'NYPD Blue' — Copping a New Attitude

Though details about his new character — a street-smart, Brooklyn-born detective named Bobby Simone — were sketchy, Smits had enough confidence in Bochco to return to series TV (his first episode airs Nov. 15). "In the years since I've been off Law, there have been a lot of series opportunities, but none seemed right," says Smits. "I said when I left Law that I wanted to do other things, and I got to do that. I did theater, movies for cable, a feature (the Blake Edwards flop Switch). And this just seemed right in terms of people that I trust and, basically, the words."

After returning Stateside, the actor got a crash course in cop-dom by trailing NYPD consulting producer Bill Clark on his job as a Queens homicide detective. Smits reported to NYPD's L.A. set the morning after Caruso's kiss-off. "It was like a new kid coming from out of town on the first day of school," says Gail O'Grady (secretary Donna Abandando). "I'm sure he felt nervous. We were all a little nervous. But it's been nice."

The butterflies passed, and cast and crew now praise Smits. "David wanted things done his way. Jimmy is very giving," says James McDaniel (Lieut. Arthur Fancy). "Now we can play in the sandbox instead of defending ourselves."

The reception of Simone in the squad room won't be as smooth. "Sipowicz has lost much more than just a partner in Kelly," says Franz. "This is like losing his son — or his wife, if you will. They can replace him with Jesus Christ himself, and it's still not Kelly. In time they'll develop a tight bond, but there's gonna be some trial and error before that is cemented."

Don't expect Simone to start any romances right away, either. Although Smits has no qualms about doing NYPD's seminude scenes, he says, "I'm more concerned about establishing him as a good cop. It parallels what happened to me with Law. It was really important for me to establish [my character] for the first couple of years as a kick-ass attorney" before getting involved in sexual subplots.

Besides, there's plenty of heat being generated by Sipowicz and Sharon Lawrence's assistant DA Sylvia Costas ("We'll continue through this awkward, romantic, treacherous, humorous, very real relationship," Lawrence promises), as well as by Medavoy and Abandando (although Clapp says, "Medavoy is concerned that a new hunk is coming into the squad room").

Smits may also have to wait in line behind Nicholas Turturro, whose rookie Det. James Martinez has yet to get lucky on the show. "I wouldn't mind being a little affectionate," Turturro confesses. "Everybody's wondering when they're going to give me somebody."

For his part, Smits says he's not concerned about competing for heartthrob status. "Dennis Franz is a sex symbol, as you shall all see this season," he teases. "But I don't buy into any of that s---. I try not to."

"This place is disgusting," says one of five real-life NYPD cops who've stopped by NYPD's set in Tompkins Square Park two mornings later. "There's dog s--- everywhere. It's like a f---ing sewer."

As it turns out, the minefield of canine feces is the least of NYPD's problems this day. Guest star Enrico Colantoni slips and hurts his leg while jumping over a park bench in a chase scene with Franz and Smits; he's taken away in an ambulance, and the scene can't be completed until the next day. The production switches to filming a scene with Turturro on the steps of a town house — and then it starts to rain. "I don't know what else could go wrong," cop-producer Clark says to writer-producer Gardner Stern. "Maybe the building could collapse."

Aside from NYPD's own unit, there's a crush of other camera crews on the set. Joy Philbin whisks Franz off to a tavern to gab with him for her show, Haven. He returns in time to do a live satellite interview for Entertainment Tonight, in which John Tesh visibly offends Smits by asking him whether he ever feels "the ghost of David Caruso" is haunting the set. Afterward, Smits blows off reporters from ABC's New York and Philadelphia affiliates, marching away and leaving Franz behind to play good cop (he even pipes in on a promo: "We'll take you behind the scenes of NYPD Blue — tonight on Action News!").

Franz takes it all in stride. After working with Caruso, partnering with Smits must seem like a walk in the park.

(Additional reporting by Dan Snierson)