Discover the most popular TV show the year you were born

The cast of the television police drama ‘NYPD Blue’ pose on top of a roof in New York, New York, 1993. (L-R) David Caruso, Dennis Franz, Amy Brenneman, James McDaniel, Sherry Stringfield, and Nicholas Turturro. (Photo by 20th Century Fox Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)

1996: NYPD Blue

The 90s ushered in a new era of TV that favored medical and police procedurals, and NYPD Blue was another hit that made waves. The police drama ran on ABC from 1993 until 2005, and focused on the struggles of the 15th Precinct detective squad in Manhattan, New York. At the time, it became ABC’s longest-running one-hour drama series…until Grey’s Anatomy beat it in 2016.

NYPD Blue was praised by critics for its grittiness and for its realistic portrayal of the lives of cops, both professional and personal. The show’s grittiness also led to some controversy. Its use of nudity and excessive language got the show in some hot water, because it was more risque than was typically allowed on primetime network television, and it ended up with complaints and fines. But if anything, that helped the show establish itself as a rebel on the television scene.

While the show didn’t quite have the ratings of other shows at the time like ER, fans and critics both loved it. The series won 20 out of 84 Emmy Award nominations, which included many acting awards for the show’s talented ensemble cast. The series also received thirteen Golden Globe and 23 Screen Actors Guild nominations.