In popular culture[link]

Pete Townshend wrote a song called "Mike Post Theme", which mentioned Post's work in television music. It was released on The Who's 2006 album, Endless Wire.

References[link]

External links[link]

	Book: Mike Post
Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print.

• Mike Post at the Internet Movie Database
• Biography
• Biography On Enotes.com
• Mike Post Archive of American Television Interview

Dennis Franz
Franz at a rehearsal for the 1994 Emmy Awards
Born	Dennis Franz Schlachta (1944-10-28) October 28, 1944 (age 67) Maywood, Illinois, United States
Residence	Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1978–present

Dennis Franz (born October 28, 1944) is an American actor best known for his role as Andy Sipowicz, a hard-boiled police detective, in the television series NYPD Blue. He previously appeared as Lt. Norman Buntz on Hill Street Blues, and earlier played Detective Benedetto on the same show.

Early life[link]

Franz was born Dennis Franz Schlachta in Maywood, Illinois, the son of German immigrants^[1][2][3] Eleanor, a postal worker, and Franz Schlachta, who was a baker and postal worker.^[4] Franz is a graduate of Proviso East High School (in Maywood) and Southern Illinois University Carbondale.^[5] After graduating from college, Franz was drafted into the United States Army. He served eleven months with the 82nd Airborne Division in Vietnam.^[6]

Career[link]

Franz began his acting career at Chicago's Organic Theater Company. Although he has in the past performed Shakespeare, his "look" led to his being typecast early in his career as a police officer. (By Franz' own count, the character of Detective Andy Sipowicz was his 27th role as a police officer). He has also guest-starred in shows such as The A-Team. Other major roles were on the television series Hill Street Blues in which he played two characters over the run of that show. Franz first played the role of Officer Sal Benedetto, a corrupt cop in the 1983 season, who later kills himself. Due to his popularity with fans, he returned in 1985 as Lt. Norm Buntz, remaining until the show's end in 1987. He starred in the short-lived Beverly Hills Buntz as the morally questionable Norman Buntz.

Franz had a small but memorable role as a grouchy movie director in Body Double (1984).

Franz went on to win four Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Andy Sipowicz on NYPD Blue. The character of Sipowicz was ranked #23 on Bravo's 100 Greatest TV Characters list.^[7]

In 1994 Franz made a cameo appearance as himself in The Simpsons episode "Homer Badman" - when Homer is accused of sexually harassing a babysitter, the case becomes tabloid fodder, generating an exploitative Fox telemovie, Homer S.: Portrait of an Ass-Grabber, in which Franz portrays Homer.

He starred as "Earl", the abusive husband, in the Dixie Chicks' music video "Goodbye Earl", as Captain Carmine Lorenzo in the 1990 action film Die Hard 2 and as Nathaniel Messinger in the 1998 film, City of Angels.

Filmography[link]

• City of Angels (1998) .... Nathaniel Messinger
• Mighty Ducks the Movie: The First Face-Off (1997) (V) (voice) .... Captain Klegghorn
• American Buffalo (1996) .... Don 'Donny' Dubrow, Owner Rvterbands Variety
• Mighty Ducks (1996) TV Series (voice) .... Captain Klegghorn
• Healing the Hate (1996) (TV) .... Host
• Texas Justice (1995) (TV) .... Richard 'Racehorse' Haynes
• Moment of Truth: Caught in the Crossfire (1994) (TV) .... Gus Payne
• The Simpsons (1994 cameo)
• NYPD Blue (1993–2005) TV Series .... Det. Andy Sipowicz
• In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marion (1992) (TV) .... Bob Bryant
• The Sid Story (1991) (Training Film) .... Sid
• N.Y.P.D. Mounted (1991) (TV) .... Tony Spampatta
• Nasty Boys (1990) TV Series .... Lt. Stan Krieger (1990)
• Die Hard 2 (1990) .... Capt. Carmine Lorenzo
• Nasty Boys, Part 2: Lone Justice (1990) (TV)
• The Package (1989) .... Lt. Milan Delich
• Kiss Shot (1989) (TV) .... Max Fleischer
• Beverly Hills Buntz (1987) TV Series .... Norman Buntz
• Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Pat Hobby Teamed with Genius (1987) (TV) .... Louie
• A Fine Mess (1986) (uncredited) .... Phil
• Hunter (1985) (TV) ... Sgt. Jackie Malenez, "Snow Queen: Parts 1 & 2."
• Deadly Messages (1985) (TV) .... Detective Max Lucas
• Body Double (1984) .... Rubin
• Bay City Blues (1983) TV Series .... Angelo Carbone (1983)
• Hill Street Blues (1981) TV Series .... Det. Sal Benedetto (1983)/Lt. Norman Buntz (1985–1987)
• Psycho II (1983) .... Warren Toomey
• The A-Team (season 2, episode 19; season 3, episode 23)
• Chicago Story (1982) TV Series .... Officer Joe Gilland
• Blow Out (1981) .... Manny Karp
• Chicago Story (1981) (TV) .... Officer Joe Gilland
• Popeye (1980) .... Spike
• Dressed to Kill (1980) .... Detective Marino
• Bleacher Bums (1979) (TV)
• A Perfect Couple (1979) .... Costa
• Stony Island (1978) .... Jerry Domino
• A Wedding (1978) .... Koons
• The Fury (1978) .... Bob
• Remember My Name (1978) .... Franks

References[link]

External links[link]

	Biography portal
	United States Army portal

• Dennis Franz at the Internet Movie Database
• Archive of American Television extended video interview with Dennis Franz

Charlotte Ross (born January 21, 1968) is an American actress, who is perhaps most widely known as a cast member of NYPD Blue from 2001 to 2004.

Early Years[link]

Ross was born and raised in Winnetka, Illinois. Her parents are Debbie Ross Kullby, who is retired and living in Colorado; and the Peter Ross (d. 2009), a financial advisor.^[1] Charlotte has one younger brother, George, a hedge fund-analyst. "When we were little I used to beat him up," she recalls with a laugh, "but now we're close."

Ross's first on-screen performance was in My First Mouthpiece; she was 8 years old. She moved on to performing in various hometown theater productions. After graduating from New Trier High School, Charlotte moved to Los Angeles, which her father opposed. She tried out for the role of Kelly Bundy on Married... with Children, but was the producers' second choice behind Christina Applegate. Her efforts caught the attention of the Days of Our Lives producers, who cast her as Eve Baron-Donovan.

Four years later, Ross co-starred with Katey Sagal ("Peg Bundy") in the movie Violation of Trust (aka She Says She's Innocent). The year after that, she guested on Married... as one of Bud Bundy's sexier classmates.)

Career[link]

Ross's run on Days of our Lives lasted from 1987 to 1991, earning her two Emmy nominations. Her other television credits include The Heights, The 5 Mrs. Buchanans, Drexell's Class, Pauly, Law & Order, Trinity, Beggars and Choosers, Frasier, Savage Land, Jake in Progress, NYPD Blue, Fall Into Darkness and A Kiss So Deadly (which reunited her with Days co-star Charles Shaughnessy). She also co-starred in the 2007 Lifetime Television films Montana Sky and Christmas in Paradise.^[2]

She earned a Gold record in 1992 for her work on the soundtrack album to the The Heights, famous for the song "How Do You Talk To An Angel".

On February 25, 2003, Ross appeared in an NYPD Blue episode entitled "Nude Awakening", which featured shots of her buttocks as she prepared to step into the shower. As a result, the FCC fined each of the 52 ABC stations with a $27,500 fine for broadcasting "indecent material" between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. However, on January 4, 2011, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously revoked the fine, stating that the FCC's enforcement of its indecency rules was "unconstitutionally vague and chilling." ABC, Inc., et al. v. Federal Communications Commission, No. 08-0841-ag(L) (2nd Cir.).

In 2006, Ross joined Billy Blanks to co-host a series of Tae-Bo infomercials (Charlotte is a licensed instructor).

Ross appeared as Candy in Summit’s 3D film Drive Angry, alongside Nicolas Cage and Amber Heard.^[3]

In Autumn 2009, Ross enjoyed a recurring role on the US TV series Glee as Judy Fabray, the mother of Quinn Fabray (Dianna Agron). Charlotte's most recent appearance on the series was in the season three finale, "Goodbye". She appears in 4 episodes.

Ross will co-star as the first female umpire in professional baseball in the upcoming short film, The Umpire, and co-stars in Street Kings: Motor City opposite Ray Liotta.

Personal life[link]

In 2002, Ross supported PETA's anti-fur campaign by appearing naked in advertisements captioned "I'd Rather Show My Buns Than Wear Fur".^[4] On October 18, 2003, Ross married Michael Goldman and gave birth to one child: son Maxwell Ross Goldman (whose name combines Charlotte's and her mother's maiden names). She and Michael Goldman separated in 2008 but "remain best of friends in raising our son." She resides in Los Angeles.^[5]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Charlotte Ross at the Internet Movie Database

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This article is outdated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Please see the talk page for more information. (October 2009)

Amy Lynn Carlson (born July 7, 1968, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois) is an American actress best known for playing Josie Watts on Another World and Alex Taylor on Third Watch. More recently, she played Kelly Gaffney on the short-lived NBC courtroom drama, Law & Order: Trial by Jury. She currently plays Linda Reagan on the CBS drama Blue Bloods.

Background[link]

When Carlson was 13, her family (consisting of her parents, herself, and three siblings) moved to Amman, Jordan, for one year, where her parents had been hired to teach at the American Community School. After returning to the United States, Carlson attended Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. While in college, Carlson was active in the school’s theatre department, appearing in Fifth of July, Noises Off, A Lie of the Mind, and School for Scandal. Carlson graduated cum laude.^[1]

Carlson is represented by Karen Foreman on behalf of the The Domain Agency. She is managed by Estelle Lasher and Principal Entertainment.

Carlson currently resides in Chinatown in Manhattan with her daughter, born in 2006, her son, born in August 2009 and her husband, Syd Butler, bass guitar player of Les Savy Fav and owner of the independent label Frenchkiss Records.

In 2010, Carlson's first starring role in a feature film, Sight Unseen, will be completed, with no further details of a release date.

Awards and nominations[link]

• 1998 – Carlson was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in the category of "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series."
• 1997 – Amy Carlson and Timothy Gibbs were nominated for “Hottest Romance” for their portrayal of Josie and Gary Sinclair on the NBC drama, Another World.
• 1995 – Carlson was nominated for “Outstanding Newcomer” at the Soap Opera Awards for her role as Josie Watts on Another World.^[1]

Filmography[link]

• America's Most Wanted (1988)
• Legacy of Lies (1992)
• The Babe (1992 film)
• Missing Persons (1993)
• The Untouchables (1993)
• Another World (1964) TV Series .... Josie Watts Sinclair (1993–1998)
• Ain’t Nothing but a She-Thing (1998 film)
• Guiding Light (1952) TV Series .... Harley Cooper Spaulding (1998)
• Thanks of a Grateful Nation (1998) .... Tammy Boyer
• Martial Law (1998) TV Series .... Cassie McGill (1998)
• Get Real (1999) TV Series .... Dr. Sedgwick (1999–2000)
• Everything Put Together (2000 film)
• NYPD Blue TV Series .... Lisa Marrantz (2000)
• If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000)
• Falcone TV Series .... Maggie Pistone (2000)
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) TV Series .... Patricia Andrews (2000)
• Third Watch TV Series .... Alex Taylor (2000–2003)
• CSI TV Series .... Kate Armstrong (2001)
• Winning Girls through Psychic Mind Control (2001 film) .... Kathy
• Peacemaker TV Series .... Katie Owen (2003)
• Law & Order (1990) TV Series .... Collette Connolly (2004)
• Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005) TV Series .... Kelly Gaffney
• Anamorph (2007) .... Alexandra Fredericks
• The Kidnapping (2007) TV .... Rachel McKenzie
• NCIS (2007).... Karen Sutherland (1 episode)
• Criminal Minds (2008) .... Cece Hillenbrand (1 episode)
• Fringe TV Series .... Maureen Donovan (2010)
• Blue Bloods (TV Series) (2010).... Linda Reagan
• Too Big to Fail (film) (2011).... Erin Callan
• Green Lantern (Extended Cut) (2011).... Jessica Jordan

References[link]

External links[link]

• Amy Carlson at the Internet Movie Database
• Amy Carlson at TV.com