NYPD Blue: Season 05 (1997)

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As expected, the opening episode of NYPD Blue's fifth season resolved the cliffhanger established at the end of season four, with 15th precinct detective Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) returning to active duty after being cleared of all charges relating to the murder of late, unlamented mobster Jimmy Salvo. Bobby would figure prominently in the fifth season finale as well, marrying co-worker Det. Diane Russell (Kim Delaney, who'd been pregnant with Simone's baby, but had suffered a miscarriage) in a civil ceremony. Of the other regular characters, Sylvia Costas (Sharon Lawrence), wife of Det. Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) and mother of Andy's son Theo (Austin Majors), would take a leave of absence for half the season. This was because actress Sharon Lawrence had landed her own starring sitcom, Fired Up, and could not realistically continue appearing in a lesser role in a different series. But once Fired Up was canceled, Lawrence returned to NYPD Blue, where she would remain until the conclusion of season six. In a similar vein, Det. James Martinez (Nicholas Turturro), briefly went on sick leave suffering from back problems, the better to give actor Tuturro time to play real-life mobster Sammy "The Bull" Gravano in the made-for-TV movie Witness to the Mob. Key plot developments of season five included Andy Sipowicz' prostate surgery and the pregnancy of Martinez' girlfriend, PAA Gina Colon (Lourdes Benedicto). The most significant of the new characters was Gina's temporary replacement, Naomi Reynolds (Gabrielle Fitzpatrick), who like many another character on the series, turned out to have a most fascinating past. And finally, after a season's worth of recurring appearances, Andrea Thompson was promoted to regular status in the role of Det. Jill Kirkendall. In what was becoming a regular pattern, NYPD Blue closed out its fifth season with two more Emmy awards. This time around, the recipients were actor Gordon Clapp (Detective Greg Medavoy) and director Paris Barclay (who helmed the second episode of the two-parter "Lost Israel"). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi