Editing NYPD Blue (section)

==Controversy==

The series included more nudity and raw language than was common on broadcast television, which resulted in at least 30 of the network's affiliates—mostly in smaller markets—not running the series when it debuted, with the show airing in many of those markets on a [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate or [[Independent station (North America)|independent station]] live or delayed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Braxton |first1=Greg |title=NYPD Blue': Debate Goes to the Viewers : Television: At least 30 stations preempt tonight's premiere, citing nudity, language. ABC says commercials are sold out. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-09-21-ca-37604-story.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=21 September 1993}}</ref> 29 of the affiliates eventually had the show's ratings overrule their moral objections and began to air it by the time the third season started. [[WLOX]] in [[Biloxi, Mississippi]], was the only ABC affiliate that never aired any episodes of the series, choosing to pre-empt it with double-run syndicated sitcoms and leaving Fox affiliate [[WXXV-TV]] to run it, instead.

In 2005, [[L. Brent Bozell III]] told ''[[Time magazine|TIME]]'' that the nudity on the series influenced him to establish the [[Parents Television Council]], for which he served as president from 1995 to 2006.<ref name="decency police">{{cite magazine | last=Poniewozik | first=James | title=The Decency Police | magazine=Time | date=March 20, 2005 | url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1039672,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824064734/http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1039672,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 24, 2013 | access-date=2008-01-20 }}</ref> The PTC has directly criticized several episodes of the show for perceived vulgarity<ref>{{cite web | last=Bowling | first=Aubree | title=Worst: NYPD Blue | url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/bw/2003/0302.asp | publisher=[[Parents Television Council]] | date=March 2, 2003 | access-date=2008-01-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051016190849/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/bw/2003/0302.asp | archive-date=October 16, 2005}} Episode cited: "[[NYPD Blue (Season 10)#Nude Awakening|Nude Awakening]]"</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Monaco | first=Carl | title="NYPD Blue" – Worst Family TV Show of the Week | publisher=[[Parents Television Council]] | date=November 19, 2003 | url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/bw/2003/1119worst.asp | access-date=2008-01-20 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050914101029/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/bw/2003/1119worst.asp | archive-date=September 14, 2005}} This review regarded the episode "[[NYPD Blue Episodes (Season 11)#It's To Die For|It's to Die For]]".</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Sizemore | first=Frazier | title="NYPD Blue" – Worst Family TV Show of the Week | publisher=[[Parents Television Council]] | date=March 6, 2004 | url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/bw/2004/0306worst.asp | access-date=2008-01-20 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050829043937/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/bw/2004/0306worst.asp | archive-date=August 29, 2005}} Episode cited: "[[NYPD Blue (Season 11)#Chatty Chatty Bang Bang|Chatty Chatty Bang Bang]]</ref> and filed complaints with the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) over the use of obscene language in several episodes aired in early 2003, at the last half of the 10th season of the show,<ref>{{cite press release | title=PTC Calls on FCC to Rescind Rulings | publisher=[[Parents Television Council]] | date=November 8, 2006 | url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/release/2006/1108.asp | access-date=2008-01-22}}</ref> associating the series with a perceived increase in profanity<ref>{{cite web| title=The Blue Tube: Foul Language on Prime Time Network TV | publisher=Parents Television Council | date=September 15, 2003 | url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/stateindustrylanguage/stateoftheindustry-language.pdf | access-date=2008-01-22}}</ref> and violence<ref>{{cite journal | title=TV Bloodbath: Violence on Prime Time Broadcast TV | publisher=Parents Television Council | date=December 10, 2003 | url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/stateindustryviolence/ReportOnViolence.pdf | access-date=2008-01-30}}</ref> on prime-time television from the late 1990s to early 2000s. The FCC ruled that the language in the episodes was indecent, but decided not to fine ABC, because the episodes aired before a 2004 ruling that obscenities would lead to an automatic fine.<ref>{{cite news | title=Did FCC rush to judgment on 'NYPD Blue'? | work=Today.com | publisher=[[Associated Press]] | date=August 29, 2006 | url=https://www.today.com/popculture/did-fcc-rush-judgment-nypd-blue-wbna14575963 | access-date=2008-01-20}}</ref> However, on January 25, 2008, the FCC fined ABC $1.4 million for the episode "[[NYPD Blue Episodes (Season 10)#Nude Awakening|Nude Awakening]]" (airdate February 25, 2003), due to scenes of "adult sexual nudity".<ref>{{cite web | last=Eggerton | first=John | title=FCC Proposes $1.4M Fine Against ABC Stations for NYPD Blue | work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] | date=January 25, 2008 | url= http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6525921.html?rssid=193 | access-date=2008-01-25}}</ref> The fine was ultimately rejected by the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit]] on January 6, 2011.<ref>{{cite web  | last=Shen | first=Max | title=Court ruling opens the door to more nudity | work=[[New York Post]] | date=January 7, 2011 | url=http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/bottoms_up_TVD8XC31Te6v2kQTNAWc0J#ixzz1AM2dCtnY | access-date=2011-01-10 }}</ref>

According to ''NYPD Blue: A Final Tribute'', a [[retrospective]] broadcast that aired the same night as the last episode, the controversy was not limited to what was on the screen.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://digitalpriest.com/legacy/viewpoint/blue.html |title=Why I'm Giving Up on NYPD Blue |last=Priest |first=Christopher |date=July 5, 2003 |website=View from the 27th Floor |publisher=Digital Priest.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Why I'm Giving Up on NYPD Blue"}}}}</ref> [[David Milch]], the show's co-creator and head writer, was a controversial figure on the set during the seven years he was with the show.{{sfn|"Why I'm Giving Up on NYPD Blue"}} His working style and tendency to procrastinate or make last-minute, on-set changes contributed to a frustrating working environment for some of the cast and crew.{{sfn|"Why I'm Giving Up on NYPD Blue"}} Smits left the show when his contract ended because of it,{{sfn|"Why I'm Giving Up on NYPD Blue"}} as did Andrea Thompson.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~sepinwal/faq.html#Thompson |title=Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about NYPD Blue: Why did Andrea Thompson leave the show? |last=Sepinwall |first=Alan |date=February 21, 2006 |website=NYPD Blue Online |publisher=Alan Sepinwall}}</ref> Milch cites his own alcoholism and other addictions as factors contributing to the difficult environment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/david-milch/contributor/37036/bio |title=David Milch|work=Yahoo! TV}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=March 25, 2004 |title=Fresh Air: TV Producer and Writer David Milch |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1791703 |work=NPR |location=Washington, DC |ref={{sfnRef|"TV Producer and Writer David Milch"}}}}</ref> His personal problems and "exhaustion" over the lengthy production of the episodes caused him to leave the series after the seventh season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Weinraub|first=Bernard|title=TELEVISION/RADIO; The Demons That Have Driven 'N.Y.P.D. Blue'|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 18, 2000|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/18/arts/television-radio-the-demons-that-have-driven-nypd-blue.html|access-date=April 1, 2022}}</ref> In spite of the controversy, Milch is usually credited as a major creative force during the years he worked on the show;{{sfn|"Why I'm Giving Up on NYPD Blue"}} he won two [[Emmy Award]]s for his writing,{{sfn|"TV Producer and Writer David Milch"}} shared another as executive producer, and shared in a further 10 nominations for his writing and production.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/nypd-blue |title=Awards and Nominations: NYPD Blue |website=Emmys.com |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=June 7, 2018 }}</ref>