Henry Simmons Movies

At the end of her rope after a series of emotional setbacks, Diane (Kim Delaney) decides to take a leave of absence, which doesn't please Danny (Rick Schroder). While investigating the murder of a stripper who sidelined in stolen jewelry, Danny becomes very close to the dead woman's co-worker Kristen (Jenna Gering) -- thereby setting the stage for a story arc that will lead inexorably to the series-finale cliffhanger. Meanwhile, Cynthia (Juliana Donald) expresses her hope that Andy (Dennis Franz) is doing the right thing by remarrying Katie (Debra Monk). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After pulling in a couple of teenaged suspects who turn out to be innocent bystanders, Greg (Gordon Clapp) and Baldwin (Henry Simmons) try to solve the murder of a Chinese delivery man by checking cell-phone records. Investigating the claims made by IRS agent Victor Poole (Marty Rackham) that he has been kidnapped, Andy (Dennis Franz) ends up exposing Poole's secret life -- and is labeled "homophobic" for his troubles. Despite his headaches at work, Andy still intends to go through with his remarriage to Katie (Debra Monk). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The detectives at the 15th precinct go to great lengths to avoid meeting their new skipper, the notorious by-the-book disciplinarian Lt. Susan Dalto (Denise Crosby). Also new to the precinct is Lt. Tony Rodriguez (Esai Morales), whose impact will not be felt until the next episode. In other developments, a cash-register thief (Max Perlich) tries to get a lighter sentence by offering to lead the detectives to the dead body of a teenaged crack whore. And Eddie Gibson (John F. O'Donohue) doesn't like being in the middle of the romantic intrigues between his niece Cynthia and Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz). With this episode, James McDaniel makes his final appearance as Lt. Arthur Fancy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Coming upon a street shooting, Andy (Dennis Franz) fires at what he thinks is the perpetrator's car -- but cannot prove that he fired correctly when the only eyewitness, the original shooting victim, disappears. As Andy nervously awaits an Internal Affairs investigation, the other detectives begin to suspect that newcomer Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross) is a spy from the IAB. And in another development, a videotape shot in the bathroom of a bar may nail a rapist. With this episode, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon graduates from "recurring" to "regular" cast member as ADA Valerie Haywood. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Charlotte Ross makes her first series appearance as Detective Connie McDowell, who seemingly pops up from nowhere to help Diane (Kim Delaney) in her investigation of a hotel-room murder involving three goth teenagers. Meanwhile, Danny (Rick Schroder) is relegated to desk duty after beating up suspected subway slasher Sid Thompson (Phil LaMarr). And Valerie (Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon) receives assistance from an unexpected source in her efforts to salvage her case against Thompson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Nicholas Gilbert (Kevin Vincent O'Connor) the deranged homeless man who witnessed the murder of a man named Jefe in the previous episode (and who was, surprisingly, the scion of a wealthy family), turns up dead after being prematurely released from lockup. Outraged, Danny (Rick Schroder) reams out the desk sergeant who let Nicholas go -- thereby leading to another black mark on Danny's record. Realizing that his partner is rapidly becoming his own worst enemy, Andy (Dennis Franz) extends a helping hand to Danny. Elsewhere, Diane (Kim Delaney) investigates a murder-suicide which may be linked with her elusive enemy Denby (Andy Cohen), who, despite the fact that no one can find him, continues to wreak havoc in the 15th precinct. On another front, Baldwin (Henry Simmons) has an unpleasant run-in with the owner of a diner -- and also wrestles with the notion of asking Valerie (Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon) out on a date. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons) gets into a racial confrontation with new ADA Valerie Haywood (Garcelle Beauvais-Nillon) over a case involving a dead Russian, his bigoted wife, and a black gardener. Greg Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) calls in his old friend, Chinatown detective Harold Ng (Tzi Ma), to make sense of a heated dispute between two Chinese street-gang leaders -- a move that leads to a kidnapping investigation and a stakeout at a restaurant. Diane Russell (Kim Delaney) knows she loves Danny (Rick Schroder), but she can't get the late Bobby Simone out of her mind. And Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) bristles at the notion of taking computer training. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Worried about the well-being of his son Theo, Andy (Dennis Franz) considers remarrying his ex-wife Katie (Debra Monk). After breaking up with Mary (Sheeri Rappaport) for good, Danny (Rick Schroder) dedicates himself to keeping Diane (Kim Delaney) out of harm's way -- which Diane deeply resents. And a New York police captain (Richard Brooks), the husband of a woman cop wounded in a shoot-out, endangers the successful prosecution of the case by beating up the suspect. Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon makes her first appearance as new Assistant DA Valerie Heywood. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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

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

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

Still hoping to link up with Jennifer Beck (Katie Fountain), the daughter whom she put up for adoption years ago, Det. Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross) risks her job by arranging to have Jennifer hauled into the 15th precinct on a drug-misdemeanor charge. Elsewhere, the detectives investigate when the body of a woman who was supposed to have died in the World Trade Center attack turns up at construction site miles away from Ground Zero. And on a personal note, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) has found out that his temporary partner, Eddie Gibson (John F. O'Donohue), has cancer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

John Clark Jr. (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) risks incurring the wrath of precinct skipper Rodriguez (Esai Morales) when John's badge is stolen from his car. Led by Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz), the rest of the squad tries to cover up for John -- a task that becomes difficult when the badge is used in a string of robberies committed by a crook posing as a cop. In hopes of recovering John's badge and saving his job, fellow officer Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross) adopts a most unusual disguise. And elsewhere, Connie is assigned a case that leads her to consider contacting the daughter whom she gave up for adoption 16 years ago. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide