Posted in: ABC, Trailer, TV | Tagged: 24: legacy, ABC, action, Alona Tal, Ashley Thomas, bleeding cool, cable, drama, Fabien Frankel, nyc, nypd blue, pilot, police, Rick Gomez, streaming, television, the crossing, tv
NYPD Blue: Ashley Thomas, Rick Gomez Join ABC's Revival Series Pilot
Now that ABC has found its next generation of Sipowicz in Fabien Frankel (Last Christmas), its rounding out the squad of their NYPD Blue pilot with the casting of 24: Legacy's Ashley Thomas and Rick Gomez (The Crossing). The proposed revival centers on Theo Sipowicz (Frankel) – son of original series' Detective Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) – who works to earn his detective shield while investigating his father's murder. Theo seems to have taken after his father as he too is a hard-drinking, hard-headed, and quick-witted cop.
The series' setting will still be the 15th precinct, with Theo leading a group of officers/detectives that includes Detective Craig Pettibone (Gomez), Detective Chris Gamble (Thomas), Detective Nicole Lazarus (Alona Tal). So far, two cast members from the original series are set to reprise their roles: Kim Delaney (Diane Russell) and Bill Brochtrup (John Irvin).
Gomez's Pettibone is studying law at night with the goal of passing the bar one day. Although he hasn't passed it yet, he's aggressive enough to be already drumming up clients by passing out his business card. Thomas' Gamble is another detective on the team.
Fans of the original NYPD Blue will remember that Sharon 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."):
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 Bochco – will direct the pilot; with Bochco's widow Dayna Bochco serving 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.