NYPD Blue (season 7)

NYPD Blue Season 7
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	22
Broadcast
Original channel	ABC
Original run	January 11, 2000 – May 23, 2000
Season chronology
← Previous NYPD Blue season 6 Next → NYPD Blue season 8

Main cast at the beginning of Season 7 of NYPD Blue, l-r Thompson, Delaney, Brochtrup, Franz, Turturro, Schroder, McDaniel, Clapp

Loogie Nights

Original airdate: January 11, 2000

• Directed by: Mark Tinker
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Matt Olmstead

Sipowicz and Sorenson are disgusted by two cops who may have beaten a man to death and expect investigators to cover for them when their stories don't pan out. Meanwhile, a grieving Sipowicz and his young son, Theo, struggle to adjust to life at home without Sylvia; and despite her better judgment, Detective Jill Kirkendall contemplates a reunion with her ex-husband Don. Danny meets a uniformed officer named Mary Franco and they hook up in a limited, awkward fashion.

Notes

• Kevin Dillon guest stars as Officer Neil Baker

A Hole in Juan

Original airdate: January 18, 2000

• Directed by: Steven DePaul
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Jody Worth

Russell discloses important information about Don's criminal activities to Kirkendall which strains their relationship, while they try to solve the death of a hooker's baby, while Jill gives Don an ultimatum. Meanwhile, Sipowicz and Sorenson take pity on a recent parolee who has a fatalistic attitude when one of his friends turns up murdered.

Notes

• Tawny Cypress guest stars as Rosana Booth.
• The fact that ABC decided to begin the season in January rather than October or November is reflected by a line here about a witness standing around "in the hot sun", because the series always began its seasons with episodes set during the brutal New York City summertime.

The Man with Two Right Shoes

Original airdate: January 25, 2000

• Directed by: Mark Tinker
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Meredith Stiehm

Russell, Kirkendall and Martinez sense that a young boy is being exploited by his adult teacher. Meanwhile, Sipowicz, Sorenson and Medavoy investigate the vicious murder and castration of an out-of-towner who hired male prostitutes on his frequent trips to New York City, while Andy and PAA John Irvin find an effective way to deal with some firefighters who might have taken more than evidence from the crime scene.

Notes

• Sam Lloyd guest stars as Larry

The Naked are the Dead

Original airdate: February 1, 2000

• Directed by: Bob Doherty
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Leonard Gardner

In the aftermath of a particularly horrific crime — even by NYPD standards — seven young men are found naked and murdered in one room, and a profiler is sent to the precinct to help with the investigation. Sipowicz struggles not to let his contempt for the profiler get in the way of their job and has to deal with an incompetent younger cop, but the explanation for the mass murder turns out to be pathetic and pedestrian. Meanwhile, Don makes a stupid mistake that could threaten Jill's career, and Lt. Fancy convinces the idiot that he either plays ball and stops threatening Jill's career or he spends 20 years in prison no matter what he says, and Greg and James investigate a warehouse theft that ended with a kid dead from a broken neck and leads to his dumber-than-Don brother.

These Shoots are Made for Joaquin

Original airdate: February 8, 2000

• Directed by: Jeff McCracken
• Written by: Bill Clark & Lee Hubbard

Sipowicz and Sorenson investigate the murder of a man who was shot in front of his wife and whose brother appears to be the hero for trying to catch the shooter. Diane meets with Det. Denby, who is running the drug case that Don is involved in, and finds out he's as disgusting as Don is. James learns that he passed the Sergeant's exam and shares the news with a supportive but saddened Greg.

Notes

• David Zayas guest stars as Joaquin

Brothers Under Arms

Original airdate: February 15, 2000

• Directed by: Jake Paltrow
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Matt Olmstead

Sipowicz and Sorenson trace the path of a young man's gun which was used in a homicide and now threatens to destroy his own family, and Andy once again tries very hard to show he's no longer racist in the face of disapproval from the suspect's mom; Kirkendall faces a showdown with Don that ends with theft and Don being killed and burned beyond recognition; and the fraternity of the 15th Precinct promises to remain intact even as Detective James Martinez bids farewell.

Note

This was Nicholas Turturro's last appearance as James Martinez.

Along Came Jones

Original airdate: February 22, 2000

• Directed by: Farrell Levy
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Jody Worth

Sipowicz and Sorenson investigate the murder of a cop whose extramarital affair with his partner may have led to his seemingly random murder. Diane indirectly lets Jill know what happened to Don. Baldwin Jones arrives and quickly impresses the other cops with his strength and smarts, and begins his partnership with Greg. Lt. Fancy spars with Baldwin's former Lt. Abner.

Note

• This was Henry Simmons' first appearance as Baldwin Jones
• Amy Carlson guest stars as Lisa Marantz.
• James Pickens Jr. stars as Lt. Abner, he had previously appeared on the first season episode titled "Personal Foul" playing a postal worker named Nathan Foster.

Everybody Plays the Mule

Original airdates: February 23, 2000

• Directed by: Mark Tinker
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Meredith Stiehm

Medavoy and his new partner, Detective Baldwin Jones, join Sipowicz and Sorenson as they investigate the peculiar disappearance of two young boys on a trail that leads them to a racist, deranged Russian man. But Sipowicz is a bit skeptical of Jones, the new guy, and doesn't try to hide it. Danny treats Mary Franco dismissively and seems more interested in Diane. Diane and Jill investigate a girl who died as a drug mule and get a suspect to incriminate himself.

Note

Raymond Cruz guest stars as Rico.

Jackass

Original airdate: February 29, 2000

• Directed by: Steven DePaul
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Matt Olmstead

A young boy is suspected of killing his mother's abusive boyfriend; and Fancy tries to neutralize the ongoing tension from Lt. Abner but comes to realize that Abner is seriously depressed and wonders whether he should call an NYPD intervention unit. Meanwhile, Sipowicz is asked by an old friend named Eddie Gibson to take out Gibson's niece, triggering worries for Andy (who hasn't dated since Sylvia's death) and resentment from his ex-wife Katie.

Who Murders Sleep

Original airdate: March 7, 2000

• Directed by: Karen Gaviola
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & W.K. Scott Meyer

Sipowicz and Sorenson reopen an unsolved case involving a missing little girl when a small body is discovered buried in a wall. Andy offers emotional support when a troubled Sorenson is plagued by persistent nightmares but it's Diane whom he ultimately confides in. Meanwhile, Medavoy and Jones resort to a bit of theatrics when their slam-dunk shooting case is hampered by a pet owner who refuses to let them retrieve a bullet from her dog's nose that's needed as evidence.

Little Abner

Original airdate: March 14, 2000

• Directed by: Bob Doherty
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Jody Worth

Lieutenant Fancy tries to rebuild his relationship with Lt. Abner, but is left devastated when he runs out of time, while a concerned Detective Jones offers his support. Meanwhile, Sipowicz and Sorenson investigate the murder of a club owner who had quite a way with the ladies, and Andy helps out a married man who snapped when the lothario had an affair with his wife. Jones takes out his frustration on a creep who a woman claimed raped and beat her, but is going to walk free because a video shows she was lying about the rape and that means no prosecution.

Notes

• Regina Hall guest stars as Sharice Warner
• Frank Vincent guest stars as Dino 'The Rat' Ferrera

Welcome to New York

Original airdate: March 21, 2000

• Directed by: Peter Markle
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Meredith Stiehm

The ever-perceptive administrative aide, John Irvin, uses intuition to lead Sipowicz and Sorenson in the right direction as they investigate a possible love triangle homicide. And Kirkendall and Russell help a fragile young woman recount her horrific gang rape and deal with her racist, unsympathetic parents.

• Misha Collins guest stars as Blake DeWitt

The Irvin Files

Original airdate: March 28, 2000

• Directed by: Dennis M. White
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Leonard Gardner

Sipowicz and Sorenson nearly lose their sense of humor as they investigate the theft of very expensive art and are forced to match wits with the snotty, eccentric and well-to-do owner of the missing works. Meanwhile, Medavoy and Jones pursue the trail of a missing woman and are perplexed by the behavior of her 'distraught' husband.

Sleep Over

Original airdate: April 4, 2000

• Directed by: Matthew Penn
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Matt Olmstead

As Sipowicz and Sorenson investigate the home invasion robbery of an elderly couple, they are annoyed by the interference of the couple's abrasive daughter and a subservient retired cop who does more harm then good. Meanwhile, Medavoy and Jones get the case of a wealthy woman who has a vendetta against her former maid. And Sorenson's frequent informant, J.B., seems headed for disaster, so Danny intervenes at the expense of his relationship with Mary.

Stressed For Success

Original airdate: April 11, 2000

• Directed by: Donna Deitch
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Kim Newton

JB's sad fate leads Danny Sorenson to an emotional crisis which impacts him deeply, and he seeks comfort from Diane after blowing off Mary Franco. Meanwhile, Kirkendall tries to help a young mother who steals for her unemployed abusive husband, but the case ends in tragedy when an overzealous uniformed officer gets involved. And John Irvin lends his assistance on a case involving stolen vintage clothing.

• Mos Def guest stars as Leslie Peach

Goodbye Charlie

Original airdate: April 18, 2000

• Directed by: Mark Tinker
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Jody Worth

Detective Baldwin Jones uses his considerable charm as a tool to help Sipowicz and Sorenson get a confession in the murder of an elderly couple. Meanwhile, Medavoy is visited by an old friend who fears trouble with the Chinese mafia. And Danny seems to rebound from his personal problems and re-starts his relationship with Mary Franco.

• A.J. Buckley guest stars as Roger Lundquist

Roll Out the Barrel

Original airdate: April 25, 2000

• Directed by: James McDaniel
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Matt Olmstead

A dismembered body is found in a barrel in the basement of a brownstone. The detectives' trail leads them to a notorious mobster who has a long list of enemies, but they soon learn the mobster is connected to a different murder case. Andy has to deal with a hostile ME whose anger at Andy is not personal. And Detective Jones helps an attractive radio reporter break a big story and receives clear signals in return.

Note

• Elizabeth Berkley guest stars as Nicole Graf
• Marc Vann guest stars as Harry Forsic
• Frank Vincent guest stars as Dino 'The Rat' Ferrera
• M. Emmet Walsh guest stars as Dr. Joe Kroft

Lucky Luciano

Original airdate: May 2, 2000

• Directed by: Clark Johnson
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Hugh Levick

A panic-stricken young woman tries to convince Kirkendall and Russell that her twin sister has become the victim of foul play; and Sipowicz and Sorenson investigate an immigrant's possible involvement in the murder of his wealthy but unpopular wife.

Notes

• Alimi Ballard guest stars as Marcus Potter

Tea and Sympathy

Original airdate: May 9, 2000

• Directed by: Joe Ann Fogle
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Ami Canaan Mann

The detectives welcome the assistance of a pair of British detectives in the stakeout of a sadistic rapist-murderer; and Detective Jones gets up close and personal with the grateful reporter he helped on a previous homicide.

Notes

• Elizabeth Berkley guest stars as Nicole Graf
• John Standing guest stars as Jimmy Cheatham

This Old Spouse

Original airdate: May 16, 2000

• Directed by: Bob Doherty
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Ted Shuttleworth

Once again, Diane Russell reluctantly finds herself in a dangerous standoff with undercover narcotics agent Harry Denby, who may know the truth about Kirkendall's ex-husband. Meanwhile, Sipowicz and Sorenson investigate a husband's claims about his wife and the ex-con they're housing, and Greg and James uncover a home-repair scam.

Bats Off to Larry

Original airdate: May 23, 2000'

• Directed by: Steven DePaul
• Written by: David Milch, Bill Clark & Leonard Gardner

Sipowicz endures every parent's nightmare as young Theo's visit to the doctor reveals a problem; the subject of Kirkendall's ex-husband strains Jill and Diane's partnership, but they work together to solve the brutal murder of a rapist. Danny and Andy consider some horrible options related to Don's return and Jill's actions regarding her ex. A father and son don't have wonderful motives for taking revenge on someone who wronged a family member.

The Last Round Up

Original airdate: May 23, 2000'

• Directed by: Mark Tinker
• Written by: David Milch & Bill Clark

Lt. Fancy tells Diane that the NYPD is ready to close in on Jill for her relationship with Don. Diane lets an angry Jill know the truth, and Jill tells Diane why Don has leverage over her. The squad comes together to deal with the Don situation once and for all. Andy stays by Theo's side as his son goes through tests to see whether or not he has cancer. An interdepartmental shakeup leads to permanent change.

Note

• This was Andrea Thompson's last appearance as Jill Kirkendall.