• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 15.

• Is it any good?

  5.0

• Common Sense says

  Rich police drama with strong characters. No kids.

Why We Rated This for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

• Messages:

  Characters are richly drawn and often seriously flawed. Detectives often skirt the law during investigations, including using violence. Some characters have prejudices -- homophobia, racism, sexism -- it all pops up. Racially diverse cast throughout entire series run. A regular secondary character is gay.
• Violence:

  Overall, focuses more on the consequences of violence than violence itself. That said, crime scenes often include blood. One episode shows a man shot in the head with blood on his face. Police often use physical violence against suspects and others.
• Sex:

  Some episodes include realistic sex scenes with some partial nudity (including infamous bare-butt scenes). Characters often appear in their underwear or partially clothed.
• Language:

  Plenty of cursing and other adult language, like "ass," "hard on," "humping," "bulls--t," etc. Purposely pushed the limits of acceptable prime-time language.
• Consumerism:

  Not an issue.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  One main character struggles with alcoholism. Others drink often. Sometimes cases involve drugs.

What Parents Need to Know

About NYPD Blue

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