- David Caruso, NYPD Blue,TV, 1993-1994.
“I’ve run into my share of talented but highly neurotic or dysfunctional types throughout my career,” said writer-producer-icon Steven Bochco in his 2016 book, Truth Is a Total Defense. His list included Daniel Benzali, Sharon Stone… and Caruso. Bochco saw him, as an interesting (and different) sort of leading man. But co-creator David Milch begged him not to hire him for Blue. “Caruso’s reputation as a malcontent (to say the least) had preceded him, and Milch was convinced that Caruso would be nothing but trouble.” He was right. Bochco was soon dealing with two opposing realities. First, NYPD Blue was a hit. Second, “Caruso’s behavior was, simply put, cancerous. Most people don’t function well in a dysfunctional environment, but Caruso loved it because he was the source of all the discontent, and it empowered him. “He never said it to me directly, but the simple truth was, Caruso felt he was too good for television. He wanted to be a movie star.” For a second season, Caruso’s agent demanded $100,000 per episode, Fridays off, a 38-foot trailer, an office suite on the lot with his own development exec (paid for by CBS at $1,000 a week), two New York hotel suites when there on location, a dozen first-class plane tickets and additional security to protect him from his adoring public. “You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Bochco retorted. “If it weren’t for NYPD Blue, Caruso would be in New York for the summer working in a car wash.” OK, how about $65,000 an episode, Fridays off, office suite, development exec, hotel suites, plane tickets andthe last seven weeks of the season off, giving him more time to make movies. Bochco blew up: “If he doesn’t show up for work on the first day of shooting, we will sue his ass for everything he has.” After 26 episodes, he let Caruso go, after persuading Smits(who had earlier passed on the role) to join (Kojak’s old) precinct houseand become a huge TV star. “Or do you want to be making movies in Morocco in 100-degree weather wearing a leather skirt? – Jimmy’s no fool… and made the series even greater.”
PS : The more mature Caruso told Hollywood Reporter: “Young actors sometimes do very dumb things. I was no exception. NYPD Blue was a hallmark moment in my career, largely due to the talents of David Milch and Steven Bochco. I credit them… for all of the wonderful opportunities I’ve had over the 22 years since Blue.”
- David Caruso, CSI: Miami, TV, 2002-2008. After the longest death scene in TV history, in 1989, after 247 episodes as the much loved Detective Bobby Simone in NYPD Blue,Smits had little TV luck… 1. A development deal with ABC proved empty, but made him quit the lead of an NBC show, UC: Undercover. 2, A second (seven-figure) ABC deal was also devoid of ideas. 3, Jerry Bruckheimer asked him to lead the first CSIspin-off (it went to the guy Smits had so triumphantly replaced in NYPD Blue). 4, Bruckheimer later offered him an LA private dick working for the rich and famous in City of Dreams, but no one could solve the script problems.
- Neal McDonough, Boomtown, 2002. Steven Spielberg chased him for the flawed DA lead in a Rashômon-sesque view of crime from various viewpoints: cops, detectives, paramedics, politicians, witnesses, reporters. even the criminals.. Smits quit at the last minute and Spielberg called up a steely-eyed cop from his Minority Report. After two Star Wars chapters, Jimmy returned to series – running for and becoming the new boss of The West Wing During 2004-2006.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 3