NYPD Blue (season 8)

NYPD Blue Season 8
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	20
Broadcast
Original channel	ABC
Original run	January 9, 2001 – May 22, 2001
Season chronology
← Previous NYPD Blue season 7 Next → NYPD Blue season 9

Daveless in New York

Original airdate: January 9, 2001

• Directed by: Mark Tinker
• Written by: Bill Clark, Jody Worth & Matt Olmstead

Sipowicz clings to son Theo's improved appearance as a sign that he's cured, but others are not so sure. Meanwhile, the detectives are nervous and defensive about testifying to Internal Affairs about Kirkendall's suspected involvement in her ex-husband's activities. Diane Russell is once again forced to deal with the slimy Harry Denby in an effort to confirm Jill Kirkendall's stories. Sorenson, driven by growing concern for Russell, wants to take on Denby on her behalf, and his behavior leads to a schism between him and Mary and a surprising resolution for him and Diane.

Waking Up Is Hard to Do

Original airdate: January 16, 2001

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

Andy's mood turns dramatically when he gets the news on Theo, but he keeps his game face on to help Greg and Baldwin solve a case involving a series of cab-driver homicides connected to a gun broker. Diane spars against with Harry to ward off an IAB avalanche over the Don Kirkendall case, and while Harry's information is useless (as is the "help" from the late Bobby Simone's sleazebag friend Ray DiSalvo), Don's enemies list ironically puts the detectives and Harry all in the clear.

Franco My Dear, I Don't Give a Damn

Original airdate: January 23, 2001

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

When a female cop is shot while responding to a call, her husband, a captain on the force, blames her partner for leaving her side and wants to seek his own revenge. And, a new assistant district attorney arrives to handle the case. Meanwhile, Sorenson must make some important decisions in his personal life, which is bad news for Mary Franco and maybe good news for Diane.

Note

• This was Garcelle Beauvais' first appearance as A.D.A Valerie Heywood
• Richard Brooks guest stars as Capt. Eric Knowlton

Family Ties

Original airdate: January 30, 2001

• Directed by: Bob Doherty
• Written by: Bill Clark & Buzz Bissinger

The brutal rape of a tourist in her hotel room may not have been a merely random attack, while PAA John faces his phobia of little people on a separate case from the same hotel. Meanwhile, Sorenson tries to ease the awkwardness with Andy over his relationship with Diane, who comes to a difficult decision of her own that devastates Danny.

Fools Russian

Original airdate: February 6, 2001

• Directed by: Farrel Jane Levy
• Written by: Bill Clark & Jonathan Lisco

The detectives are suspicious of a Russian widow's alibi when her husband is found floating in the East River, and Medavoy's limited understanding of the Chinese language comes in handy when he helps an immigrant family rescue their kidnapped relative. Meanwhille, Diane is emotionally conflicted about the end of her relationship with Danny.

Writing Wrongs

Original airdate: February 13, 2001

• Directed by: Steven DePaul
• Written by: Bill Clark, T.J. English, Steven Bochco & Alexandra Cunningham

A high school girl's secret essays could lead detectives to her killer, but Diane Russell finds the investigation of the girl's hidden life to be especially disturbing. In spite of his own personal pain, Sorenson shows compassion and patience to a mentally ill homeless man who witnessed a murder. Meanwhile, as Andy Sipowicz re-enters the dating world, he's confronted with one reality of single parenting: finding a babysitter.

In-Laws, Outlaws

Original airdate: February 20, 2001

• Directed by: Jake Paltrow
• Written by: Bill Clark, T.J. English, Steven Bochco, Buzz Bissinger & Jonathan Lisco

Danny Sorenson feels personally responsible when the homeless man he tried to protect is released from a holding cell and then murdered. His frustration causes him to lash out at co-workers but he is relentless in his pursuit of the homeless man's murderer. An apparent murder-suicide with a connection to Harry Denby also brings out Danny's mean side and leads to a stunning confrontation between him and Diane. Andy has another date with Cynthia Gibson that both seem to enjoy.

Russellmania

Original airdates: February 27, 2001

• Directed by: Karen Gaviola
• Written by: Bill Clark & Jody Worth

The apparent murder-suicide from the week earlier leads once again to rogue ex-cop Harry Denby. This time the encounter prompts what could be the final showdown between Denby and Diane Russell. Meanwhile Danny Sorenson's path of anger and destruction continues, completely blowing a major double-murder case and forcing Lieutenant Fancy to take action to sit him down. Soon afterwards, the rest of the force and Andy both drive home how badly Danny has screwed up here.

Notes

• Benito Martinez guest stars as Lt. Gomez
• Phil LaMarr guest stars as Sidney Thompson

Oh Golly Goth

Original airdate: March 6, 2001

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

A trio of Goth teens are involved in a stabbing during a night of wild partying, and Sipowicz tries to save the case that Sorenson nearly blew. Meanwhile Russell tries out a new partner named Connie McDowell, who has to overcome a wave of hostility when she arrives to fill in for the troubled Danny.

Notes

• This was Charlotte Ross' first appearance as Det. Connie McDowell

In the Still of the Night

Original airdate: March 13, 2001

• Directed by: Bob Doherty
• Written by: Bill Clark & Alexandra Cunningham

Sipowicz and a fully reinstated Sorenson work to help an officer's relative whose temper gets him in trouble, while the rest of the detectives investigate the stabbing attack on Captain Bass' wife. Meanwhile, romance blossoms, as Sipowicz spends more time with Cynthia and Baldwin Jones has a date.

Notes

• Scott Lawrence guest stars as Anthony Mackey

Peeping Tommy

Original airdate: March 20, 2001

• Directed by: Michael Watkins
• Written by: Bill Clark, Victor Bumbalo, Matt Olmstead & Nicholas Wootton

Sipowicz's split-second decision during a shooting puts his entire career in jeopardy unless a victim corroborates his story, while Danny and Diane team up to find the evidence that exonerates Andy. Meanwhile, a rape at a bar leads to a disturbing discovery that lets Det. McDowell close the case and find a home at the 15th.

Thumb Enchanted Evening

Original airdate: March 27, 2001

• Directed by: John Tracy
• Written by: Bill Clark & Buzz Bissinger

Andy Sipowicz has an unusual response upon hearing the news that Lieutenant Fancy is leaving the 15th precinct. Meanwhile, Detectives Russell and McDowell have the onerous task of tracking down a very private severed body-part in hopes of reattaching it to its owner, and as Sipowicz and Sorenson investigate what seems to be a mob execution, their suspect drives a hard bargain that leads to a suspect from a long-unsolved drug murder.

Notes

• Denise Crosby guest stars as Lt. Susan Dalto
• Ricardo Chavira guest stars as Customs Off. Kenny Sotomayor

Flight of Fancy

Original airdate: April 3, 2001

• Directed by: Kevin Hooks
• Written by: Bill Clark & Jonathan Lisco

As Lieutenant Fancy moves on to his new position as a captain, the sadness felt by the detectives of the 15th precinct is compounded by the chafing ways of his replacement, an icy, tough, female detective. And then, as though in answer to their prayers, she's out — and the detectives anxiously await details on the next candidate to occupy their beloved Fancy's office. Meanwhile, a teenage immigrant girl with a troubled past is murdered and the suspects are many.

Notes

• This was James MacDaniel's last appearance as Arthur Fancy
• This was Esai Morales' first appearance as Tony Rodriguez
• Denise Crosby guest stars as Lt. Susan Dalto

Nariz A Nariz

Original airdate: April 10, 2001

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

Sipowicz reaches out to an alcoholic ex-cop whose daughter has been murdered, and Lt. Rodriguez steps in when detectives from another squad try to take over the investigation. Meanwhile, in his personal life, Sipowicz stumbles in his new relationship with Cynthia and turns to his ex-wife, Katie, for comfort.

Notes

• John Finn guest stars as Jimmy McElroy

Love Hurts

Original airdate: April 17, 2001

• Directed by: Rick Wallace
• Written by: Bill Clark & Harold Sylvester

When a cop gets shot, the detectives launch a major investigation and are surprised to learn that, with his active social life, the officer's shooting may not have been as random as he claims. Meanwhile, Medavoy's good intentions to help a store owner backfire, and Sipowicz takes offense when Lieutenant Rodriguez steps in and uses past connections to get a confession out of a suspect.

Everyone Into the Poole

Original airdate: April 24, 2001

• Directed by: Mark Tinker
• Written by: Bill Clark & Nicholas Wootton

When a victim's claims of being kidnapped don't add up, the victim accuses Sipowicz and Sorenson of homophobia. Jones also suffers accusations from parents of teens who killed a Chinese delivery man but accuse him of being a traitor to his race. Meanwhile, Diane's friendship with the doctor who treated her late husband becomes public knowledge at the precinct; and Andy tries to make major changes in his life in an effort to create stability for Theo.

Dying to Testify

Original airdate: May 1, 2001

• Directed by: Dennis White
• Written by: Bill Clark & Matt Olmstead

When A.D.A. Valerie Haywood needs help tracking down a wayward witness, she turns to McDowell and Russell. Miraculously they find the reluctant witness and even "host" her overnight until her court appearance. The three women forge an unusual bond in the course of the evening, which makes it all the more painful when the witness disappears once again before testifying. The disastrous turn of events prompts a deeply remorseful Valerie to seek the comfort of Baldwin Jones. Andy and Danny try to get a nasty suspect to confess to a murder so an eyewitness won't be put through hell in the aftermath.

Lost Time

Original airdate: May 8, 2001

• Directed by: Bob Doherty
• Written by: Bill Clark & Buzz Bissinger

Still grieving the loss of her husband and the failed relationship with Danny Sorenson, Diane Russell decides to take the drastic step of leaving her job in order to get her life back together. But the manner in which she leaves has her co-workers, particularly Sorenson, feeling hurt and confused. Meanwhile Medavoy and Sipowicz go undercover to nab a pair of robbers who've been preying on the elderly, while Andy wonders openly whether his plans to marry his ex-wife are a good idea. Danny meets a stripper while working a double-murder case and seems to be falling for her.

Notes

• This was Kim Delaney's last regular appearance as Diane Russell
• Greg Grunberg guest stars as Joey Schulman

Under Covers

Original airdate: May 15, 2001

• Directed by: Donna Deitch
• Written by: Bill Clark & Alexandra Cunningham

Much to the displeasure of his partner Andy Sipowicz, Sorenson seems to be losing himself in his relationship with Kristen, the stripper. He even puts himself in jeopardy when his attempt to protect her from a rude patron leads to a fight. Meanwhile, Katie and Andy make a crucial decision about their remarriage, while Baldwin holds his temper in check on a case where a woman was savagely beaten and her husband murdered for no reason.

Notes

• This was Rick Schroder's last appearance as Danny Sorenson
• Greg Grunberg guest stars as Joey Schulman

In the Wind

Original airdate: May 22, 2001

• Directed by: Mark Tinker
• Written by: Steven Bochco, Bill Clark & Jonathan Lisco

Everyone in the department fears the worst as Sorenson is missing and Kristen, the stripper he dated, is found dead in his apartment. As the detectives all desperately cling to the belief that he is not the murderer, concern and fear for their colleague cloud their search. Lt. Rodriguez gets the squad to focus on the job and helps them close a murder case involving a gay hustler and a Reverend's wife.

Notes

• Greg Grunberg guest stars as Joey Schulman