ABC to End 'NYPD Blue' Next Season

[seagarsmoker]

My favorite show is going bye-bye.

ABC announced Monday that it has completed a deal to renew "NYPD Blue" for a 12th and final season.

ABC is said to be planning a big sendoff for the venerable cop drama during the 2004-05 season, recognizing the show's place in primetime history as a trailblazer and Nielsen stalwart for the network, despite ABC's ups and downs in recent seasons.

In addition to deciding the fate of "Blue," ABC has given a pilot order to "NYPD Blue" producer Steven Bochco Prods. and Paramount Network TV for a drama, "Blind Justice," with Ron Eldard (news) attached to star, sources said.

The fade-out of "Blue" next season will mark the end of an era at ABC. Co-created by Bochco and David Milch, "Blue" was controversial from the start in its creators' insistence on pushing the envelope with grittier language than the norm of the day and even brief nudity.

"Blue's" arrival in September 1993 after more than two years in development was greeted by advertiser and affiliate boycotts. But the show was a Nielsen success from the outset, and its strong demographic ratings eventually won over virtually all of ABC's affiliates.

The show's ensemble cast survived numerous changes -- most notably David Caruso (news)'s hasty exist after the first season and the entry of Jimmy Smits (news) -- thanks to the grounding force of four-time Emmy winner Dennis Franz (news) as the long-suffering Detective Andy Sipowicz.

"Blue" set an Emmy record in 1994 by raking in the most nominations of any first-year series, with 26 bids (which topped the previous high of 21 set 14 years before by Bochco's own "Hill Street Blues").

[relaxnsmoke]

I used to watch that show all the time. Then I got married, had kids, lost sleep and gave up! Sorry to hear about the end. I think one of the camera men on the crew had a drinking problem. Sometimes the angle shot's would be kinda wobbly and looked as though he may have fallen to the floor. Once I swear the camera angle was steady, then it swooped up to the cieling and back................dude was sipping a beer. ( this was during Sipowicz prostate problems)

Seriously, it was a great show. So was Hill Stret Blues. I was head over heels about that Homicide on NBC a few years back, but I think it was just my wife and me and about a 100 critics who actually watched it for 5 years.........cause nobody else I talked to ever heard of it or watched it. Then there's the Rockford files! Damn seagarsmoker, you got me feeling OLD!

'member that one guy who kept calling him "Rockfish?"

[Ralphanator]

I sorry to hear that this will be the last season!! I just got into it this past year on reruns in the afternoon!

One of the best cop shows out there!!

[5by50]

Yes it will be sad. I was impressed with In The Line of Fire, which replaced it the last few weeks. Very good show.