'NYPD Blues' Upstairs Brochtrup Down To Earth

When ABC first aired "NYPD Blue" in 1993; some viewers thought the show too graphic for prime-time viewing. The drama pushed the creative envelope by showing men's bare backsides and a host of other television firsts that shocked our "Cosby Show" sensibility.

But the guys and gals in blue soon won us over with daring plot lines, gritty camera shots and unforgettable characters.

The show, co-created by mega hit-maker Steven Bochco and producer writer David Milch has racked up an impressive number of industry and viewer awards: Emmy's, Golden Globes, People's Choice Awards, Viewer's Choice for Quality Television, SAG Awards and TV Guide honors have all been booked and fingerprinted in New York City's fictitious 15th Precinct.

Although many of the original and previous cast members have moved on (David Caruso, Jimmy Smits, Amy Brenneman, Sharon Lawrence, Gail O'Grady), other stalwart actors like Dennis Franz have stayed on. And still others, like former child-star Rick Schroder have stepped in, successfully filling the gap for the wildly talented Smits.

When Police Administrative Aide Dolores Mayo died on the show, producers decided to replace the PAA gig with an audience favorite. They looked no further than the upstairs of the precinct.

In the sixth season, the popular character of "Upstairs John" Irvin became a series regular. Now, meet the actor who plays John Irvin: Bill Brochtrup.

Fitting The Bill
We meet at the Silverspoon restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood.

It's not exactly what I would consider a Hollywood hot spot. Brochtrup tells me I couldn't be more wrong.

"I love the Silverspoon," Brochtrup says smiling.

I am struck by Brochtrup's charm. His shock of blond hair and guy-next-door grin all say that he doesn't seem to take himself too seriously. His work: Yes. Himself: No.

I look around at the restaurant's wood paneled walls and old cash register.

I'm not quite convinced of its charm.

"It's such an old Hollywood kind of place. It's been around for forever, If you come here on Saturday or Sunday you totally see like Sally Kirkland, Shelley Winters, Skip E. Lowe, and Robert Loggia," Brochtrup says enthusiastically. "This place is hip."

Brochtrup's enthusiasm wins out. It's easy to see why he gets boatloads of fan mail about his character John Irvin on "NYPD Blue."

Brochtrup says he's happy that Upstairs John went from a reoccurring character to a series regular.

"I started in the second season with just two episodes and then they decided to keep me coming back and back and back," he tells me.

It's been a winding, but steady road to his place on the show, having not only appeared on "NYPD Blue," but on other Bochco shows including the short-lived "Public Morals" and "Total Security."

I ask him if he's a "Bocho Baby." Is he one of a handful of actors like actor Blair Underwood who Bocho has taken under his wing?

"I hope so. Blair Underwood, Dennis Franz … (Bochco) is really good about using people he likes," Brochtrup says.

No Dennis (Franz) The Menace
"Being on a series is fantastic. I'm obviously prejudiced, but I think it's the best show on TV and will be remembered as the best show of the decade. And to be a little part of that, I feel very proud of that." Brochtrup said about his experience on "NYPD Blue."

TRIVIA

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"It's really well written. As actors, all we can ever do is be involved with good writing," he said.

"David Milch is an amazing writer and Steven Bochco is now going to be working on the show more hands on. And he's the master."

Brochtrup nearly gushes when he speaks of his current and former co-stars.

"The quality of Dennis, Rick, Jimmy Smits, Kim Delaney -- it's pretty much a joy," Brochtrup says.

What about Dennis Franz, whose on-screen character of Andy Sipowicz has tangled more than once with Brochtrup's character?

Brochtrup raves about Franz's leadership on the set.

"One of the things I've learned is that the tone of the show is so much set by the leading guy, and that's Dennis in this case. He's such a great actor. He's sublime," Brochtrup says. "He could (be a great actor) and be a jerk. Dennis is the most down-to-earth and humble guy. He's the first guy to go in and shake hands with the extras, the guest stars, to the new people."

Dear John
"They say 'action' (and) suddenly my body goes up. John has better posture, and he has pretty hands, which I don't have. And when I think of John, I think lovely." Brochtrup says of his character.

"(John's) very good at his job, he's very efficient. If he wasn't good at his job, he wouldn't last a second.

John is also gay, which seems to make him more popular with the fans.

"I love playing him,"Brochtrup says. "Milch said to me once, 'John is who we want to be when we grow up,'"

"He's so well-adjusted, so comfortable with who he is. And because he has no shame, no problem, no issues about that, he can then be accepting of everyone else in the squad room," Brochtrup tells me of his character.

And does Brochtrup have that same kind of effect on people?

"I don't have that nearly so much. I would like to. John has much more virtue than I do, much more patience," he says.

"I think it's interesting that John's gay, I don't think about it all the time, like, 'Now I'll do a gay moment.' I don't know what that would mean," Brochtrup says.

However, Brochtrup is quick to add, "I think (his sexuality is) an integral part of who he is. I think it just reflects the truth of the workplace in America. The truth of the fabric of life and the world; that there are gay people in all walks of life, not just like florists or some kind of stereotypical thing. I mean this guy works in a gritty police station."

Brochtrup says that he wonders what effect playing a gay character will have on his career.

"The truth is, all actors worry about it. I think that typecasting is simply endemic to acting. I think that people are always trying to put you into a little box because it's easier to define," he says. "(Performers are) always trying to prove that we can do more. That our range is wiser than what we are getting credit for. As long as the writings good, it doesn't matter if I end up playing gay characters my entire life."

The Blue & The Gray
Brochtrup is decorating his new Los Angeles home and has been struggling with the paint samples. The process seems to frustrate him -- with good reason.

The samples never seem to be the same color once dry on the wall.

Brochtrup tells me that a paint chip he thought was blue, turned out looking more like the inside of a battle ship -- much too gray.

One can't say that about Brochtrup's career, however, which is far from turning gray.

Besides "NYPD Blue," Brochtrup is also starring in "Snakebit," a play in Los Angeles that has just been extended through Aug. 6 and is playing at the Hudson Theater in West Hollywood. The same production enjoyed an extended run off-Broadway at the Century Theater.

With Brochtrup, what you see is what you get -- a colorful and talented actor with all the foibles of a real person (see: paint chip frustration).

It is this endearing quality that millions of viewers see in Upstairs John each week on "NYPD Blue." And maybe that's why America is down with Brochtrup.

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