When it comes to "NYPD Blue," the more things change the more they stay the same.
The ABC series, which begins its sixth season Tuesday at 9 p.m. on Ch. 4, is about to undergo its second major cast change. Jimmy Smits is leaving after the first half-dozen episodes, while Rick Schroder will be coming aboard as the new detective.Smits, of course, replaced David Caruso. And there have been a number of other actors coming and going (and, in some cases, coming again) over the years.
But two things remain unchanged. First, "NYPD Blue" is still one of the best-written, best-acted and most compelling dramas on television.
And, second, the show's excesses in terms of language, nudity and sexual content remain an unnecessary distraction. They're like a man without a broken leg using a crutch.
Back when the show premiered in September 1993, yours truly reviewed the series in much the same fashion - lauding the quality and decrying the excesses.
"What's particularly appalling about this is that none of it is necessary. `NYPD Blue' would lose nothing from its narrative, nothing from its generally high quality if the language were modified and the sex scenes eliminated - or, at the very least, toned down."
After viewing the first couple of episodes for the sixth season, my reaction remains the same.
In the season premiere, Detectives Bobby Simone (Smits) and Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) investigate the murder of the son of a very wealthy man - which doesn't turn out exactly as you might expect and leaves viewers with something to think about. Meanwhile, Detectives Diane Russell (Kim Delany) and Jill Kirkendall (Andrea Thompson) investigate an attempted rape, which also takes a rather surprising turn.
The second episode has another great case - a cop who, while drunk, gets into a shootout with some bad guys and a bystander gets killed.
It's great stuff. As it was five years ago, "It's well-written, it's taut, it's engrossing, it's real."
But the episodes certainly weren't made any better by the inclusion of various and sundry crude words and expressions. Or by a scene with Smits and Delaney in the show that lacked anything in the way of subtlety.
It's hard to imagine that anyone's viewing enjoyment will be enhanced by a shot of Franz grabbing his crotch.
As good as "NYPD Blue" is, the show's success has created exactly the situation predicted here five years ago - that, in success, the show would "lead to more shows with more `adult' content on the networks."
All you have to do is take a quick look at a TV schedule and you'll see that, unfortunately, that's a prediction that came true.
NO NEED TO WAIT: Although all of the hype for "NYPD Blue" this season has surrounded the pending arrival of Rick Schroder, the show isn't exactly treading water until Smits leaves and his replacement arrives. These are not simply throw-away episodes building to something better.
Smits is leaving the show on good terms with the producers, and they're determined to give him a fitting send-off.
Producer David Milch said he feels an "obligation to see that (Smits') character is treated with all the respect and complexity he deserves" and that he's "very satisfied in that regard."
"So this is a show which is not beginning in its sixth episode this year," he said. "I think it's going to be very, very interesting viewing."
As to how exactly Smits' character will be written out, well, the first couple of episodes appear to give viewers more than a bit of a clue.
Without giving too much away, let's just say that that's not a chest cold Bobby Simone is fighting off in Tuesday's season premiere.
STAYING PUT: When Smits leaves, don't expect him to take Kim Delaney with him - even though her character, Detective Diane Russell-Simone, married Smits' character last season.
"We love her," Milch said. "She's a great character. She's a fully developed character. She functions in the show independent of Jimmy. She's a wonderful detective."
BETTER THIS YEAR? Neither Milch nor executive producer Steven Bocho is exactly willing to admit that "NYPD Blue" experienced a falloff in quality last season, but they do say they expect this season's episodes to be better.
"I really liked our shows last season, and I was very proud of them," Milch said. "I thought we did some of our most challenging storytelling.
"It's also the case that between Steven and me, we generated 57 hours of television last year. A lot of television. And I don't think there's any question but that if you're doing 22 hours of television there may be a better chance of doing those 22 hours better."
In addition to "Blue," Milch and Bochco were also turning out "Brooklyn South" on CBS and the short-lived "Total Security" on ABC. The latter two shows have both been canceled.
And Bochco maintains that it may be perception rather than reality that "NYPD Blue" was in decline last year.
"There's a big handful of our hours in this past season that are as fine as any we've ever made, though the perception of them might be that they're not as surprising because the show is 5 years old," Bochco said. "The things we do with the show - which used to be shocking, perhaps - no longer are."