NYPD Blue

NYPD Blue was a long-running American television police drama. It was created by Steven Bochco and David Milch, and inspired by Milch's interactions with a former member of the New York City Police Department named Bill Clark (who eventually became one of the show's producers). Its episodes were originally broadcast on the ABC network from September 21, 1993 to March 1, 2005. Since 2001, episodes of the series have also been rerun on Court TV, Turner Network Television, and in Canada, Bravo!.

Controversy

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 lead most affiliates (and advertisers) to end their opposition. By the end of the first season, the show was a Top 20 hit, and continued 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 eventually received for the role), and a best drama series Emmy for the show's second season.

Related Topics:
Donald Wildmon - American Family Association - Viewers for Quality Television - Emmy - People's Choice Awards

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

According to one fan site http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~sepinwal/faq.html#nude, cast members who appeared nude include: 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.

Related Topics:
Janet Jackson - Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy - TNT - Court TV

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

According to NYPD Blue: A Final Tribute, a retrospective first 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 his frustrations with the working environment. 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 Awards for his writing, shared another as executive producer and shared in a further ten nominations for his writing and production work.

Related Topics:
Retrospective - Emmy Award

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 and torture.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~