NYPD Blue (season 12)

The 12th and final season of NYPD Blue premiered on ABC on September 21, 2004, and concluded on March 1, 2005.

NYPD Blue (season 12)
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	20
Release
Original network	ABC
Original release	September 21, 2004 – March 1, 2005

Actor	Character	Main cast	Recurring cast
Dennis Franz	Andy Sipowicz	entire season	N/A
Mark-Paul Gosselaar	John Clark, Jr.	entire season	N/A
Gordon Clapp	Greg Medavoy	entire season	N/A
Henry Simmons	Baldwin Jones	entire season	N/A
Jacqueline Obradors	Rita Ortiz	entire season	N/A
Bill Brochtrup	John Irvin	entire season	N/A
Currie Graham	Thomas Bale	entire season	N/A
Bonnie Somerville	Laura Murphy	entire season	N/A

Episodes

No. in series	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Production code
242	1	"Dress for Success"	Jesse Bochco	Teleplay by: Matt Olmstead Story by: Bill Clark & Matt Olmstead	September 21, 2004	JB01/1201
The precinct's hyper-controlling new C.O., Lieutenant Thomas Bale, alienates the squad. Meanwhile Ortiz is partnered with flirtatious rookie, Detective Laura Murphy, a "sexologist" and a homeless man are murdered, Clark drinks and womanizes after the suicide of his former girlfriend, and Sipowicz has a stalker. Notes Bonnie Somerville makes her first appearance as a Detective Laura Murphy Currie Graham makes his first appearance as a Lieutenant Thomas Bale. Graham had appeared in a different, supporting role in Season 4's "Emission Impossible".
243	2	"Fish Out of Water"	Jesse Bochco	Teleplay by: Nicholas Wootton Story by: Bill Clark & Nicholas Wootton	September 28, 2004	JB01/1202
Tensions rise when a dead pregnant woman leads Sipowicz and Clark to a possible adoption scam. Meanwhile, a woman married to an ex-con claims an intruder beat her and stole her grandmother's diamond ring, Sipowicz suspects his stalker poisoned his fish at the precinct, and Lieutenant Bale intrudes on Sipowicz's investigation. Notes Mackenzie Phillips guest stars as a Lorraine Stuval
244	3	"Great Balls of Ire"	Mark Tinker	Teleplay by: Tom Szentgyorgyi Story by: Bill Clark & Tom Szentgyorgyi	October 12, 2004	JB01/1203
Detective Sipowicz's son is abducted before being returned safely, a reformed sex offender is murdered in a case that ensnares his former victim, and Lt. Bale once again clashes with everyone in the squad.
245	4	"Divorce Detective Style"	Mark Tinker	Teleplay by: Keith Eisner Story by: Bill Clark & Keith Eisner	October 12, 2004	JB01/1204
A man reports that his son has been kidnapped for ransom; Sipowicz and Clark have a falling out; a young woman is found murdered in the closet of her apartment; Clark's testimony at a murder trial is impeached because he had sex with a girl involved, and a mysterious party continues to harass Sipowicz who finds a listening device planted in his car.
246	5	"You’re Buggin’ Me"	John Hyams	Teleplay by: Greg Plageman Story by: Bill Clark & Greg Plageman	October 26, 2004	JB01/1205
Despite Clark's ugly tirade against him earlier in the evening, Andy heads to a bar when he gets a call saying Clark is loaded. Clark takes offense at Andy's dragging him out of the place, but shuts up when Andy is shot by an unseen party. Andy isn't badly injured, though, and it's Clark's reputation that suffers the most: he's revealed as a gross, lecherous pig who's been mauling every woman in sight, including an underage student and a complete ice queen. When a nerd who was upset that Clark stole away said ice queen admits he shot Andy by mistake, Clark is then reduced to silence when Lt. Bale gives him a choice: sober up and clean up or be transferred out of the 15th for the brief rest of his NYPD career. Bale and Andy also interact on the case of Andy's car bug, and it's revealed Stan Hatcher was behind it all. Bale gets the issue settled, but is so mad that Andy didn't follow his precious rules that Andy's thanks to him leads to their worst fight yet. Note Jonah Hill guest stars as a store clerk
247	6	"The Vision Thing"	Tawnia McKiernan	Teleplay by: William Finkelstein Story by: Bill Clark & William Finkelstein	November 9, 2004	JB01/1206
A man is stabbed while riding the bus with his family, a video store clerk is stabbed by a robber, a wealthy antiques dealer reports a suspicious burglary, and Medavoy takes a part-time job as security guard in a bar. Notes Jimmy Smits makes an appearance as Bobby Simone Dennis Christopher guest stars as Mr. Prosser
248	7	"My Dinner With Andy"	Kevin Hooks	Teleplay by: Tom Szentgyorgyi Story by: Bill Clark & Tom Szentgyorgyi	November 16, 2004	JB01/1207
A material witness in a murder case is beaten in an alley, Medavoy's job is at risk when he's caught moonlighting as a bar bouncer, and Jones wants custody of Michael — but so does the boy's felonious father.
249	8	"I Like Ike"	Jesse Bochco	Teleplay by: Keith Eisner Story by: Bill Clark & Keith Eisner	November 23, 2004	JB01/1208
Clark protects a court witness whose life is in danger; Jones shows up in family court, but Michael is missing and Michael's father accuses Jones of hiding him; Medavoy faces possible charges for moonlighting, and Sipowicz studies for the sergeant's exam.
250	9	"The 3-H Club"	Mark Tinker	Teleplay by: Greg Ball & Steve Blackman Story by: Bill Clark, Greg Ball & Steve Blackman	November 30, 2004	JB01/1209
When Michael's father, Craig Woodruff, is shot dead — while Michael and Jones' home gun are missing — Sipowicz and Clark are forced to suspect Jones and Michael both. Meanwhile, Medavoy is tried and found guilty of moonlighting in a bar, and a boy is molested by someone driving a church van.
251	10	"The Dead Donald"	Carol Banker	Teleplay by: Tom Szentgyorgyi Story by: Bill Clark & Tom Szentgyorgyi	December 7, 2004	JB01/1210
The brother of a mentally disabled man is found dead, a con-man rents the same apartment to multiple parties and Greg likes a realtor named Bridget who was conned, Sipowicz and Clark clash with Bale when Bale decides to bust a nervous father for offering a bribe to drop drug charges against his son, and Sipowicz takes the sergeants' exam.
252	11	"Bale Out"	Jake Paltrow	Teleplay by: Keith Eisner Story by: Bill Clark & Keith Eisner	December 14, 2004	JB01/1211
Sipowicz finds Bale's credit card in a crime suspect's home and has to confront Bale with his findings. Meanwhile, a respected attorney is shot to death in his car, Ortiz and Murphy investigate a drive-by shooting at a basketball court, Clark accompanies A.D.A. Munson to a party honoring a lecherous judge, and Medavoy has a lunch date with Bridget the realtor. Notes Chad Allen guest stars as Kyle Tanner David Garrison guest stars as Russell
253	12	"I Love My Wives, But Oh You Kid"	Alan Rosenberg	Teleplay by: William Finkelstein Story by: Bill Clark & William Finkelstein	December 21, 2004	JB01/1212
A young pregnant woman is murdered, and the cops find out the father is a bigamist whose two families hold the key to solving the case. Elsewhere, attractive young women who had just begun attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are being killed, and Andy leads the squad in an undercover investigation to find the killer, while Greg ends up closing more than one deal when he helps Bridget on a real-estate call. Notes Corbin Bernsen guest stars as Bob Cavanaugh
254	13	"Stoli With a Twist"	Jesse Bochco	Teleplay by: Tom Szentgyorgyi Story by: Bill Clark & Tom Szentgyorgyi	January 11, 2005	JB01/1213
Sipowicz and Clark investigate a serial killer who infiltrates AA meetings and preys on female members by strangling them and smudging their lipstick as his trademark. Ortiz and Murphy go undercover in a sting operation to catch the AA killer. Meanwhile, a man is found stabbed to death in his apartment, which is full of steroids, and the investigation leads Clark to face the woman he slept with earlier and wrecked a murder case over. Notes Sasha Mitchell guest stars as Darian Lasalle
255	14	"Stratis Fear"	Bob Doherty	Teleplay by: Keith Eisner Story by: Bill Clark & Keith Eisner	January 18, 2005	JB01/1214
Sipowicz and Clark investigate the murder of a successful immigrant restaurateur with a taste for young girls, Ortiz learns the Joint Narcotics Task Force is after her cousin's boyfriend, and Jones finds himself probing a retired cop about the murder of the lover his paralyzed son's wife.
256	15	"La Bomba"	Mark Tinker	Teleplay by: Greg Plageman Story by: Bill Clark & Greg Plageman	January 25, 2005	JB01/1215
Sipowicz and Clark investigate when a wealthy businessman has been killed when his car blew up. They think his business dealings in Colombia or an Israeli ex-security guard might have something to do with it, but the victim's cold-hearted daughter steers them towards the guilty party: an older businessman who was the DOA's whipping boy until he got fired and lost everything. Ortiz and Murphy catch a case of a teenager who was beaten to death in an alley and find out he was an asshole who got killed because he tried to force a Hispanic student to take the fall for his illegal, disgusting behavior.
257	16	"Old Man Quiver"	Ed Begley, Jr.	Teleplay by: William Finkelstein Story by: Bill Clark & William Finkelstein	February 1, 2005	JB01/1216
Sipowicz and Clark investigate when an elderly millionaire, married to a voluptuous wife 52 years his junior, is found smothered to death. Meanwhile Medavoy and Jones look into the death of a judge's elderly mother found murdered in a retirement home, A.D.A. Munson introduces Clark to her arrogant and powerful father, and Sipowicz is promoted to Sergeant.
258	17	"Sergeant Sipowicz Lonely Hearts Club Band"	John Hyams	Teleplay by: Tom Szentgyorgyi Story by: Bill Clark & Tom Szentgyorgyi	February 8, 2005	JB01/1217
When a U.S. Army sergeant is shot to death, Clark suspects the brother of a soldier killed in Iraq. Meanwhile, a homeless man is found dead in a dumpster, and Medavoy's girlfriend Bridget Scofield makes him an offer he can't refuse.
259	18	"Lenny Scissorhands"	Rick Wallace	Teleplay by: Keith Eisner Story by: Bill Clark & Keith Eisner	February 15, 2005	JB01/1218
Sipowicz, Murphy and Ortiz investigate the shooting of a fellow police officer; Clark and Jones, now partners, investigate the beating death of a woman whose newly religious husband owns a jewelry store; Bale is shot in the course of a murder investigation, and Medavoy retires from the job.
260	19	"Bale to the Chief"	Jesse Bochco	Teleplay by: Tom Szentgyorgyi & Keith Eisner Story by: Bill Clark, Tom Szentgyorgyi & Keith Eisner	February 22, 2005	JB01/1219
With Bale hospitalized, the squad gets a new boss who's more interested in golf than crime solving. Meanwhile, when a young Muslim bride is found stabbed to death, Ortiz and Murphy suspect her husband; Sipowicz, Clark, and Jones arrest the man who shot Bale; and Bale himself, permanently injured, recommends Sipowicz as new squad commander of the 15th precinct.
261	20	"Moving Day"	Mark Tinker	Teleplay by: William Finkelstein Story by: Steven Bochco, Bill Clark & William Finkelstein	March 1, 2005	JB01/1220
Two new rookies arrive to the 15th, Ray Quinn & Joe Slovak. Sipowicz is made squad commander and in this episode, clashes with his sergeant from the 25th precinct, who is now a retired two-star chief. Near the end of this episode, Lt. Thomas Bale and Sipowicz end the ongoing feud between them from previous episodes as Bale hands the squad over to Andy knowing that he could manage the day-to-day affairs of the 15th.

References