BY JOHN KIESEWETTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
PASADENA, Calif. -- If Detective Andy Sipowicz was in the room, we'd all know much more about how actor Rick Schroder replaces Jimmy Smits on NYPD Blue in October.
But it was only actor Dennis Franz, who plays the smoldering Sipowicz on TV. So reporters attending an ABC press conference on the Summer Press Tour learned a lot about Mr. Schroder, but little about his new character on the Emmy-winning police drama.
For instance, his name. Creators Steven Bochco and David Milch refused to reveal Mr. Schroder's character name.
All we know is the 28-year-old former Silver Spoons kid plays an ambitious 28-year-old narcotics detective paired with saturnine Sipowicz when Bobby Simone (Mr. Smits) leaves the series after six episodes.
Mr. Bochco and Mr. Milch, those partners in crime, would say only that they deliberately sought a younger partner for Sipowicz to exploit the age difference.
"We didn't want to replace Jimmy (Smits). We always had in the back of our minds that we would like to add a younger character to the show," Mr. Bochco said.
Exactly where, when, why and how Simone will leave the 15th Precinct wasn't said. If Sipowicz was there, you know he'd smack Mr. Bochco silly, then grab Mr. Milch by the throat until one of them gave it up.
WHACK!
Fortunately, Sipowicz's subtlety wasn't needed to squeeze details from Mr. Schroder, the former child actor who appeared in his first TV commercial 21 years ago, at age 7.
"I don't think people know what to expect of me as an actor. People haven't seen me in a long time. I think they'll be surprised and shocked at the depth I have," Mr. Schroder said.
He has come a long way since Silver Spoons signed off after four seasons in 1986. He changed his name from "Ricky" when he starred in Lonesome Dove in 1988. Then he moved to a Colorado ranch, bought 400 head of cattle, married and fathered three children.
"It's been a struggle," he said about his career. "But all good things are a struggle . . . I wouldn't be sitting here today with Steven Bochco, David Milch and Dennis Franz if I hadn't had those struggles, because that's what made me who I am today and gave me the strength I have to act with this guy.
"To be an actor like I've been for 21 years, you don't get here by being a wimp. I'm a lot tougher than people know I am."
Two years ago, he asked his agent to look for roles "on a one-hour drama, a cop show, hopefully one that was already a hit."
When he heard Mr. Smits was giving up his badge to pursue other ABC projects, Mr. Schroder tossed his cowboy hat in the ring. He got the part by standing firm against Sipowicz in auditions. Mr. Franz liked the "honesty" he saw in the Staten Island native's eyes.
"I sensed a certain nice vulnerability that I liked. When it was over, I thought something had clicked there," said Mr. Franz, who has won three Emmys in five NYPD Blue seasons.
Ratings slipped this past year, though NYPD Blue remained ABC's best drama -- third overall behind ER and Touched by an Angel -- ranking No. 19 of 175 shows in Nielsen's season ratings.
Mr. Schroder confessed he hadn't seen the series and didn't know much about Mr. Franz's earlier partners, David Caruso (1993-94) or Mr. Smits (1994-98).
"I don't watch any real TV," he said. "I'm running a ranch and I'm raising three kids."
Asked to compare himself with Mr. Smits, he said: "Jimmy is talk, dark and handsome. I'm short, blond and skinny."
As the news conference ended, Mr. Milch promised that Bobby Simone would go out with a bang, figuratively speaking. He pleaded with critics to watch the first six shows this fall.
"It's the most challenging, interesting and compelling storytelling we've ever done . . . It's going to be very, very interesting," he said.
The cagey creators took the Fifth Amendment when asked if the young replacement officer would intersect with Simone this fall. He would only say that Mr. Schroder's character was based on the experience of NYPD Blue producer Bill Clark,the retired Brooklyn cop who was promoted to detective at age 28.
"This may shock you," Mr. Milch said, "but we know a few more things than we're saying."
At that moment, you could picture Sipowicz exploding at the wisecrack, flying toward the man with fists flailing.
WHACK!
Enquirer TV critic John Kiesewetter is reporting from the Summer Press Tour this month.
