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''NYPD Blue'' was a long-running American Television police drama set in New York City . It was created by Steven Bochco and David Milch and inspired by Milch's relationship with a former member of the New York City Police Department Bill Clark (who eventually became one of the show's producers). Its episodes were broadcast on the ABC network from September 21 , 1993 to March 1 , 2005 . Since 2001 episodes of the series have also been run on Court TV , Turner Network Television and Bravo! in Canada. OVERVIEW The program explored the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan . Typically an episode covers a day and intertwines several plots involving an ensemble cast. Dennis Franz , as Andy Sipowicz , a veteran New York City Police detective, played the show's main character. His principal co-stars included David Caruso as Det. John Kelly ( 1993 - 1994 ), Jimmy Smits as Det. Bobby Simone ( 1994 - 1998 ), Rick Schroder as Det. Danny Sorenson ( 1998 - 2001 ) and Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Det. John Clark Jr. ( 2001 - 2005 ). Each was paired with Franz's Sipowicz, providing a younger and more suave foil to the abrasive, tragedy-prone detective. The show was noted for the use of tight close-up shots and frenetic camera work. SELECTED CAST
CONTROVERSY magazine.]] ''NYPD Blue'' gained notoriety for profanity and nudity never previously broadcast on American network television. As Milch noted in a May 2002 interview: :"''It took an extra year to get on the air to negotiate with ABC what could and could not be done. The good thing about that delay was that I got to spend an extra year with cops to research and come to understand more about what it meant to be a New York City cop.''" The delay did little to defuse the controversy. Fifty-seven of ABC's 225 affiliates preempted the first episode because of protests led by Rev. Donald Wildmon and his American Family Association (AFA). The preemptions were mostly in smaller markets, comprising 10-15% of potential viewers which limited the impact of the protest. The show's ratings success led most affiliates (and advertisers) to end their opposition. By the end of the first season the show was a Top 20 hit and protests by the AFA were countered by support from Viewers For Quality Television and recognition from Emmy and People's Choice Awards . The program earned Franz a best-actor Emmy for the first season (one of four he received for the role) and a best drama series Emmy for the show's second season. According to one fan site {Link without Title} , cast members who appeared nude included Caruso, Stringfield, Brenneman, Franz, Smits, Lawrence, O'Grady, Delaney, Miceli, Thompson, Schroder, Simmons, Ross, Gosselaar and Obradors. Gordon Clapp had also filmed a nude scene to be aired in the series' 11th season but it was broadcast only in a heavily edited version in the wake of the Janet Jackson Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show Controversy . Cable network TNT airs reruns of ''NYPD Blue'' with the nudity and much of the profanity cut; Court TV has tended to show them in their original form. According to ''NYPD Blue: A Final Tribute'' a Retrospective broadcast on the same night as the last episode, the controversy wasn't limited to what was on the screen. David Milch, the show's co-creator and head writer, was a controversial figure on the set during the seven years he was with the show. His working style and tendency to leave writing to the last minute contributed to a frustrating working environment for some of the cast and crew. Smits left the show when his contract ended because of it. Milch cites his alcoholism and other addictions as factors contributing to the difficult environment. In spite of the controversy, Milch is usually credited as a major creative force during the years he worked on the show; Milch won two Emmy Award s for his writing, shared another as executive producer and shared in a further ten nominations for his writing and production. It is interesting to note that the show's "bad language" and partial nudity garnered more public controversy than its tacit approval of police brutality. THE FINAL EPISODE March 1 , 2005 saw the show's 261st and final episode, "Moving Day", bringing an end to the show's 12 year run. Rather than have another huge controversial event or kill off a character, the decision was to have the final episode be like just another day on the job only with Andy as the new squad room leader. In the final scene, previous squad leader Lieutenant Bale wishes Andy good luck with his new position, looks around his old office and says "It's yours." Then all the detectives come in, one by one, to wish Andy goodnight. The last one to say goodbye is Clark. Andy surveys his new office, puts his reading glasses on, and begins to go through the paper work on his desk. The camera then moves out through the 15th precinct squadroom and out the door, it moves up and then we see the squad room sign over the door one last time. TRIVIA
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