Hi

Great series....the story line, the acting, the DRAMA....but WHY did they replace Daniel Benzali ???

My GOD, what an actor!!

GREAT series (1st season) which is FINALLY available on DVD in Feb.
My understanding was that he left the show because the powers that be thought he was too dour and spoke too monotonous in tone. I think also either ABC or someone wanted to change the tone and direction of the series (episodic rather than one main story line with tangents) and he resisted and basically was released.

I thought it was a conflict between him and Bochco with Benzali being to difficult and the agreement for him to leave was mutual.

I also seem to remember that a great deal was made of their reconciliation when he returned to NYPD Blue for the conclusion to Sylvia's storyline.

I went to the Murder One Q & A at the Museum of Television & Radio in 1995 (during the show's second season). Somebody asked Bochco why Benzali was replaced (in front of LaPaglia, no less). He gave a terse answer that basically was that they were extremely lucky to be renewed at all with their low ratings and that the network had made suggestions. So I think the post above was pretty close to what happened.

I've posted before about my personal experience during this Q & A. I'll see if it's searchable. Let's say it wasn't a great exchange.

edit: Here's my original post from like a year and a half ago. I've just copied it since it's late and I'm tired and lazy.

Funny story here about Murder One:
As the second (and final) season was winding down, the Museum of Televison and Radio in LA held their annual festival. As you may know, they pick a few current and former TV shows and assemble the cast and creative talents for a Q & A. My (future) wife and I went to the Murder One event since I was such a fan. After a bunch of softball questions, lots of moaning and groaning about the poor ratings and one notable stonewall (about the ousting of Benzali), I felt I had a good question. I stood up and asked my TV hero, Steven Bochco, creator of Hill Street Blues, LA Law and NYPD Blues, a living legend about the criticism that his show took after the end of the first season with its conclusion. Now I had read article after article saying that people were disappointed and let down and I merely asked if that criticism had spawned a change in the show's focus from "whodunnit" to more clearly focus on the case. Well, Mr Bochco's eyes got real wide and he basically ripped me a new one as he angrily lectured about how he thought the S1 ending was right on target and well set up and he didn't think there was any problem with it at all. There were a few gasps and murmers after his response. A nice little lady sitting on the other side of me whispered "I was dissapointed too". What really upset me was that I didn't criticise him, I only asked about other people's criticsm. That really bit and needless to say, I'll probably never get a job in the TV biz now.