NYPD Blue: Season 03 (1995)

Like all good Steven Bochco projects, NYPD Blue continued to grow, evolve, and push the envelope throughout its third season. The year was a mixed one for the 15th precinct's most mercurial detective, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz). Though he had found a measure of domestic tranquility with his new significant other, Sylvia Costas (Sharon Lawrence, one of three series actors promoted this season from recurring to regular-character status), Andy suffered a professional setback of his own making by sparking a racial crisis which required every diplomatic resource that his superior Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel) could conjure up to keep from getting completely out of hand. More tragically, Andy suffered the loss of his 18-year-old son from a previous marriage, rookie cop Andy Sipowicz Jr. (Michael DeLuise), who was mowed down in a street shooting. But after almost relapsing into alcoholism and losing his capacity to continue functioning on his job, Andy found renewed hope and strength in the love of Theo, his new son by Sylvia. As for the other main characters, Det. James Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) was, like Andy Jr., shot down in a street ambush, but despite a brief period of paralysis, he managed to return to active duty. Martinez also continued in his efforts to woo and win Det. Adrianne Lesniak (Justine Miceli, the second of three NYPD Blue actors promoted this season from recurring to regular status), but she remained hesitant to start up another romance with a fellow officer, and by the end of the third season, Lesniak would be gone -- but not before a curious relationship developed between her and gay cop John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup). And unhappily married Det. Greg Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) couldn't quite make a full commitment to his interdepartmental sweetheart, PAA Donna Abandando (Gail O'Grady), who like Adrianne would exit the 15th precinct this year, moving to California for a better-paying job with a computer firm. Kim Delaney, who as undercover detective Diane Russell also graduated to regular status after serving her recurring-character apprencticeship during the previous season, emerged as the most fascinating of the NYPD Blue regulars during season three. Struggling to overcome her alcoholism with the help of AA sponsor Andy Sipowicz, Diane experienced some rough sledding when her abusive father was shot to death and her long-suffering mother stood trial for murder. On a more positive note, it was obvious that Diane and Detective Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) were strongly and passionately attracted to one another -- a plot development that would carry far more weight in the seasons to come. Series star Dennis Franz won his second Emmy award for his continuing performance as Andy Sipowicz during NYPD Blue's 1995-1996 season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi