Product Description

Various

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22816 in DVD
• Brand: Twentieth Century Fox
• Released on: 2003-08-19
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Box set, NTSC
• Original language: English, Spanish
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Dubbed in: French
• Number of discs: 6
• Running time: 1078 minutes

Amazon.com
Originally broadcast in 1994, the second season of NYPD Blue was disrupted by the departure of star David Caruso (Detective John Kelly) after just four episodes, under apparently less than amicable circumstances. He was ably replaced as Detective Sipowicz's partner by Jimmy Smits as the smoother Detective Bobby Simone, and the series managed not to miss a beat.

More streamlined and downbeat than its predecessor, Hill Street Blues (also created by Steven Bochco), NYPD Blue continued second time around to mix near-the-knuckle detective work to foil New York's scummiest with more character- and relationship-based drama. Although it's regrettable that its ethnic minority characters, such as Lieutenant Fancy, are increasingly marginalized here, the series is more comfortable--and even has fun--with regular characters such as the nervy Detective Medavoy and his on-off paramour Donna Abandando. Andy Sipowicz's simmering, tough-nosed recovering alcoholic is increasingly and amusingly put to the test in a number of situations, including: a murder investigation in a gay bar; being sung to at his own wedding by Nic Turturro's Detective Martinez; and a love scene in the shower in which we experience the dubious pleasure of seeing his bare rear.

New female introductions, such as the strong but sympathetic Detective Lesniak, also helped to shake up the series with a much-needed estrogen boost. There's also fun to be had in spotting a number of guest appearances by up-and-coming actors destined to make it in their own right such as Richard Schiff and Bradley Whitford (The West Wing) and Debra Messing (Will & Grace).

The DVD set contains a number of extras, primarily a one-hour documentary in which the cast and crew discuss the series episode by episode, the self-congratulatory mood broken only by some subtle digs at departing star David Caruso (apparently, he walked straight off the set following his final take into a waiting limo without any farewells). There's also a small piece paying tribute to the music of theme-writer Mike Post and an item covering the relationship between Sipowicz and Assistant DA Sylvia Costas, in whose marriage this series culminates. --David Stubbs

Customer Reviews

NYPD Blue RIP
Recalling the depature of David Caruso, it seemed at the time that NYPD Blue was a lost cause. But just when things looked bleak, along comes Jimmy Smits to put his stamp on the show and help take NYPD Blue to a whole new level.

The turnover is handled superbly (and explained on the commentary for the episode "Simone Says" by David Milch) with Bobby Simone crossing out Kelly's name on the locker and writing in his own while the always excellent Dennis Franz (Andy) complains to the Lieutenant that this just can't possibly work out after one "how ya doin'?"

The entire set is great with the last episodes of John Kelly leading off the season. The set is packaged well and includes a few extras and insightful commentaries.

Why NYPD Blue RIP at the top? Because the idiots at Fox did not make enough money on the release of seasons one and two and appear in no hurry (and probably unlikely) to release any other seasons! Disappointing to say the least. There should be someone to complain to.

Transitional "Blue"
"NYPD Blue" never fully recovered from the abrupt exit of David Caruso in Season Two (1994-95). Despite his solid performance as Bobby Simone, it was impossible for Jimmy Smits to fill the void created by Caruso's departure. Nevertheless, Dennis Franz's complex portrayal of Andy Sipowicz remained integral to the series - thanks to the guiding hand of creators Steven Bochco and David Milch. The six-DVD set is worth having for the final Caruso episodes and the evolving chemistry between Franz and Smits. However, the dramatic uniqueness of "NYPD Blue" was dead and gone after Detective John Kelly left the 15th Precinct.

NYPD Blue Season 3
I found this on "tvshowsondvd.com", dated 7/01/2004:

They often say, "No news is good news," but that's not the case when it comes to DVDs. If a studio has been releasing a show on DVD and then you don't hear anything about a subsequent season, the assumption is that the sets were selling poorly and no further sets are planned. When Fox removed the January 13th listing for season 3 from their consumer site, things were looking grim for the series. We all assumed the worst: that Season 3 wouldn't be released.

Earlier today we got some good news from Fox; they plan on releasing the set, they're just looking for a good time to do so. With the TV-on-DVD schedule becoming crowded, Fox wants to find a release date where the title will get good exposure and sell enough copies so they can continue releasing the series. We don't know when that'll be, but we wanted to bring NYPD Blue fans some good news, since our previous news was rather depressing.