‘Nypd Blue’ Moment Opens Possibilities
A new season of ABC’s “NYPD Blue” at 10 combines the crime and human interest story lines that have made the series one of prime time’s best.
Funny how this never turned out to be a show that won an audience with the strong language and brief flashes of nudity everybody talked about when it debuted three seasons ago.
It’s become a character-driven drama that keeps fans coming back by delving deep into the personal lives of detectives Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) and Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) and their cohorts.
In the season-opener, Simone looks for the right moment to propose to Diane (Kim Delaney), and Sipowicz and his wife Sylvia (Sharon Lawrence) worry about the health of their 6-month-old son.
At work, the detectives investigate the murder of a young man whose body has been discovered in a trunk. A chase scene results in a shocking incident - one that will have lasting consequences for Sipowicz.
It is one of those “moments” that has made executive producer Steven Bochco famous.
“For me, what has always been interesting about those moments is not the moment itself,” Bochco said in a recent interview.
“What’s fascinating is the longterm dramatic ramifications of the moment.
“So the moment is simply a device that then unlocks the door to a lot of complex behavior which informs good storytelling.”
Here’s to a season of great “NYPD Blue” moments.
Highlights
“Nova,” KSPS at 7: “Three Men and a Balloon” is a fascinating look at the race to be the first to fly around the world in an unpowered hot-air balloon. Among the contenders is a team headed by British billionaire Richard Branson.
“Roseanne,” ABC at 8: Jim Varney, star of those daffy “Ernest” movies, plays a Moldavian prince who arrives in Lanford with the intention of making Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) his princess.
“Promised Land,” CBS at 8: Russell (Gerald McRaney) saves the life of a best-selling author (guest-star Valerie Harper), whom Nathaniel (Eddie Karr) subsequently discovers is a morphine addict. Russell faces conflicting interests when he tries to see to it that the writer gets help.
“Coneheads” (1993), FOX at 8: Our favorite alien family from 1970s “Saturday Night Live” skits stars in this movie that was so out of this world that few liked it, much less laughed out loud.
“Frontline,” KSPS at 9: Fallout from the 1991 Tailhook scandal still resonates in the Navy. Correspondent Peter Boyer examines bitter infighting and political second-guessing in “The Navy Blues.”
“Every Woman’s Dream” (1996), CBS at 9: Ah, another worn TV-movie plot, except this one is based on a true story. Jeff Fahey is the handsome bad guy married to two women - played by DeLane Matthews and Kim Cattrall. The movie was not available for review. Lucky me.
“Home Improvement,” ABC at 9: This half-hour is loaded with laughs as Al (Richard Karn) produces a “how-to” video with Tim (Tim Allen) as director. Meanwhile, Jill (Patricia Richardson) turns to the boys for a solution to her computer problems.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: From Phoenix, Ariz., Sports Illustrated swimsuit models Tyra Banks and Valerie Mazza, actor Chris Farley, and 8-year-old sports reporter Brett Murray. Repeat.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Repeat segments featuring Helen Hunt (“Mad About You”) and actor John Travolta.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Comedian-actor Richard Lewis, model Angie Everhart and comedian Ralph Harris. Repeat.