History YMMV / NYPDBlue

** [=PAA=]s Donna (Creator/GailOGray) and John (Bill Brochtrup) were both originally signed for only a handful of episodes. Both were so popular with viewers that they were eventually made members of the regular cast (though for Brochtrup, it took several seasons as an infrequently recurring character before that).

* {{Fanon}}: Although it isn't explicitly depicted, fans like to think that Kelly and Janice did end up together after he had to leave the police force and once she got out of jail.

** ''NYPD Blue'' was also a major victim of EditedForSyndication, as reruns on TNT, Court TV and other cable networks ''heavily'' cut down the adult material. For many years these edited episodes were the only versions of ''Blue'' readily available, disillusioning older fans (enough that DVD releases were cancelled after the first four seasons due to low sales) and leaving a lot of first-time viewers wondering what the fuss had been about. In recent years, [[PopularityPolynomial this has shifted]] as the uncensored episodes are now widely available on video and streaming services, and the show's reputation has recovered.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: When it premièred the show was ground-breaking not only for its gritty depictions of police work but also for the fact that it was willing to push the envelope with the stuff that could be shown on network television, making full use of a FCC clause that claims networks can show whatever they want after 11pm. The show earned the ire of conservative parent groups for its depictions of swearing, violence, sex and nudity (although why Parent groups would target something obviously not intended for children defies all logic). Whilst network television has (at least with regards to sex, nudity and profanity) never been as daring (Blue gained ABC some heavy FCC fines), all of the stuff it was known for can be seen almost ubiquitously on cable television.

** While there is a VocalMinority that thinks the show was never as good as it was in the first season with David Caruso as the star, it's usually agreed that the show lost its luster somewhere between the departure of Creator/JimmySmits in season 6 and season 8, by the end of which the entire original cast (as well as the popular Kim Delaney) save Creator/DennisFranz had left the show and Sipowicz had entered into a ludicrous UglyGuyHotWife relationship with Connie (Creator/CharlotteRoss). There's some other opinions floating around but there's very few fans that think all 12 seasons of the show are worth seeking out and watching.

* TearJerker: Simone's [[ADeathInTheLimelight Death Episode]] (though Andy Jr. and Sylvia's deaths hit hard as well).

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Andy Jr. being killed for the sake of a RoaringRampageOfRevenge episode can feel this way. Making it worse is the show runners admission that they'd been trying to find a way to kill him off for years, since before he made such an emotional impact with the fanbase.

** While there is a VocalMinority that thinks the show was never as good as it was in the first season with David Caruso as the star, it's usually agreed that the show lost its luster somewhere between the departure of Creator/JimmySmits in season 6 and season 8, by the end of which the entire original cast (as well as the popular Kim Delaney) save Creator/DennisFranz had left the show and Sipowicz had entered into a ludicrous UglyGuyHotWife relationship with Connie (Charlotte Ross). There's some other opinions floating around but there's very few fans that think all 12 seasons of the show are worth seeking out and watching.

*

** [[Creator/DavidSchwimmer Ross]] [[Series/{{Friends}} Gellar]] appeared in the first few episodes as John and Laura Kelly's divorce lawyer.
** Laura herself was played by [[Series/{{ER}} Dr. Susan Lewis]]
** You see [[{{Series/TheBigBangTheory}} Howard's mother]] in a season one guest role.
** [[{{Series/TheWestWing}} Josh Lyman and Toby Ziegler]] appeared in early season episodes.
** Lt. Fancy's younger brother was Film/BlackDynamite.
** Donna's sister was [[Series/WillAndGrace Grace]].
** [[Series/{{Castle}} Captain Montgomery]] used to be a homeless guy named Otis.
** Creator/{{Anthony|Head}} [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Stewart Head]] was a [[ShakespearianActors pompous theater actor]].
** [[Series/OrangeIsTheNewBlack Michael Harney]] played Mike Roberts throughout the first five seasons.
** [[Series/{{Arrow}} Felicity Smoak’s]] mother was a major part of the series.

** The "Lost Israel" 2-parter. '''All of it.'''

* TearJerker: Simone's [[ADeathInTheLimelight Death Episode]] (though Andy Jr. and Sylvia's deaths hit hard as well).

** While there is a VocalMinority that thinks the show was never as good as it was in the first season with David Caruso as the star, it's usually agreed that the show lost its luster somewhere between the departure of Creator/JimmySmits in season 6 and season 8, by the end of which the entire original cast (as well as the popular Kim Delaney) save Dennis Franz had left the show and Sipowicz had entered into a ludicrous UglyGuyHotWife relationship with Connie (Charlotte Ross). There's some other opinions floating around but there's very few fans that think all 12 seasons of the show are worth seeking out and watching.

** [[{{Series/Friends}} Ross Gellar]] appeared in the first few episodes as John and Laura Kelly's divorce lawyer.

** [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Anthony Stewart Head]] was a [[ShakespearianActors pompous theater actor]].

** While there is a VocalMinority that thinks the show was never as good as it was in the first season with David Caruso as the star, it's usually agreed that the show lost its luster somewhere between the departure of Jimmy Smits in season 6 and season 8, by the end of which the entire original cast (as well as the popular Kim Delaney) save Dennis Franz had left the show and Sipowicz had entered into a ludicrous UglyGuyHotWife relationship with Connie (Charlotte Ross). There's some other opinions floating around but there's very few fans that think all 12 seasons of the show are worth seeking out and watching.

* TearJerker: Simone's [[ADeathInTheLimelight Death Episode]] (though Andy Jr. and Sylvia's deaths hit hard as well)

* EnsembleDarkhorse:
** Also Gordon Clapp as Medavoy who went from a recurring character to being an important character who ended up being the only cast member to stay all twelve seasons besides Dennis Franz.

** Sipowicz became the focus character after Caruso left.

* DeaderThanDisco:
** When the series premiered it broke new ground in the cop drama genre, was critically acclaimed for its acting and was hugely controversial for its swearing and nudity. Now it's barely even remembered as just another cop procedural. Interest waned so much that after the fourth season's DVD release in 2006 no further seasons were released for a long time. Currently (2017) the whole series is available on DVD, however.
** The show's disappearance from American cable and broadcast syndication didn't help matters. Still, David Milch's continued attempts at high concept HBO dramas could help renew interest, especially now that the whole series (including the last 4 seasons in HD) is on Amazon Prime Instant Streaming and can be seen regularly on DirecTV's Audience Network. It's one of their few notable titles not available on competitor Netflix Watch Instantly.
** The SeasonalRot described below is probably also a contributing factor in the show fading from public consciousness: general opinion seem to be that the last four or five seasons simply weren't as good or interesting as the first seven or eight.

** When the series premiered it broke new ground in the cop drama genre, was critically acclaimed for its acting and was hugely controversial for its swearing and nudity. Now it's barely even remembered as just another cop procedural. Interest waned so much that after the fourth season's DVD release in 2006 no further seasons were released for a long time. Currently (2014) the whole series is available on DVD, however.

** While there is a VocalMinority that thinks the show was never as good as it was in the first season with David Caruso as the star, it's usually agreed that the show lost its luster somewhere between the departure of Jimmy Smitts in season 6 and season 8, by the end of which the entire original cast (as well as the popular Kim Delaney) save Denis Franz had left the show and Sipowicz had entered into a ludicrous UglyGuyHotWife relationship with Connie (Charlotte Ross). There's some other opinions floating around but there's very few fans that think all 12 seasons of the show are worth seeking out and watching.
** Regardless of what you think of the quality of the later seasons, the show did lose some very colourful characters (and good actors), and its tone did change a lot, going from edgy and avant-garde to being one CrimeTimeSoap among many. [[FollowTheLeader How much of this is actually the show's own fault with respect to the latter point is debatable.]]

** The last few seasons (10 and later) also seem increasingly disconnected, with the writers throwing random problems at the characters, and then resolving them in one or two episodes, without this leading to furhter character or plot development.

* RetroactiveRecognition: [[{{Series/Friends}} Ross Gellar]] appeared in the first few episodes as John and Laura Kelly's divorce lawyer.

** [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Giles]] was a [[ShakespearianActors pompous theater actor]].

** While there is a VocalMinority that thinks the show was never as good as it was in the first season with David Caruso as the star its usually agreed that the show lost its luster somewhere between the departure of Jimmy Smitts in season 6 and the season 8, by the end of which the entire original cast (as well as the popular Kim Delaney) save Denis Franz had left the show and Sipowicz had entered into a ludicrous UglyGuyHotWife relationship with Connie (Charlotte Ross). There's some other opinions floating around but there's very few fans that think all 12 seasons of the show are worth seeking out and watching.

** The show's disappearance from American cable and broadcast syndication didn't help matters. Still, David Milch's continued attempts at high concept HBO dramas could help renew interest, especially now that the whole series (including the last 4 seasons in HD) is on Amazon Prime Instant Streaming. It's one of their few notable titles not available on competitor Netflix Watch Instantly.

** In a case of HeyItsThatVoice, you see [[{{Series/TheBigBangTheory}} Howard's mother]] in a season one guest role.