Posted in: ABC, Trailer, TV | Tagged: action, Alona Tal, Andy Sipowicz, bleeding cool, cable, crime drama, Dennis Franz, drama, Hand Of God, New York City, nyc, NYPD, nypd blue, pilot, police, Seal Team, Steven Bocho, streaming, television, thriller, tv

NYPD Blue: Alona Tal Joins ABC Revival Series as 15th Precinct Detective

Alona Tal (SEAL Team, Hand of God) is getting a transfer to ABC's 15th Precinct, with the actress set to join the network's revival pilot for NYPD Blue. Tal will play Detective Nicole Lazarus, one of the detectives working out of the famed precinct. Nicole has a tangled personal life: as her soon-to-be-ex-husband divorces her and tries getting a percentage of her pension, she's trying to ease the pain with a no-strings affair.

As a sign of how confident ABC is in an NYPD Blue revival, they're willing to kill off one of television's most memorable crime drama leads. When news surfaced that the network ordered a pilot for an updated, modern version of the award-winning crime drama, it was also reported that the focus would be on Theo Sipowicz, son of famed series homicide detective Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) and attorney Sylvia Costas-Sipowicz (Sharon Lawrence).

So what about that killing mentioned earlier? Here's the storyline twist reported by TV Line that would directly connect the revival to the original series: this modern take focuses on Theo Sipowicz as he attempts to earn his detective shield and work at the 15th squad – while investigating his father's murder (conflict of interest?). Theo has taken after his father in some all too familiar ways: hard-drinking, hard-headed, and a little too quick-witted. Fans of the original NYPD Blue will remember that Lawrence's Sylvia was gunned down at the end of the sixth season (with her heartbreaking final words to Sipowicz:  "Take care of the baby."

While the revivial will leave itself open to appearances from past cast members, one prominant cast member won't be returning to the precinct if the pilot receives a series order:

"I did receive a call, and I'm flattered bot nor 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

Matt Olmstead and Nick Wootton are championing the project, with both having worked on the original NYPD Blue. Jesse Bochco – son of late series co-creator Steven Bocho – will direct the pilot; with Bochco's widow Dayna Bochcoserving as producer. During its 1993 to 2005 run, the original ABC series was nominated for 84 Emmy Awards, walking away with the award for Outstanding Drama Series in 1995.

Deadline Hollywood

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