Posted on Mon, Apr. 05, 2004

TV Gal has some ideas for `NYPD Blue’

BY AMY AMATANGELO

Zap2it.com

(KRT) - Look, no one is looking to hurt anyone here. But I want to reach out to "NYPD Blue." They’re gonna want to get in front of some of the problems the series is facing this season. So I’m on the job. With a silent, but meaningful nod of my head, here’s what I think:

The Hatcher storyline is excellent: Faced with the real-life pregnancy of Charlotte Ross, the series was smart to have her temporarily replaced by the sketchy Detective Stan Hatcher (perfectly played by Scott William Winters). There wasn’t much Connie could do from her desk (how many times could she be held hostage?), and Hatcher is exactly the kind of storyline tailor-made for the irreplaceable Dennis Franz.

Gibson is good as a temporary comic relief but not as a long-term strategy: I’ve laughed right along with the clueless Gibson, but I don’t want him in charge of the squad forever. Gimmicks like the talking bird will get old fast.

Let’s trade Jacqueline Obradors for Lana Parrilla: Nothing against Obradors (Detective Rita Ortiz). I think she’s a fine actress, but right now she’s bringing nothing to the series. She had no chemistry with Mark-Paul Gosselaar or Esai Morales (doesn’t that seem impossible?). Parrilla, who has had a recurring role as the cop who befriended John when she was dealing with her abusive ex-husband, has spark. I’ll be the first to admit I’m partial to Parrilla because of my loyalty to "Boomtown," but doesn’t John need a new girlfriend?

Take Greg’s love life. Please: I still don’t know what to think of Medavoy’s love scene. It seems so unfair that Greg’s little romantic liaison was treated humorously while practically everyone else on the series has had real relationships. Poor Medavoy hasn’t really had any romance since the days of Donna Abandando.

WHERE HAVE I SEEN THEM BEFORE?

Wilson Cruz was Jack Sosa, part of C.J.’s press staff on "The West Wing." Cruz, of course, was Rickie on "My So-Called Life" and Victor the nanny on "Party of Five." My question is how come we never saw any of C.J.’s staff before? Up until this point, didn’t you think C.J. and Carol were running the whole show?

Rocky Carroll, Carl Reese on "The Agency," Dr. Wilkes on "Chicago Hope" and Joey on "Roc," was the father of the child with sickle cell anemia on "ER."

TV Gal reader Kevin recognized that Arija Bareikis, star of "The American Embassy," is the new detective on "Crossing Jordan."

Among Frasier’s blind dates, did you catch Rachel Dratch of "Saturday Night Live" and Kirsten Nelson (the young Mrs. Landingham on "The West Wing" and the manager of Doublemeat Palace on "Buffy")?

Has anyone from "Spin City" not been on "Scrubs"? By my count we’ve had Richard Kind, Barry Bostwick, Alan Ruck, Heather Locklear and Michael J. Fox. Last week Alexander Chaplin (James on "Spin City") guest-starred as a patient desperately seeking pain medication.

Rodney Scott, Will on "Young Americans" and J.J.’s friend on "American Dreams," was Ryan the club-hopping party boy on "NYPD Blue."

Hill Harper was the emergency room doctor who treated Tony and Adriana on "The Sopranos." He starred in the short-lived series "City of Angels" and "The Court." Harper was also in the movie "The Skulls" and co-starred with ex-"Sopranos" wiseguy Joe Pantoliano on "The Handler" this season.

Kim Dickens is the madam for the rival brothel on "Deadwood." Last summer, we saw Dickens having an affair with Eric Stoltz in Showtime’s "Out of Order."

And how happy are we to find Bradley Cooper, Will on "Alias," on "Touching Evil" as the new FBI agent?

SETH COHEN QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"The Nana has never liked the Kirsten." Thanks to TV Gal reader Storm for the quote.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"Before language, people communicated through intricate choreography, costume changes and lighting." Jack to Karen about the art of dancing on "Will & Grace."

"It looks like you have a cat on your head." Simon to LaToya London about her hair extensions on "American Idol." Not the nicest comment, but it’s better than being told you look like Jay Leno.

"You popped your boardroom cherry." Kwame to Amy on "The Apprentice." Like TV Gal reader Jeff, I wonder how in the heck that line got past the network censors.

"This idiot was laughing the whole time." Donald Trump when he fired Jimmy Fallon in "The Apprentice" skit on "Saturday Night Live." I have to agree with Trump. I’ve officially decided that Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz are not allowed to be in a skit together ever again. Does their giggling amuse you?

"My brilliance now is becoming somewhat of a burden - get back to me." Dr. Cox praying on "Scrubs."

SAVE `ANGEL’

I’m still in denial about a television season without a Joss Whedon show. Thankfully, the folks over at Saving Angel (www.savingangel.org and www.savingangel.com) are still working hard to save the show (I have more than 700 e-mails to prove their devotion). Some fans are donating food for the cause - check out www.angelsfooddrive.com.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK AHEAD

All times listed are EDT for Wednesday through Sunday.

I have been assured by my sports-following friends that Jesse Palmer isn’t ruining his football career by appearing in the fifth season of "The Bachelor" (ABC, 9 p.m. Wednesday). Apparently the New York Giants backup quarterback didn’t have much of a career to begin with.

How awful a show is "The Swan" (premiering at 9 p.m. Wednesday on Fox)? This is a series that takes average-looking women, puts them through plastic surgery, and then makes them compete against each other. What’s the point? That even after all of that, they can still be judged as not pretty enough.

Scott Foley is back as Elliot’s boyfriend Sean on "Scrubs" (NBC, 9:30 p.m. Tuesday).

Practically everyone returns to "Will & Grace" (NBC, 8:30 p.m. Thursday) this week. Lesley Ann Warren is back as Will’s father’s girlfriend, Blythe Danner is back as Will’s mom, and Michael Angarano (whom we haven’t seen in forever) is back as Jack’s son. Now, how much longer can the show go on without having Will or Jack kiss their respective boyfriends? It is beyond ridiculous.

You know I love just about everything about "The Apprentice" (NBC, 9 p.m. Thursday), but I think my favorite part of last week’s episode was that Nick’s father’s name is "Moose."

Well I’m very glad Vaughn woke up and tried to end his marriage before he found out that Lauren was evil on "Alias" (ABC, 10 p.m. Sunday for this week only).

I think the last three episodes of "The Sopranos" (HBO, 9 p.m. Sunday) have been some of the best of the series, how about you? How do you think Tony is going to react when he finds out Carmela is dating A.J.’s guidance counselor? And now that Drea de Matteo has been cast in next season’s "Joey" (How you doin’, Drea?), will Adriana live to see next season?

TO THE TV GAL READER BELONG THE SPOILERS

You know the rules. Don’t read if you don’t want to know.

We all knew there was no way it could last. Madison and Ephram will break up on "Everwood," but Madison will continue to babysit Delia (yes, that’s a great plan). Amy will think about going off her medication for her depression.

Ashton Kutcher and Dr. Phil pay a visit to "The Bernie Mac Show" on Monday, April 12. Let’s hope that helps stem the ratings plunge the series has taken since moving to Monday night. Looks like Kutcher will punk Uncle Bernie.

Cue the theme music. Christopher Reeve is back on "Smallville" when the show finally returns to new episodes April 14. Lionel will question Dr. Swann, and we’ll learn why the elder Luthor cares so darn much about Clark.

Donna’s father asks Jackie’s mom to move in with him on "That ’70s Show." Seth Green returns to reprise his role of Mitch. Too bad he didn’t guest star when Alyson Hannigan was on.

After Vaughn learns that Lauren is so not who he thinks she is, he has to continue as if everything is hunky-dory on "Alias." He’ll learn the truth about Lauren’s mother (one wonders - is she Irina’s other sister?) David Carradine returns as the Monk, who will reveal more secrets of the Rambaldi documents. (That is, if Uma Thurman doesn’t show up and try to kill him.) Sloane will await his execution.

As promised, Christian Kane returns on the April 14 episode of "Angel." Adam Baldwin, Jayne on "Firefly," begins his role as a man sent by the senior partners at Wolfram & Hart to find Eve.

As "The Practice" winds down its run, Jimmy will leave the firm to form his own practice.

Rory and Paris go to Florida for spring break on "Gilmore Girls." But you know our Rory - she’s not exactly the spring break type. Although once she and Paris meet up with Madeline and Louise, they do manage to get a little tipsy and make a drunken call to Dean. Since up until her freshman year in college, every boy Rory met fell in love with her, it’s great that she’s been single this year (and even rejected). I’m not sure exactly what the writers are up to with this whole Dean situation, but I like it. Also, Jason gives Lorelai the key to his apartment and in the process the key to his heart. Luke thinks that Nicole is cheating on him.

Luke gets into a car accident on "The O.C." But they can’t kill him off since the show is already underpopulated. Caleb proposes to Julie, and Jimmy neglects to get the liquor license for The Lighthouse.

You know one of my major gripes with "One Tree Hill" is that the kids bed-hop like they are on "Melrose Place." (I know, I know, the same could be said for "The O.C.," but you don’t hear any teen on "The O.C." lamenting that her Brazilian wax is going to waste.) Suffice to say that there will be consequences to this behavior on "One Tree Hill." Look for Keith to make a big move on Karen when he sees her on a date with Peyton’s dad.

Tamyra Gray guest stars on "Tru Calling" as an actress who visits the morgue to research a role. Jack (Jason Priestley) becomes friends with Tru’s brother Harrison.

We all know Jennifer Lopez will guest star on the season finale of "Will & Grace" (April 29, to make room for the brouhaha surrounding the finales of "Frasier" and "Friends"). J. Lo will play herself and sing at the wedding of Karen and Lyle in Vegas. Leo (Harry Connick Jr.) and Lyle’s brother (Tim Curry) will also be there. But Grace will miss the festivities since Debra Messing was ordered on bed rest for the duration of her pregnancy.

That’s all for today. I’ll be back next Monday with thoughts on the series finale of "The Apprentice" (I’m so rooting for Nick) and much, much more.