Bill Brochtrup Movies
Dennis Franz, David Caruso, and Gail O'Grady may be the best-known actors to achieve stardom out of the series NYPD Blue, but there are others who have moved into the spotlight during the program's run -- Bill Brochtrup is one of the latest. Playing Police Administrative Aide John Irvin since the late '90s, Brochtrup has brought a unique combination of wit and sensitivity to the rough-hewn crime series. Born in California in 1963, Brochtrup was raised in Tacoma, WA, and graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. His early stage credits included roles in D.H. Lawrence's The Fox (earning a DramaLogue Award) and Raft of the Medusa, and he earned rave reviews for his starring role in the off-Broadway production of Snakebit, which he also brought to West Hollywood. He made his television acting debut in the space-alien sitcom ALF in 1990, and did an episode of Diagnosis Murder in (1994) before being picked to play John Irvin in what was originally supposed to be a two-episode arc of NYPD Blue, as the temporary police administrative aide to the detective squad. The character ended up being kept on the series for much of that season, and producer Steven Bochco was sufficiently impressed with Brochtrup's work to ask him to move into the series Public Morals, playing the same role. After its cancellation, Brochtrup moved on to Total Security in the role of George LaSalle, and, after that series' end, returned to NYPD Blue as John Irvin, this time permanently as one of the co-stars.Brochtrup, who also appeared in episodes of Murder, She Wrote, Picket Fences, and Dharma & Greg, has cut a major figure as John Irvin, despite the fact that the character isn't even a police officer. Playing one of the first avowedly gay characters on a prime-time network police drama, Brochtrup walked a fine line, bringing sensitivity and a gentle, subtle wit to the role, which encouraged the writers to do more with the character. In particular, seeing what he could do with the role, the writers made it their business to put Brochtrup's John Irvin together with Dennis Franz's easily exasperated, not very enlightened Detective Andy Sipowicz, and they have used the relationship between the two to help evolve the detective's character. As a result of the series' high profile and the quality of the writing and acting that goes into the character, John Irvin has become something of a minor pop-culture icon among the gay community, while Brochtrup's work has become one of the highlights of the late run of the series. He has also appeared in a handful of movies, including Man of the Year and Space Marines, in between his television and theater roles. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi
Two people who can't stand each other are forced to care for the same child in this domestic comedy drama starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel. Holly (Heigl) is a caterer whose career is just getting off the ground; Eric (Duhamel) directs sports for a major network. Their first date was a nightmare, and now they're about to become a family. When their goddaughter Sophie's parents both perish in a tragic accident, Holly and Eric are informed that they were singled out as Sophie's caretakers in the event of an unforeseen disaster. Now, in order to raise Sophie right, this bickering pair must put their differences aside while mastering the fine art of parenthood. Coordinating their new lives and getting along won't be easy for Eric and Holly, but somewhere between the conflicting schedules and drastic lifestyle changes, the reluctant couple realizes that with a help from Sophie, they're starting to resemble a real family. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, (more)
- 2005
- PG13
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An aging societal outcast and a motherless duck set out to find shelter and meaning in a future where people are separated by as many degrees as they are connected. The year is 2009, and the last public park in Los Angeles has been closed to the public. The city is a desert, and dispossessed widower Arthur Pratt (Philip Baker Hall) has outlived his usefulness. A retired history professor who spent all of his savings caring for his beloved late wife, Arthur sets out to the park where his son and dearly departed are buried to pay his final respects before ending his own life. Arthur's grim westward march hits an unexpected hitch, however, when an orphaned duckling that has recently cheated death adopts the homeless septuagenarian as a surrogate mother figure. Once again displaced when their park becomes a landfill and their pond is drained, the unlikely pair embarks on a Sisyphean journey to find shelter and meaning in a world where their lives seem to have little value. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Philip Baker Hall, Bill Brochtrup, (more)
- 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, Rovi
- 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. Homosexual administrative employee 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, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dennis Franz, Henry Simmons, (more)
- 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, Rovi
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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
The story of two average women who refused to be silenced and intimidated by the company who manufactured their silicone implants is detailed in this inspirational docudrama starring Mary McDonnell and Gail O' Grady. Sybil Goldrich (McDonnell) was a wealthy California who was devastated to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and Kathleen Anneken (O'Grady) was a typical middle-class mother from Kansas who had always been unhappy with her breast size. Despite their disparate backgrounds and social statuses, both women would soon be drawn together by the tragic circumstances surrounding their decision to receive breast implants. Ignored, mistreated, and disregarded by silicone specialists Dow Corning after they received their implants and fell gravely ill, Goldrich and Anneken became united in their efforts to take their case to the FDA. While proving Down Corning was responsible for their many ailments was a near impossible task, getting their story out to the public was simply a matter of using every opportunity they had to state their case publicly. In the end it was one lawyer who possessed the incriminating evidence needed to bring Down Corning down, and ensure that their cries weren't silenced by the stifling greenback gag of big business. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gail O'Grady, Mary McDonnell, (more)
- 1996
This episode is a delightfully calculated slam at Murder, She Wrote's Thursday-night competition Friends. Visiting the set of the popular twentysomething sitcom "Buds", Jessica (Angela Lansbury) quickly realizes that there is plenty of disharmony amongst the young and attractive cast members. Making matters worse, the series' avaricious producer is planning to hype the ratings by killing off one of the characters--in the script, that is. Before long, however, life imitates art, and Jessica sets her mind to exposing a murderer. The real fun in this episode derives from guessing which of the "Buds" characters is supposed to be Rachel, Ross, Phoebe, Chandler etc. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1996
- R
In this sci-fi adventure an intergalactic ambassador and his entourage are kidnapped by terrorists. Ironically, they were heading out to a hostage negotiation. If they do not escape in time, a war between planets could ensue. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Billy Wirth, Edward Albert, (more)
This film is a unique combination of documentary, drama and comedy, and uses real people as well as professional actors to chronicle the experiences of Dirk Shafer who in 1992, was voted Playgirl magazine's man of the year. For the athletic, blond and extremely photogenic Shafer this fame was a double-edged sword. On one hand, he really needed the money; on the other, he had just come out of the closet. Still he went for the gusto and spent much of the year touring about and getting interviewed on talk shows. Only a few close friends and family members knew that he was a homosexual; to everyone else he was the epitome of heterosexual masculinity. This naturally, created problems with Mike, the man Shafer wanted to get involved with. Included are filmclips from actual talk-show appearances, and interviews with family and friends, not all of whom were tickled to discover that he was gay. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dirk Shafer, Vivian Paxton, (more)
- 1990
While taking an art class, Lynn (Andrea Elson) encourages ALF to try his hand at painting. Dutifully, ALF creates a "still life" using food, then substitutes his masterpiece for Lynn's current class assignment. ALF's "painting" is lauded as a work of genius--and a green-with-envy Lynn wishes that she'd kept her mouth shut! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1989
Those who think that you can't make a suspense movie out of a true-life story wherein everybody knows the outcome are referred to the made-for-TV Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure. Jessica, of course, was the 18-month-old Texas girl who fell down an abandoned well in October of 1987. As the world looks on in anguish, the local fire chief (Pat Hingle) and police chief (Beau Bridges) supervise the efforts to rescue Jessica from her 22-foot-deep prison. The film effectively squeezes the 58 hours of the original incident into two, allotting plenty of time for a surface-level subplot involving the efforts of a Victim's Assistance Program volunteer (Patty Duke) to reassure Jessica's parents. In keeping with Hollywood child-labor requirements, little Jessica McClure is played by twin girls, Laura and Jennifer Loesch. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Once again, Charles Bronson plays a renegade cop out for vigilante justice in the darkest heart of the urban jungle. This time, he is targeting an especially ruthless pimp who has been leading innocent young girls into prostitution. When the pimp kidnaps the beautiful daughter of a Japanese businessman, rapes her and forces her to begin streetwalking, the cop decides to let nothing, not even the law, stop him from bringing the slimeball to graphically violent justice. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Charles Bronson, Perry Lopez, (more)
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