Editing Cop Rock (section)

=== Casting ===
Over 200 people auditioned for ''Cop Rock''; [[Peter Onorati]], who portrays Detective Vincent LaRusso, was introduced to the series by his wife after she talked with [[Howard McGillin]], who had also auditioned. Jokingly stating that he had experience singing at weddings, Onorati's agent, Kay Liberman, set up an audition, where Onorati performed [[Fats Domino]]'s "[[Blue Monday (1954 song)|Blue Monday]]".<ref name="CopRockHistory" />

One of the only actors with singing experience, [[Teri Austin]] graduated with a [[Bachelor of Fine Arts]] and performed "Lover Man" and "[[Breaking Up Is Hard to Do]]" at her audition. [[Kathleen Wilhoite]], who portrays Patricia Spence, had a [[record deal]] at the time, and decided to audition with "[[Easy to Be Hard]]", finding her casting as a "good gig for me, because singing is kind of my thing".<ref name="CopRockHistory" /> McDaniel, on the other hand, turned down an offer to join the series but changed his mind after finding out it was created by Bochco, who he had worked with on the last season of ''Hill Street Blues''.<ref name="CopRockHistory" />

Mick Murray was searching for an acting job in [[New York (state)|New York]] and was going through multiple pilots from ABC before hearing about ''Cop Rock'' and Bochco's involvement. At his audition, the [[casting director]] was Alexa Fogel, who was not of fan of his following a failed audition for the film ''[[Young Guns (film)|Young Guns]]''. As a result, Murray decided to perform [[a cappella]] by [[Terence Trent D'Arby]], which Fogel responded to with "the warmest smile". At night, Murray received a phone call from his agent and was told that the production crew had expanded a small role for him so he could join as a series regular.<ref name="CopRockHistory" />

Larry Joshua brought his own guitar to his audition and performed "When She Wants Good Lovin'" and "[[Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye]]". During this time, David Gianopoulos heard about the series after running into Joshua near [[42nd Street (Manhattan)|42nd Street]]. Revealing to his agent that he had been secretly singing in several bands for over six years, Gianopoulos auditioned with [[Ben E. King]]'s "[[Stand by Me (Ben E. King song)|Stand by Me]]" at [[Lincoln Center]], where several other cast members also had their auditions. Originally, Gianopoulos had auditioned for the role of LaRusso before being told by Bochco to audition for the role of Officer Andy Campo. The following day, he performed [[Bruce Springsteen]]'s "[[Hungry Heart]]" and received the part.<ref name="CopRockHistory" />

[[Ronny Cox]] was told by pilot director [[Gregory Hoblit]] that he would get the role of Chief Roger Kendrick whether or not he could sing. Broadway performer [[Anne Bobby]], however, had to audition, doing so on a Saturday where she said she saw her friend [[Jane Krakowski]]. Furthermore, [[Paul McCrane]] was told by Hoblit and Bochco that they did not have a part for him at the moment and reassured him that they would write a new character once the show entered production; McCrane was later cast as Detective Bob McIntire.<ref name="CopRockHistory" />

Several cast and guest stars had previously appeared on ''Hill Street Blues'', including Bochco's wife [[Barbara Bosson]] (Fay Furillo on ''Blues'', Mayor Plank on ''Cop Rock''). ''Hill Street'' cast member [[Charles Haid]] was a producer and directed one episode. The seventh episode "Cop-a-Feeliac" opens with a roll call scene and musical number "Let's Be Careful Out There," based on the ''Hill Street Blues'' catchphrase. At the end of the scene, [[James B. Sikking]] makes a cameo appearance, uncredited and without dialogue, as his ''Hill Street Blues'' character Howard Hunter.