Steven Bochco on David Caruso's Insane Demands and "Cancerous Behavior" in New Memoir - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 08-18-2016, 02:57 PM

"NYPD Blue" Bombshell: David Caruso's "Cancerous" Behavior, Insane Demands Recounted in New 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.”

http://tvline.com/2016/08/18/david-c...bochco-memoir/

plmkr88 · 08-21-2016, 11:09 PM

Smits was way better a fit than Caruso was. I think most of us fans felt way more connected to him.

everybodylovesrs · 06-06-2017, 09:55 PM

I liked Caruso well enough on that show but he's a joke on anything else. And Smits ended up making me like him a lot more.

80sTrivia · 06-07-2017, 06:23 PM

Well, seeing that David's fabulous movie career never materialized and that CSI: Miami was cancelled, he should have stuck with the show. He could have retired comfortably with all the residual checks he would have made from Blue...

08-18-2016, 02:57 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,039	Steven Bochco on David Caruso's Insane Demands and "Cancerous Behavior" in New Memoir *"NYPD Blue" Bombshell: David Caruso's "Cancerous" Behavior, Insane Demands Recounted in New 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.” http://tvline.com/2016/08/18/david-c...bochco-memoir/ Attached Images

06-07-2017, 06:23 PM	#4
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	Well, seeing that David's fabulous movie career never materialized and that CSI: Miami was cancelled, he should have stuck with the show. He could have retired comfortably with all the residual checks he would have made from Blue...
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08-21-2016, 11:09 PM	#2
plmkr88 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 26, 2010 Location: College Station TX Posts: 134	Smits was way better a fit than Caruso was. I think most of us fans felt way more connected to him.

06-06-2017, 09:55 PM	#3
everybodylovesrs Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 12, 2008 Posts: 526	I liked Caruso well enough on that show but he's a joke on anything else. And Smits ended up making me like him a lot more.