NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue
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NYPD Blue

"Ride along with the boys in blue."

7.0
Yr 1993
Rt 60m
Status Ended
Drama
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Series Brief

Overview

Police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan. Each episode typically intertwined several plots involving an ensemble cast.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 85 /100

NYPD Blue debuted in 1993 as a groundbreaking police drama that fundamentally reshaped the television landscape. Created by Steven Bochco, the series was celebrated for its gritty, mature, and complex character-driven storytelling, which paved the way for subsequent prestige dramas like The Sopranos and The Wire. Critics often described it as a superb evolution of the police procedural, praised for its raw emotional depth.

However, the show's legacy is tied to the significant controversy it generated at launch. By pushing the boundaries of prime-time acceptability with explicit language, sexual situations, and nudity, the series faced intense condemnation from religious groups and conservative critics. While some contemporary reviewers felt the show's style was occasionally self-conscious, it is largely remembered as an innovative, sophisticated, and culturally impactful icon in television history.

“The success demonstrated that there was a substantial audience for mature, complex drama series, paving the way for future shows like The Sopranos, The Wire, and Breaking Bad.”

“NYPD Blue is mature and sophisticated, not libertine. Instead of inserting racy language and showy sex for the sake of sensation, this story of career cops features complicated human characters.”

“The gritty series consistently pushed the limits of what was acceptable on television.”

“NYPD Blue is a very good cop drama, often edging its way into superb.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Disney Plus
CA • UK
Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 5
Longest run 261 eps
Dennis Franz
Dennis Franz
as Andy Sipowicz
261 episodes
David Caruso
David Caruso
as John Kelly
44 episodes
Mark-Paul Gosselaar
Mark-Paul Gosselaar
as John Clark Jr.
87 episodes
Jimmy Smits
Jimmy Smits
as Bobby Simone
110 episodes
Rick Schroder
Rick Schroder
as Danny Sorenson
42 episodes
Henry Simmons
Henry Simmons
as Baldwin Jones
107 episodes
Sherry Stringfield
Sherry Stringfield
as Laura Michaels
22 episodes
Kim Delaney
Kim Delaney
as Diane Russell
132 episodes
Show 67 more
Bill Brochtrup as John Irvin 129 episodes James McDaniel as Arthur Fancy 174 episodes Jacqueline Obradors as Rita Ortiz 87 episodes Nicholas Turturro as James Martinez 154 episodes Currie Graham as Thomas Bale 20 episodes Amy Brenneman as Janice Licalsi 44 episodes Andrea Thompson as Jill Kirkendall 66 episodes Garcelle Beauvais as Valerie Haywood 87 episodes Bonnie Somerville as Laura Murphy 20 episodes Justine Miceli as Adrienne Lesniak 22 episodes Gail O'Grady as Donna Abandando 46 episodes Esai Morales as Tony Rodriguez 87 episodes Sharon Lawrence as Sylvia Costas 89 episodes Gordon Clapp as Greg Medavoy 242 episodes Charlotte Ross as Connie McDowell 89 episodes Theo Rossi as Pete Amici 1 episode Jurnee Smollett as Hanna 1 episode Salli Richardson-Whitfield as Bobbi Kingston 2 episodes Linda Carlson as Linda Krause 2 episodes Robin Pearson Rose as Ellen Lang 1 episode Larry Joshua as Clifford Bass 11 episodes Alyson Reed 1 episode Corey Stoll 1 episode Michael Holden as Dr. Buchbinder 2 episodes Mike Sabatino as Officer Martelli 4 episodes Nicholas Lea as Frank Colohan 2 episodes Katherine LaNasa as Michelle Colohan 3 episodes Debra Christofferson as Geri Turner 2 episodes Lourdes Benedicto as Gina Colon 2 episodes Joseph R. Sicari as Manager 2 episodes Sheeri Rappaport as Mary Franco 13 episodes Dwayne L. Barnes as Rodney 2 episodes Barry Newman as Jimmy Wexler 2 episodes Eric Balfour as Eli Beardsley 2 episodes Peter White as Mr. Irvin 2 episodes Phil LaMarr as Sidney Thompson 2 episodes Clifton Powell as Lewis futrel 2 episodes Arthur Taxier as Frederick Owens 3 episodes Barbara Tarbuck as Barbara Colohan 3 episodes Daniel Benzali as James Sinclair 3 episodes Bradley Whitford as Norman Gardner 4 episodes Richard Schiff as Vartan illiescu 2 episodes Bill Cobbs as Norval Stevens 2 episodes Tobin Bell as Donald selness 2 episodes Peter Boyle as Dan Breen 5 episodes Pat Crawford Brown as Mrs. Klein 2 episodes Michael Echols as Officer Lowen 2 episodes Chad Allen as Kyle tanner 2 episodes James Luca McBride as Officer Shannon 4 episodes Lawrence Pressman as Arnold rudman 2 episodes Danny Trejo as Gabriel mota 2 episodes Danny Masterson as John 2 episodes Ray LaTulipe as Josh Astrachan (uncredited) 4 episodes Danny Goldring as Sgt. McNamara 2 episodes Paige Turco as Abby Sullivan 2 episodes Michael DeLuise as Andy Sipowicz Jr. 2 episodes Gary Basaraba as Victor Carlin 2 episodes Mary Mara as Theresa Carlin 2 episodes Shirley Prestia as Jury Foreperson 2 episodes Linda Klein as EMS Paramedic 2 episodes David Harris as Donny Simmons 17 episodes Joe Spano as John Clark Sr. 4 episodes Jazzmun as Peaches 2 episodes Alexander Zale as Schauffner 2 episodes Josh Cruze as Rodriguez 2 episodes Robert Silver as Leo Archer, Esq. 2 episodes Carlos Gómez as Raoul Montez 2 episodes
Signal Match

Similarity

Where NYPD Blue overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

new york city corruption blackmail police police detective nypd police procedural
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
September 21, 1993
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
60 minutes
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
178