Would Mark-Paul Gosselaar Do an ‘NYPD Blue’ Revival? ‘In a Heartbeat’

Meredith Jacobs March 1, 2025, 9:00 am

Anthony Mangano, Gordon Clapp, Dennis Franz, Henry Simmons and Mark-Paul Gosselaar — 'NYPD Blue' — 20th Century Fox Film Corp. / Courtesy: Everett Collection.

Right now, TV viewers know Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Sir, the one who kidnapped Shanola Hampton‘s Gabi as a teen (then played by A’zaria Carter) and held her captive until she escaped him, on Found; she then, in turn, kept him in her basement as her prisoner, until he escaped. Now, he’s once locked up, this time in prison, on the NBC drama. But 20 years ago, as the hit ABC drama NYPD Blue (which ranks #13 in our list of 90 Best Shows of the ’90s) was coming to an end, he was on the other side of the law.

Gosselaar joined the drama in its ninth season in 2001 as Detective John Clark Jr., partnered with Detective Andrew Sipowicz Sr. (Dennis Franz). He stayed with the show for the rest of its run, until it ended on March 1, 2005, after 12 seasons. Now, 20 years later, when Gosselaar recently stopped by TV Insider to discuss all things Found, we had to ask him if he’d ever do a revival of NYPD Blue.

“In a heartbeat, I would do a revival,” he told us. “I think they’ve tried to get it off the ground. I think Dick Wolf has got that sort of genre very locked up and rightfully so.”

Looking back on his time on the ABC drama, “I loved my tenure on that,” he shared. “It was like going to class every day, working with Dennis Franz. He was just a master at what he did and such a pleasure to work with him. And yeah, it was a great, great experience in my life.”

'NYPD Blue': The Top 4 Episodes to Stream on Hulu

Gosselaar may not have joined until late in the show’s run, but his impact was great. Creator Steven Bochco chose for The TV Guide Book of Lists his 10 best moments the first episode the actor starred in and noted, “I knew the moment Mark-Paul Gosselaar came in that we’d never see another partner for Sipowicz.”

Would you watch an NYPD Blue revival? If so, what would you want to see? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Jim A.
Mar 1, 2025
I believe I might be the biggest NYPD Blue fan on the planet. I run a Facebook page dedicated to the show and I have seen every episode no less than 30 times, I've also read every book about it and devoured hours of interviews with the actors and crew and I can honestly say: Do not revive the show.

There is no way a show like NYPD Blue could be great in today's climate. Even as relevant as the show is today, it could not be made today, it would be a very light version of it and the best thing about NYPD Blue (besides the brilliant Dennis Franz) was its grit and the way it dealt with issues like alcoholism, racism, sexuality, etc. head on.

If Dennis Franz wouldn't come back to the show, and he won't, he wouldn't return for the previous attempt at a reboot and the producers made the horrendous decision to kill off "Andy Sipowicz"- a character that deserved a happy ending more than any in tv history I believe.

Sometimes you just have to leave well enough alone and in this case, a show like NYPD Blue could simply not be duplicated, so just make another cop show and leave the best cop show there ever was to rest.

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  GoldFlame
  Mar 7, 2025
  You can't possibly be the biggest NYPD Blue fan. That's my crown you're talking about!!
  
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    GoldFlame
    Mar 7, 2025
    EDIT: I even own an authentic detective badge of Andy Sipowicz used on the show.
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CyanFries
Mar 2, 2025
Only if you can get Dennis to come out of retirement. I'd love to see Sipowicz met Bosch!

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  Jim A.
  Mar 6, 2025
  Well, Sipowicz did meet "Dr. Mondzac" and that's the same guy (Titus Welliver). Haha.
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GoldBattery
Mar 1, 2025
In a heartbeat!

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GoldGlasses
Mar 1, 2025
Yes. Maybe Theo could now be on the force.

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  Jim A.
  Mar 2, 2025
  That was the premise behind the failed reboot in 2019. Theo was a detective with a drinking problem (sound familiar?) who was assigned by Chief Fancy (James McDaniel in a one time appearance) to the 15th detective squad, under the tutelage of Lt. Diane Russell. The only other regular from the original to be involved was Bill Brochtrup ("John Irvin"). However, I hated the reason for Theo's assignment: He was investigating the murder of his father.
  
  I was very happy that ABC did not think the pilot that was shot was good enough to be given a full series order.
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CyanBike
Mar 2, 2025
Without a doubt, it would be a hit again, but must get Sipowicz to make an appearance.

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GreenGoggles
Mar 6, 2025
My husband and I watched the last episode tonight, I cried!! I’m gonna miss watching this every night, I don’t know why I didn’t watch it years ago, but I’m kinda glad we waited til now. PLEASE, bring it back!!

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