This week’s announcement that Steven Bochco and David Milch are developing a legal drama for NBC is exciting news for fans of these television titans. Bochco co-created the groundbreaking “Hill Street Blues” which premiered on NBC in 1981. The police drama not only paved the way for virtually every smart drama that has followed, but also began Milch’s career since his spec script “Trial by Fury” began “Hill Street”‘s third season. Bochco later co-created “L.A. Law” for NBC, which inherited the prestige Thursday 10:00 time-slot. (This same slot was home to “ER” for fifteen seasons and could be the destined home for this new Bochco-Milch series.) Milch reunited with Bochco for ABC’s game-changing “NYPD Blue” in 1993 before going solo for HBO with 2004’s “Deadwood.” Bochco and Milch’s shows have also been known for some of the finest acting talent who often return to work with these top show-runners. It is my hope that some drop by this new legal drama.
Dennis Franz became a television star on “Hill Street” first as bad cop Sal Benedetto and later re-cast as (an irregular) regular Lt. Norman Buntz. In between these roles, he also starred in Bochco and Milch’s short-lived baseball drama “Bay City Blues” in 1983. Milch co-created Buntz and even spun off the popular character in the equally short-lived “Beverly Hills Buntz” in 1987. Franz rejoined Bochco as a guest-star in the pilot for “Civil Wars” in 1991 as a would-be Elvis impersonator. During the two years spent developing “NYPD Blue,” Bochco and Milch asked Franz to come on board although the actor was reluctant to play a police officer for the 27th time in his career. Fortunately, Franz signed on and embodied the iconic Det. Andy Sipowicz for twelve seasons. Now semi-retired, it would not be expected to see him walking a beat again, but perhaps there is a guest or recurring role that could challenge this accomplished actor.
An original “L.A. Law” cast member, Jimmy Smits reunited with Bochco in 1994 to replace David Caruso on “NYPD Blue.” As Franz’s partner, Det. Bobby Simone, Smits continued the series’ success for four more years. Smits also reinvigorated another prestigious drama, “The West Wing” in 2004. So the question is should Smits appear in season one or should this good-luck-charm wait until season two?
David Caruso, who left “NYPD Blue” in season two under stormy circumstances, is, of course, the long-shot to rejoin Bochco and Milch. One of Caruso’s earliest jobs was as the gang leader of the Shamrocks on “Hill Street Blues.” After seventeen years, Caruso and Franz (as well as Smits and his successor Rick Schroder) reunited for a photo shoot in “Entertainment Weekly”‘s 2011 Reunions issue. He even commented that it excited him so much that he wished they could off and make more episodes. If Caruso doesn’t return in his long-running CBS series “CSI: Miami” next fall, maybe Hell could freeze over and a guest shot would be in store.
Kim Delaney (who ironically co-starred with Caruso in “CSI: Miami”) goes way back to guest roles on “L.A. Law” and Bochco’s “Hooperman” with John Ritter before starring in “NYPD Blue” and “Philly.” She’s always a strong female lead most recently in Lifetime’s “Army Wives.”
Veteran character actor James B. Sikking also found fame as the outlandish Lt. Howard Hunter on “Hill Street Blues” before settling in as the father of Bochco’s “Doogie Howser, M.D.” in 1989. Sikking even did uncredited cameos as a party guest in the “L.A. Law” pilot and as Lt. Hunter in Bochco’s infamous “Cop Rock” in 1990. (Likewise, Jimmy Smits did an uncredited cameo as “L.A. Law”-yer Victor SIfuentes on “Cop Rock.”) In 1997, Sikking was cast in Bochco and Milch’s short-lived CBS drama “Brooklyn South.” Not only would Sikking be a familiar face on the new legal drama, but so would his son Andrew who recurred on “NYPD Blue,” “Brooklyn South” and Bochco’s “Raising the Bar.”
Another “Hill Street” favorite, Joe Spano followed Bochco and Milch with roles on “L.A. Law,” “Civil Wars,” “Murder One” and “NYPD Blue.” It’s time to add another great appearance to his resume.
Actor/director Charles Haid was a series regular alongside Judd Hirsch in Bochco’s CBS drama “Delvecchio” before becoming a star on “Hill Street Blues.” Haid later directed episodes of “L.A. Law,” “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” “Cop Rock,” “NYPD Blue,” “Murder One,” Bochco’s “The Byrds of Paradise” and “Philly” as well as Milch’s CBS drama “Big Apple.” Perhaps, his reunion would be behind the camera.
Bruce Weitz now stars in daytime’s “General Hospital” but also began on “Hill Street Blues” and later guested on “Civil Wars,” “NYPD Blue” and “The Byrds of Paradise.” Here’s one more for the guest list.
Best known for her Emmy-winning role as the mother of “Malcolm in the Middle,” Jane Kaczmarek had a recurring role on “Hill Street Blues,” guested on “L.A. Law” but most recently starred in Bochco’s 2008 TNT drama “Raising the Bar.” Kaczmarek’s “Raising the Bar” co-star Mark-Paul Gosselaar lost his child-star status as fellow child-star Rick Schroder’s successor on “NYPD Blue.” Gosselaar followed Bochco with roles on “Over There” for FX and “Commander in Chief” on ABC, as well as Milch’s HBO series, “John in Cincinnati.” I would give strong odds that Kaczmarek and Gosselaar return to the Bochco-Milch camp.
Titus Welliver may be best known as the “Man in Black” on ABC’s “Lost.” But long before that, he was a Bochco-Milch favorite with roles on “L.A. Law,” “Murder One,” “N.Y.P.D. Blue,” “Brooklyn South,” “Deadwood” and “Raising the Bar.” Welliver’s role on the highly-anticipated FX series “Powers” may keep him busy, though.
Michael DeLuise played Andy Sipowicz’s ill-fated son on “NYPD Blue” before joining the cast of “Brooklyn South.” Let’s add him to the list, too.
So, let’s round up the troops for more Bochco-Milch landmark drama. It’s always fun to see the alumni return home.