Mark-Paul Gosselaar is looking for the chance to bringNYPD Blueback. Created in 1993, the police procedural enjoyed a long and comfortable run through the ’90s and early 2000s. It was an instant success, earning over a dozen Primetime Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. It ran until 2005, when it was brought to an end after facing several seasons of falling ratings. The show has since been replaced by other procedurals, largely led byTV producer Dick Wolf.
Two decades after its ending, Mark-Paul Gosselaar (John Clark Jr.) is still dreaming of a revival. In an interview withTV Insider, Gosselaar explained that there have been attempts to revive the show, and thathe would join on “in a heartbeat”. He did admit that Wolf has been dominating the procedural market, making a return difficult, but he still hopes to see it eventually come to pass. Check out his quote below:
In a heartbeat,I would do a revival.I think they’ve tried to get it off the ground. I think Dick Wolf has got that sort of genre very locked up and rightfully so… I loved my tenure on that. It was like going to class every day, working with Dennis Franz. He was just a master at what he did and such a pleasure to work with him. And yeah, it wasa great, great experience in my life.
What Gosselaar’s Comments Mean For NYPD Blue
A Revival Is Unlikely
Gosselaar was never the most prominent face in theNYPD Bluefranchise. He only joined the show in season 9, after it had already reached its zenith. By the time he was introduced,Jimmy Smits had leftyears prior. In all facets, the show was beginning its slow decline. In the years since its ending, many of the other cast members have sinceaged out of their roles, including the now-retired Dennis Franz (Andy Sipowicz). A revival simply could not feature many members of the original cast, making it a difficult prospect.
NYPD Bluewas an extremely controversial show at the time, due to its willingness to depict nudity.
Still, a follow-up is always a possibility. The last episodes of the show introduced an all-new cast of officers, who could easily lead a successor.A sequel was announced in 2018and several castings were also made public.Fabien Frankel (House of the Dragon), Alona Tal (Supernatural), and other major stars joined the show. They even filmed a pilot. By 2020, however, the production was entirely scrapped and producers returned to the drawing board. Even if Gosselaar wants to see more, that near-return amounted to little.
Our Take On NYPD Blue’s Potential Return
It Is The Age Of The Revival
NYPD Bluewas certainly successful when it ran, but procedurals have only grown stronger in the years since.Blue Bloodsended and was immediately revived in the form ofits spin-off,Boston Blue. Beverly Hills, 90210,Criminal Minds,Dexter,CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,Night Court,Law & Order, and countless other shows have returned within the past few years. Some have been revived as sequels, others through reboots, and others as spin-offs, but each brings back what made the shows great.NYPD Bluehas maintained a cult following since its ending, and it could easily reignite interest.
NYPD Blue
Cast
NYPD Blue is a police drama series set in New York City, focusing on the internal and external challenges faced by the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan. Featuring an ensemble cast, the series intertwines multiple storylines and explores complex character dynamics within law enforcement.
