Jody Taylor Worth Movies
- 2003
John Clark Jr. (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) ends his relationship with Rita Ortiz (Jacqueline Obradors), while Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) and Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross) mull over their own romance during Theo's (Austin Majors) classroom pageant. Back on the job, a music-industry "angel," described by one associate as a "grade-A prick," is murdered; and a Russian mail-order bride who has barely escaped an attempt on her life refuses to press charges against the likeliest suspect -- her own husband. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
- 2002
The investigation of a deli robbery in which the owner was killed is bollixed up by Daron Hodges (Daniel Baldwin), an overzealous detective from another precinct who inadvertently leads a witness to finger the wrong man for the crime. In another development, a phony priest is apparently victimizing a young girl -- but this turns out to be the tip of the iceberg in an ever-developing confidence scam. And in the aftermath of the previous week's hostage crisis, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) decides to live for the moment and admit his affection for Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross) -- even unto inviting Connie to join him and his son Theo (Austin Majors) on their trip to Disney World. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
- 2002
While coping with the death of her ex-husband, Rita Ortiz (Jacqueline Obradors) investigates a disturbing rape case that soon snowballs out of control, with possibly grim consequences for the rest of the squad. Elsewhere, the detectives probe the possibility that a young Asian girl may have been murdered by her own family; John Clark Jr. (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) extends a helping hand to mixed-up teenager James Kilik (Josh Zuckerman); and gay cop John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup) reacts bitterly to the news that his father is undergoing heart surgery. And in a development that will have long-ranging ramifications, new IAB Captain Fraker (Casey Siemaszko) seems to determined to force precinct skipper Gonzalez (Esai Morales) out of his job. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
- 2002
A high schooler with a huge collection of video games is murdered and a three-year-old girl is shot and killed in her crib. Investigating the high-school case, the detectives are stymied by contradictory evidence, and by the presence of a weird suspect named Swirly (Josh Zuckerman), who lives with his even weirder mother. And while tackling the case of the dead three-year-old, Connie (Charlotte Ross) and Rita (Jacqueline Obradors) trace the gunfire to an engagement party on a lower floor. In off-the-job developments, John Jr. (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) tries to reach out to his taciturn dad (Joe Spano); Andy (Dennis Franz) and Connie may get together; and gay cop John (Bill Brochtrup) prepares to visit Africa with his new significant other. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
- 2002
Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) really has his hands full, dividing his time between moving his belongings into Connie McDowell's (Charlotte Ross) apartment and helping John Clark Sr. (Joe Spano) wrest free of the IAB's grasp. Andy also continues having problems concerning his relationship with his son Theo (Austin Majors). Back at the 15th, a schizophrenic who attacked his own father is the prime suspect in another murder; and precinct skipper Rodriguez (Esai Morales) tries to help his drug-addicted former wife, Angela (Jessica Ferrarone). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
- 2002
A stolen-goods fence is fatally shot in the groin by an elusive gunman. The investigation of this killing leads to the victim's girlfriend and one of his disgruntled customers -- and, inevitably, to another murder. Elsewhere, Connie (Charlotte Ross) suspects that her sister Michelle (Katherine La Nasa) is being abused by Michelle's no-good husband Frank Colohan (Nicholas Lea, in the first of three guest appearances). The guys at the 15th precinct decide to help Connie out by "talking" to the scuzzy Frank. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
- 2002
As NYPD Blue entered its tenth season, there was a perception that the series had become flat and predictable, and that the leading characters were merely going through the motions. But the series had confounded its critics the previous season by retaining its popularity despite a change to an earlier and less advantageous time slot, and it would continue thriving -- and even improving -- throughout season ten. Some of the emphasis during the 2002-2003 season was on couples. The May-December romance between 15th precinct detectives Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) and Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross), tentatively inaugurated during season nine, experienced a number of rocky moments -- many of them tied in with the vacillating feelings of Andy's son Theo (Austin Majors). But their relationship was strengthened and reaffirmed by a major crisis: Connie's determination to retain custody of her baby niece Michelle, whose mother (Katherine La Nasa), Connie's sister, was killed by her low-life husband, Frank Colohan (played by former X-Files menace Nicholas Lea). Despite the efforts by Frank's nasty and manipulative parents to obtain custody of Michelle, the forces of good triumphed, largely because Andy marshalled extra assistance from an old friend, Detective Diane Russell (Kim Delaney, in a most welcome one-shot return to the series). The other couplings of note involved Andy's partner John Clark Jr. (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and Detective Rita Ortiz (Jacqueline Obradors), the off-and-on relationship between detective Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons) and Assistant DA Valerie Haywood (Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon), and the brief reunion between 15th precinct skipper Lt. Tony Rodriguez (Esai Morales) and his drug-addicted former wife, Angela Lupo (Jessica Ferrarone). Two of these three couples would be broken up by season's end, one of them under tragic circumstances, while John Clark Jr. would begin a liaison with police doctor Jennifer Devlin (Chandra West). Back "on the job," the 15th was again targeted for persecution by Internal Affairs captain Pat Fraker (Casey Siemaszko), who was so determined to get something damaging against his longtime enemy Andy Sipowicz that he was willing to engineer a frame-up that sent John Clark Jr. to jail on a trumped-up drug charge. This plot development would result in the disgrace of a longtime NYPD Blue recurring character, the suicide of Clark Jr.'s alcoholic father (Joe Spano), and ultimately a bloody confrontation which, for the season-closing cliffhanger, left Lt. Rodriguez hovering between life and death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Franz, Henry Simmons, (more)
- 2001
At the end of NYPD Blue's eighth season, Danny Sorenson (Rick Schroder), the troubled young partner of the 15th precinct's Detective Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz), had disappeared under sinister circumstances after a botched undercover operation. It was not until season nine got under way that Danny's murder was confirmed, sending Sipowicz -- not to mention the rest of the 15th -- into an emotional spiral. In the fine revolving-door tradition of NYPD Blue, Danny was immediately replaced by another handsome young detective with personal issues: John Clark Jr. (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), the son of a veteran cop (Joe Spano) who happened to be an old enemy of John's new partner Andy. To compensate for the defection of another longtime series regular, Kim Delaney (Detective Diane Russell), Jacqueline Obradors was added to the cast as Det. Rita Ortiz, formerly of the vice squad who had transferred to the 15th at the insistence of her jealous, possessive Assistant DA husband, Don Harrison (Stan Cahill). Inasmuch as the series was falling into a pattern of predictability by this time, it was hardly surprising that Rita Ortiz would have been minus one husband and plus one new boyfriend (John Clark Jr., of course) by the end of season nine.
Of the holdover actors from previous seasons, Esai Morales had neatly settled into the role of Lt. Tony Rodriguez, the no-nonsense replacement of former 15th precinct skipper Lt. Fancy -- and had brought along his own emotional baggage in the form of a vengeful Internal Affairs Bureau captain (Casey Siemaszko) who had seemingly made it his life's work to force Rodriguez out of his job. The inner demons of Det. Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross) surfaced to plague her when she attempted to touch base with Jennifer (Katie Fountain), the daughter whom she'd given up for adoption 16 years earlier. Gay cop John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup) took a brief respite from his duties to embark upon an African "safari" with his new boyfriend. And the off-again, on-again relationship between Det. Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons) and ADA Valerie Haywood (Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon) took on a new and slightly melancholy dimension when Valerie became pregnant. As usual, it was top-billed Dennis Franz as Andy Sipowicz who bore the brunt of the dramatic developments. In addition to having to adjust to the tragic loss of another partner, Dennis also found himself enmeshed in the financial intrigues surrounding wealthy old eccentric Mrs. Hornby (Elmarie Wendel), for whom he worked as a bodyguard in his off-hours. And, of more importance to future plot developments, Andy finally made a romantic decision between two of the women in his life, Connie McDowell and the very-much-younger Cynthia Bunin (Juliana Donald) -- or rather, the decision was made for him following a traumatic hostage crisis. With Steven Bochco replacing the departing David Milch as senior executive producer, NYPD Blue was poised to begin its ninth season in early October of 2001 -- thereby breaking the tradition established in the past two seasons, when the debut date had been moved up to January (or mid-season) due to backstage intrigues and scheduling conflicts. However, the tragic events of September 11 obliged both the producers and the network to delay the season opener until November 6, by which time several scripts had been rewritten to reflect the 15th precinct's reaction to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Of the holdover actors from previous seasons, Esai Morales had neatly settled into the role of Lt. Tony Rodriguez, the no-nonsense replacement of former 15th precinct skipper Lt. Fancy -- and had brought along his own emotional baggage in the form of a vengeful Internal Affairs Bureau captain (Casey Siemaszko) who had seemingly made it his life's work to force Rodriguez out of his job. The inner demons of Det. Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross) surfaced to plague her when she attempted to touch base with Jennifer (Katie Fountain), the daughter whom she'd given up for adoption 16 years earlier. Gay cop John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup) took a brief respite from his duties to embark upon an African "safari" with his new boyfriend. And the off-again, on-again relationship between Det. Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons) and ADA Valerie Haywood (Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon) took on a new and slightly melancholy dimension when Valerie became pregnant. As usual, it was top-billed Dennis Franz as Andy Sipowicz who bore the brunt of the dramatic developments. In addition to having to adjust to the tragic loss of another partner, Dennis also found himself enmeshed in the financial intrigues surrounding wealthy old eccentric Mrs. Hornby (Elmarie Wendel), for whom he worked as a bodyguard in his off-hours. And, of more importance to future plot developments, Andy finally made a romantic decision between two of the women in his life, Connie McDowell and the very-much-younger Cynthia Bunin (Juliana Donald) -- or rather, the decision was made for him following a traumatic hostage crisis. With Steven Bochco replacing the departing David Milch as senior executive producer, NYPD Blue was poised to begin its ninth season in early October of 2001 -- thereby breaking the tradition established in the past two seasons, when the debut date had been moved up to January (or mid-season) due to backstage intrigues and scheduling conflicts. However, the tragic events of September 11 obliged both the producers and the network to delay the season opener until November 6, by which time several scripts had been rewritten to reflect the 15th precinct's reaction to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Franz, Henry Simmons, (more)
- 2001
Just before taking medical leave, Gibson (John F. O'Donohue) arranges for Andy (Dennis Franz) to moonlight as the bodyguard for a wealthy -- and very dotty -- old woman named Mrs. Hornby (Elmarie Wendel). In other developments, gay cop John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup) makes a new friend while investigating the theft of some valuable English bulldog puppies, and the squad investigates reports of recent INS screw-ups. Jacqueline Obradors joins the cast as Det. Rita Ortiz, the wife of Assistant DA Don Harrison, who at her husband's insistence is transferred out of Vice and into the 15th precinct, where she is immediately partnered with Det. Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross) on a missing persons case. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
- 2001
Andy Sipowicz' (Dennis Franz) joy over being promoted is tempered by his grief at the funeral of former partner Danny Sorenson. Additionally, Andy is nervous about being teamed with John Clark Jr. (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), the son of an old and vengeful enemy (Joe Spano). Before the reason for the animosity between Andy and Joe Sr. is revealed, the squad tackles a burglary-homicide case involving a valuable guitar and a nutty roommate (Pamela Gordon), and tries to nail the victim's husband in a stabbing death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
- 2001
Esai Morales becomes a regular in the role of Brooklyn homicide detective Lt. Tony Rodriguez. Setting up shop at the 15th precinct, Rodriguez imperiously takes over the investigation of the murder of an ex-cop's daughter. But after two of his own detectives screw up, Rodriguez relaxes a bit and allows the 15th's own Sorenson (Rick Schroder) and Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) to clean up the case. Elsewhere, Andy breaks up with Cynthia (Juliana Donald) and again considers getting back together with his ex-wife Katie (Debra Monk), if only for the sake of his son Theo (Austin Majors). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Realizing that Danny (Rick Schroder) and Diane (Kim Delaney) are too tense and high-strung to continue working together, Fancy (James McDaniel) assigns each of them to a different case. While on assignment, Diane again runs into her old nemesis Denby (Scott Cohen), who may be using a courier service for an illegal operation. And after tracking down Sid Thompson (Phil LaMarr), a suspect in two brutal subway murders, Danny completely loses it and beats Thompson to a pulp -- thereby seriously damaging his case against the alleged perp. At this, Andy (Dennis Franz), who has tried to keep Danny on an even keel, angrily washes his hands of his partner. The episode comes to an explosive conclusion when Denby shows up at the precinct for a final showdown with the relentless Diane. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Season eight of NYPD Blue begins by picking up where season seven left off. Det. Jill Kirkendall is still missing in action, having slipped through the fingers of the IAB after the arrest of her drug-trafficking ex-husband, Don. Former police lawyer Leo Cohen (Michael B. Silver), now in private practice, endeavors to defend the other members of the 15th precinct during the IAB's probe of their "complicity" in the Kirkendall case -- but first, Det. Diane Russell (Kim Delaney) must put her life on the line to locate Don Kirkendall's partner in crime, corrupt cop Denby. And Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) tensely awaits the results of his son Theo's bone-marrow tests. In new developments, a suspect in a multiple murder begs the detectives to help him retrieve his daughter, whom he left as collateral with his drug dealer; also, Andy's troubled partner, Danny Sorenson (Rick Schroder), tries to get back together with Diane. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Andy (Dennis Franz) is relieved to learn that his son Theo is out of the woods regarding his medical condition -- at least for the present. Danny (Rick Schroder) and Diane (Kim Delaney), back together again, decide to keep their renewed relationship quiet. On the job, Andy and Danny investigate a series of violent attacks on cabbies; Capt. Brass (Larry Joshua) takes over Fancy's (James McDaniel) office for his new task force; and Diane's contact Danny DiSalvo (Jay Acovone) offers to "take out" drug smuggler Don Kirkendall (if and when he is ever found), thereby absolving the 15th precinct of any complicity in Kirkendall's activities. In a related development, the ex-wife of Diane's old nemesis Denby (Scott Cohen) may be able to clear up matters in the Kirkendall case -- or maybe not. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Season eight of NYPD Blue began minus the services of longtime executive producer David Milch, who left to develop a project of his own. Steven Bochco, who'd co-created the series with Milch, took full charge of the series. This was far from the only eighth-season personnel change. Andrea Thompson (Det. Jill Kirkendall) had already quit the series in order to launch a new career as a TV news anchor. Kim Delaney, who played Kirkendall's partner, Det. Diane Russell, remained on the scene, the better to develop a new plot strand involving a steamy romance between Russell and her troubled colleague Det. Danny Sorenson (Rick Schroder). But by the end of the season, Delaney was gone -- as was Schroder. One of the series' mainstays since its 1993 debut, James McDaniel, announced his intention of leaving his role as 15th precinct skipper Lt. Fancy after the first 13 episodes of the season. Fancy's initial replacement, hypersensitive feminist Lt. Susan Falto (Denise Crosby), had such a negative effect on the 15th that she herself was quickly supplanted by Lt. Tony Rodriguez (Esai Morales), a by-the-book type who (surprise, surprise) almost immediately clashed with gonzo "I make my own rules" detective Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz). Andy's private life was no less turbulent than his professional one; the moment the bone-marrow tests of his son Theo (Austin Majors) came back positive -- thereby resolving one of the unresolved subplots set up by the previous season's cliffhanger finale -- Andy began considering a reconciliation with ex-wife Kate (Debra Monk), but instead became sidetracked with a blossomed May-December relationship with Cynthia Bunin (Juliana Donald), the niece of Andy's old cop pal Gibson (John F. O'Donohue).
Along with Esai Morales and Juliana Donald, Charlotte Ross, and Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon joined the series, respectively cast as Det. Connie McDowell and new Assistant DA Valerie Haywood. Initially shunned as a possible "spy" from Internal Affairs, McDowell quickly proved her mettle and earned the right to remain at the 15th -- and in the process set the foundation for future plot complications by revealing that, 15 years earlier, she had had a daughter out of wedlock whom she had given up for adoption. As for Haywood, she almost immediately got off on the wrong foot with the extremely touchy Det. Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons), in the tradition of the first-season flareups between Andy Sipowicz and the late ADA Sylvia Costas. But also like Andy and Sylvia, Baldwin Jones and Valerie Haywood quickly found themselves extremely attracted to one another.
The opening episodes of season eight resolved a dilemma left hanging during season seven, that of the 15th precinct's possible complicity in the drug-smuggling operations of Don Kirkendall, ex-husband of the beleagured Jill Kirkendall. The closing episodes established a brand-new crisis, concerning a botched undercover operation which may or may not have cost the life of the missing-in-action Danny Sorenson (Rick Schroder). Viewers would have to sweat it out until the beginning of season nine before Danny's ultimate fate would be revealed. For the second year in a row, NYPD Blue's season opener was not seen until January, due to backstage hagglings between the ABC network and the producer. Also, only 20 new episodes were produced, rather than the standard 22, reportedly an economical rather than artistic decision. The late start and diminished output did not affect the series' popularity, nor prevent it from garnering another Emmy Award nomination for series star Dennis Franz. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Along with Esai Morales and Juliana Donald, Charlotte Ross, and Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon joined the series, respectively cast as Det. Connie McDowell and new Assistant DA Valerie Haywood. Initially shunned as a possible "spy" from Internal Affairs, McDowell quickly proved her mettle and earned the right to remain at the 15th -- and in the process set the foundation for future plot complications by revealing that, 15 years earlier, she had had a daughter out of wedlock whom she had given up for adoption. As for Haywood, she almost immediately got off on the wrong foot with the extremely touchy Det. Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons), in the tradition of the first-season flareups between Andy Sipowicz and the late ADA Sylvia Costas. But also like Andy and Sylvia, Baldwin Jones and Valerie Haywood quickly found themselves extremely attracted to one another.
The opening episodes of season eight resolved a dilemma left hanging during season seven, that of the 15th precinct's possible complicity in the drug-smuggling operations of Don Kirkendall, ex-husband of the beleagured Jill Kirkendall. The closing episodes established a brand-new crisis, concerning a botched undercover operation which may or may not have cost the life of the missing-in-action Danny Sorenson (Rick Schroder). Viewers would have to sweat it out until the beginning of season nine before Danny's ultimate fate would be revealed. For the second year in a row, NYPD Blue's season opener was not seen until January, due to backstage hagglings between the ABC network and the producer. Also, only 20 new episodes were produced, rather than the standard 22, reportedly an economical rather than artistic decision. The late start and diminished output did not affect the series' popularity, nor prevent it from garnering another Emmy Award nomination for series star Dennis Franz. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Having taken a paternal interest in his young partner, Danny Sorenson (Rick Schroder), Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) extends a helping hand when the troubled Danny begins seeking solace in booze. Meanwhile, Mary (Sheeri Rappaport) is fed up with Danny's erratic behavior and wants to break off their relationship. Back on the job, Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) unearths a gruesome "trophy" while investigating a tip about the activities of the Chinese Mafia, and Jones (Henry Simmons) uses gentle persuasion to prove that at least one member of an interracial couple is guilty of murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Fancy (James McDaniel) and Jones (Henry Simmons) try to help Jones' former boss Lt. Abner (James Pickens Jr.), who is in a deep depression -- but their efforts are too little, too late. When the partner of nightclub owner Dave Lorenz (Peter Jurasik) is murdered, Lorenz points a finger at a jailed mobster who may have ordered the hit, but Mrs. Lorenz (Sherry Hursey) has an entirely different theory. And while investigating a rape charge, Jill (Andrea Thompson) and Diane (Kim Delaney) turn up a suspect who refuses to speak to anyone but a male detective -- leading to an unexpected revelation of subliminal racism. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Jill Kirkendall (Andrea Thompson) is not happy to learn that a police surveillance team is watching her ex-husband, Don (Erich Anderson), during their son Kyle's first communion. Her unhappiness is compounded when Diane (Kim Delaney) tells Jill that Don is a suspect in a drug-smuggling operation. In other news, Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) and Sorenson (Rick Schroder) try to protect a man on probation, only to have a suspect on their hands when one of the man's buddies turns up dead; a baby dies while in the care of a transsexual; and Officer Mary Franco (Sheeri Rappaport) expresses a desire to be transferred upstairs to Anti-Crime. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Henry Simmons makes his first series appearance as Det. Baldwin Jones, the replacement for recently promoted James Martinez. A former hate-crimes officer, Jones finds that his training comes in handy as he and new partner Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) track down a perpetrator -- while Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel), skipper of the 15th precinct, broods over the fact that Jones was added to the squad without his approval. Elsewhere, Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) discovers that a female cop who was murdered while off duty was having an affair with her partner, and Diane (Kim Delaney) agonizes over telling her partner, Jill (Andrea Thompson), that Jill's ex-husband, Don, a drug trafficker, has been reported killed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Although the seventh season of NYPD Blue was supposed to begin on November 9, 1999, a variety of backstage intrigues involving the ABC network and the series' producers (some of these revolving around NYPD's temporary Tuesday-night "replacement" Once and Again) pushed the debut date forward to the unfashionably late January 11, 2000. Fans were of course a bit miffed, but not so much as to effect the series' customarily high ratings. The departure of longtime series regular Nicholas Turturro as Det. James Martinez permitted the series to introduce a new character, Det. Baldwin Jones, played by Henry Simmons. Formerly assigned to the 15th precinct's hate-crimes unit, the African-American Jones had a few expected flareups with Det. Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz), whose race-relations record was infamously spotty. As for Andy himself, he spent a goodly amount of time in the early part of the season brooding over the previous-season death of wife Sylvia Costas, but again found consolation in the love of his son Theo (Austin Majors) -- who as the season finale approached, experienced a major health crisis that would remain unresolved until the outset of season nine. Andy also adopted a paternal attitude toward his troubled young partner, Danny Sorenson (Rick Schroder), whose inner demons would ultimately cost him the love of the new lady in his life (and new NYPD Blue recurring character), Det. Mary Franco (Sheeri Rappaport). There was, however, promise held out for another romantic relationship with Det. Diane Russell (Kim Delaney), who like Andy Sipowicz was having problems reconciling herself with the loss of a loved one, namely the late and lamented Det. Bobby Simone. The seventh season's most dramatic plot development involved Det. Jill Kirkendall (Andrea Thompson), who found herself torn between professional duty and familial responsibilities in dealing with the crooked machinations of her ex-husband, Don (Erich Anderson), who in turn was somehow mixed up with Diane Russell's latest bête noire, unsavory narcotics task-force agent Denby (Scott Cohen). The series' cliffhanger finale not only took Jill Kirkendall out of the picture (actress Andrea Thompson had elected to leave the series and launch a whole new career as a TV newscaster), but also placed everyone at the 15th precinct under suspicion of complicity in a prickly drug-trafficking and cover-up operation. For the first time since its maiden 1993-1994 season, NYPD Blue went home empty-handed from the Emmy Awards ceremony, though (as usual) series regular Dennis Franz picked up an Emmy nomination. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
A woman is killed and her rare coin collection is stolen; could her drugged-out son have had anything to do with it? In other cases, ex-cop turned private detective Mike Roberts (Michael Harney) tips off the squad to the upcoming robbery of a truck from the company which currently employs Mike. Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) makes no secret of his disdain for Roberts, who seems on the verge of telling him something important. It is up to John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup), still recovering from the death of Dolores Mayo, to figure out what Mike was trying to say -- and it may have some bearing on Dolores' demise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
The big news attending NYPD Blue's sixth season was the imminent departure of series star Jimmy Smits, who played Det. Bobby Simone, the new husband of Det. Diane Russell (Kim Delaney). While the particulars of Simone's exit were kept secret from the public, it became obvious from the season opener onward that Bobby was not long for this world; having developed a serious illness, he needed an immediate heart transplant, and even then the doctors could guarantee nothing. It was in the season's fifth episode, "Hearts and Souls," that the saga of Bobby Simone was terminated fatally, much to the shock and dismay of millions of the series' fans. Bobby's replacement was Det. Danny Sorenson, played by former child star Rick Schroder. Although both the grieving Diane and Bobby's irascible partner, Det. Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz), initially resented Sorenson's presence, Danny quickly proved his mettle both on and off the job. But in time-honored NYPD Blue tradition, young Mr. Sorenson brought with him some heavy emotional baggage, which would be revealed bag by bag over the next three seasons, culminating in yet another "shocker" of a climactic episode. Elsewhere, the 15th precinct's gay Anti-Crime Unit assistant John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup, who was moved up from recurring-character to regular) developed a close friendship with the squad's new PAA, Dolores Mayo (Lola Glaudini), a troubled young woman who ultimately quit her job and turned to prostitution. It was Dolores' death during a weekend trip to Atlantic City with wealthy drug dealer Malcolm Cullinan (Todd Waring), coupled with the murder of Sipowicz' old nemesis, shady private eye Mike Roberts (Michael Harney), that led to the series' violent sixth-season finale, a courtroom shoot-out which claimed the life of Andy Sipowicz' wife, ADA Sylvia Costas (Sharon Lawrence). Once again, NYPD Blue copped a handful of Emmy awards. This years' recipients included series star Dennis Franz, recurring guest actress Debra Monk (as Sipowicz' ex-wife, Katie), and director Paris Barclay, the latter two earning their statuettes for their work in the pivotal episode "Hearts and Souls." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
The drug-dealing husband of a murder victim may have killed his wife and another woman. In going after the suspect, Diane (Kim Delaney) places herself in harm's way -- upsetting Bobby (Jimmy Smits), who knows that she's pregnant. In other developments, Naomi's (Gabrielle Fitzpatrick) landlord turns her into the INS as an alleged illegal alien. And the investigation of a prostitute's murder is complicated by the back problems suffered by Martinez (Nicholas Turturro, who with this episode took temporary leave of NYPD Blue to star in a made-for-TV movie). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
A rape and murder take place in the apartment owned by Jamal (Giancarlo Esposito), an ex-crack dealer who was previously disabled in a police shoot-out. The investigation of a shooting in a medical clinic prompts a brutish, lovelorn security guard named Bruce (John Thaddeus) to forcibly "protect" the suspect, resulting in a deadly and decisive response from Medavoy (Gordon Clapp). And Bobby (Jimmy Smits) learns of Andy's (Dennis Franz) increasingly grave medical situation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
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, All Movie Guide
