NYPD Blue: The Complete Third Season [4 Discs]

Franz

Overview

This gritty, acclaimed crime drama from Steven Bochco elevated the genre and altered the boundaries of what network censors would allow. The series initially caused controversy with its frank language, realistic violence and nudity, but it became a critical darling, garnering 27 Emmy nominations in its first year alone. There were many awards (and cast changes) through the years, but Andy Sipowicz remained its haunted soul for the show's unforgettable 12-year run.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/21/2006
UPC:	0024543224945
Original Release:	2006
Source:	BUENA VISTA HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Region Code:	1
Language:	English
Time:	16:54:00

Special Features

Closed Caption;Selected episode commentaries; "Life in the 15th Precinct" featurette; "Father and Son" featurette; "Women of NYPD Blue" featurette; 4-disc collector's edition featuring all 22 season three episodes!

Editorial Reviews

The 1995-96 season sees big changes, especially in the life of Detective Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz). His second wife, Assistant District Attorney Sylvia Costas (Sharon Lawrence), gives birth to a son, Theo, and Andy is ecstatic. But that all changes in a powerful, season-ending trio of episodes. "A Death in the Family" finds Sipowicz and partner Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) investigating the killing of an off-duty police trainee -- Andy's son from his first marriage. The resulting grief sends the recovering alcoholic back to the bottle, and in "Closing Time" he nearly gets thrown off the force when he loses his gun to thugs after sustaining a beating while drunk. The heart-wrenching last installment of the year, "He's Not Guilty, He's My Brother," finds Andy swearing off booze again and returning to his wife and newborn son, determined to cope with his loss and move on with his life. This helped Franz earn the second of his four Outstanding Lead Actor Emmys for his portrayal of the flawed detective. Season 3 also sees the introduction of Administrative Assistant John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup), who departs at year's end but returns later in the series. Also saying goodbye is Irvin's predecessor, Donna Abandando (Gail O'Grady), who leaves the 15th Precinct after her romance with detective Greg Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) goes south. On the brighter side, the romance between Bobby and Detective Diane Russell (Kim Delaney) heats up as the season progresses and she, too, deals with alcohol-abuse issues. The 22 hour-long shows collected in this set are among the very best this outstanding series had to offer; there isn't a weak one in the bunch.