‘Nypd Blue’ May Leave Tuesdays

Fri., Oct. 15, 1999

Richard Huff New York Daily News

Bad news for “NYPD Blue” fans. After six years of airing the show Tuesdays at 10 p.m., ABC is considering moving it to another night when it is scheduled to return next month.

Exactly where is still unclear. Or exactly when.

Wednesday, ABC programming honcho Stu Bloomberg informed Steven Bochco that he was considering leaving the new drama “Once and Again” in “NYPD Blue’s” Tuesday slot and moving the cop series elsewhere.

“I’m disappointed,” said show executive producer David Milch, who was at the meeting.

Bloomberg didn’t give “NYPD Blue” producers a hint of where the series would move, if it does.

“The one assurance that was repeatedly given was we would be on the schedule by the end of November,” Milch said.

“I’m just a country boy, but it seemed to me the most constructive alternative would have been to say, `Fellas, our faith in the show is undiminished, as is your sense of integrity; we’re going to put you on when `Monday Night Football’ ends. I did not hear that.”

Last month, ABC launched the critically acclaimed “Once and Again” and fully intended to take it off when “NYPD Blue” launched on Nov. 9. The plan was to leave “Once and Again” off the schedule until January, when “Monday Night Football” stops airing.

But now ABC is in the position of having to remove a burgeoning series that is attracting an audience.

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