ABC’s famous drama ‘NYPD Blue’ is back in action but with a fan-favorite detective murdered
A reboot of another classic series is in the works in the TV network, and for it to work out they needed to kill off the original protagonist of the show, to let the character’s son take over.
ABC is bringing back police procedural drama series “NYPD Blue,” which ran for more than ten years before its 2005 final episode, and as much as the revival will continue the original format, there is a big change.
According to Cinema Blend, fan-favorite and original protagonist Andy Sipowicz, played by Dennis Franz, won’t be around in the upcoming season because the character was murdered. Read more on our Twitter account @amomama_usa
But even though Andy will be absent, the plot will in a way still revolve around him, because the project will follow his son Theo as he tries to become a detective to investigate the murder of his father.
Source: Wikimedia Commons.
With this premise, the showrunners maintain a link to the original series by leaving the possibility of the old characters to make appearances while the new characters keep the story going.
“I did receive a call, and I’m flattered but not interested. ‘NYPD Blue’ was a high point in my life and career, and I think of it so fondly. I wish them all well and much success.”
-Dennis Franz, Deadline, October 17, 2018.
Source: Wikimedia Commons.
While we will see mostly new faces in the upcoming season of the show, the people in charge of the series behind the cameras will be very close to the original team.
Matt Olmstead, who co-wrote the reboot’s pilot, served as the original show’s writer from season 6, while the director of the new project will be Jesse Bochco, son of the late creator of the series, Steven Bochco.
Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Nick Wootton, who also wrote and produced for the original run, is back on board as well, and Steven’s widow Dayna will serve as a producer.
Source: Wikimedia Commons.
According to Deadline, the project got the blessing of the series creator, who had a meeting to talk about it with Olmstead before passing away on April 1.
Source: Wikimedia Commons.
ABC is not new to reboots, and they have had great success with them since it became a popular feature on TV, but they haven’t been free from controversy.
Last year, the network brought back the sitcom “Roseanne” for a reboot season that performed splendidly with the audience and had ordered a second season before being canceled over its star racist comment on Twitter.
Now, the network is trying to make the better out of it and has created the spin-off series “The Conners,” featuring the entire “Roseanne’s” cast minus actress Roseanne Barr.
Even though she said she was going to be neutral about it, Barr issued a statement criticizing the way her character was written out in the new series soon after the premiere of the show.