MovieChat Forums > NYPD Blue (1993) Discussion > Steven Bochco on David Caruso's Insane D...

Steven Bochco on David Caruso's Insane Demands and "Cancerous Behavior"

posted 8 years ago by TMC-4
18 replies | jump to latest

http://tvline.com/2016/08/18/david-caruso-nypd-blue-exit-controversy-steven-bochco-memoir/

by Michael Ausiello
August 18, 2016

Hey, Steven Bochco, tell us how you really feel about David Caruso!

In the überproducer’s new memoir, Truth Is a Total Defense, the "NYPD Blue" co-creator chronicles the events that led up to the controversial departure of Caruso in Season 2. And it ain’t pretty.

By the end of the cop drama’s breakout first season, “David Caruso had become impossible,” Bocho writes in the book.

“Caruso’s behavior was, simply put, cancerous. He was emotionally unavailable to everyone, and he was volatile, moody or sullen, depending on the day. 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. And his plan was to alienate the writers, producers and his fellow cast-mates in hopes that we would dump him from the show.”

When that didn’t happen, Caruso asked to be let out of his contract unless certain demands were met, Bochco alleges.

Among them: A raise from $40K to $100K an episode, as well as “Fridays off… a 38-foot trailer…. an office suite on the lot, replete with his own development executive, for whom we had to foot the bill to the tune of $1,000 a week… two hotel suites in New York when the company went there on location, plus a dozen first-class plane tickets… and additional security to shield him from his adoring public.”

In the end, Caruso was written out of "NYPD Blue" four episodes into Season 2. Jimmy Smits, meanwhile, was brought in to replace him and, as Bocho states, ended up making “the series even greater.”

Read more: Steven Bochco on David Caruso's Insane Demands and "Cancerous Behavior" in New Memoir - Sitcoms Online Message Boards - Forums http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?p=5157291#post5157291#ixzz4HiGyvqre

[–] robocop-37224 8 years ago

And look at him now...oh wait he's not around at all..lol what aF ucking DOUCHEBAG!

[–] QOK (1504) 5 years ago

Hahaha.

[–] AntwoinD 8 years ago

Friday's off? Lol.

[–] fiero-49251 8 years ago

I heard he about cause writer Bill Clark to have a heart attack, wanted out to make bad movies like "Jade," and be more part time if he stayed! I was so glad he floundered before "CSI: Miami" came along! I only remembered him as an Irish Gang leader in "Hill Street Blues" and a bit part in "Thief Of Hearts!" How he thought he was so deserving is impossible to comprehend! 

- - http://www.childrenofrassilon.com/fiero425.html - - homepage

[–] nigelbenn08 8 years ago

David Caruso caused David Milch to nearly have a heart attack, not Bill Clark. Clark is a police detective who was brought on board to pitch ideas to Milch and Steven Bochco, to give NYPD Blue a realistic feel. Bill Clark had to take Milch to the hospital after Milch and Caruso had an argument over his lines in the script. Caruso wouldn't read the line on the script and wanted it to be rewritten. Milch wouldn't budge.

It starts at about 1:14 into the video http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/david-milch#

[–] fiero-49251 8 years ago

Thank you! I'm old; memory isn't what it used to be! I knew Caruso almost ruined his career with a few bad offerings in TV and movies before "CSI: Miami!"  

- - http://www.childrenofrassilon.com/fiero425.html - - homepage

[–] pgooden 7 years ago

Memorabilia re DC In Hill St Blues he played the leader of an irish street gang- he looked about 15

[–] fiero-49251 7 years ago

Seen it recently! I didn't mean to go back that far; just after "NYPD Blue" & before "CSI: Miami!" I still surf by "H & I" to catch those old shows!  

- - http://www.childrenofrassilon.com/fiero425.html - - homepage

[–] MickyMac (2938) 6 years ago

No wonder he disappeared after CSI Miami.

[–] MickyMac (2938) 5 years ago

Outright saying thinking he was becoming a star is just attracting ridicule, it's kinda like if your an ok actor and said your gonna be the next Al Pacino, it's one thing if it's actually happening but when it's surmising from the actor himself it's not so much inducing people thinking it's going come true as inducing eye rolls and facepalms.

[–] Stratego (29239) 5 years ago

Caruso is such a bad actor.

[–] TandyMan (10358) 5 years ago

Interesting. These were the rumors they reported on them ET type shows back in the day but I never heard the details before. I like David fine but he was never going to be a movie star. Straight up: red headed dudes aren't mass marketable as leading men. The show was definitely better with Smits.

[–] McQualude (4231) 5 years ago

IDK, I rewatched it awhile back and Smits was treated like he was supposed to be a superstar and Sipowicz really treats him as a best friend but Smits never really earns it in the show. Kelly was a more interesting and nuanced character. I felt like they were trying to do the same thing with Danny but his character was written chaotically with a drastic personality shift. In his first few episodes Danny demonstrated his street smarts, connections, and work ethic, then blam he starts self destructing.

[–] jekporkins (1923) 5 years ago

I actually thought Caruso was absolutely perfect for NYPD Blue. Sometimes an actor can just be perfectly cast for a TV show (Kramer comes to mind). He really brought something to the show that I don't think they found since. Bobby Simone was good but he was too handsome. They tried to make Ricky and Zach work but they should have cast a more 'normal-looking' New York actor like Jerry Orbach. One reason NYPD Blue was so good was the actors seemed realistic. Towards the end they started casting too many attractive people to play cops.

[–] McQualude (4231) 5 years ago

The girl cops were hot, the guys were average to handsome but weighted toward handsome.

[–] jekporkins (1923) 5 years ago

I'll go with that. I remember Sipowicz was dating some smokin' hot blonde woman towards the end of the show. I think that's when I waved the white flag.

[–] Ripkens25 (1901) 4 years ago

Completely agree.
David Caruso catches lots of hate and ridicule these days....but if you watch the first 2 seasons of NYPD Blue, he was fantastic on that show. Great casting....great acting. John Kelly is what I'd define as a true stand-up guy, and the coolest character on TV since Sonny Crockett.

It's easy to watch things like CSI Miami and poke fun. Granted, he overacts in that show...and the attempts to make his Horatio Cain character mysterious and smooth come across as smarmy and cheesy....but that's as much the Director's fault as anyones. I wish we could have seen more of the quality from Caruso later in his career that we got when he was on NYPD Blue. He was the coolest, best part of that show. I've rewatched the first 2 seasons several times over the decades...and stop once John Kelly departs.

[–] GordonGartrelle (1267) 4 years ago

For whatever reason, even though the Caruso episodes are what defined the show are the ones I can't rewatch.

He comes on the screen and I am just like NOPE. No Thank You.

My rewatches always begin with Smits.