David Milch

Writer / Show Creator


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, David Milch discusses his early life and influences, and how he came to write for Hill Street Blues. He talks about his stint as a writer for Hill Street Blues under Steven Bochco and his unconventional personal life at the time. He describes co-creating NYPD Blue with Bochco and helping to create the tone, feel, and language of the show. Milch recounts some of the tumultuous times on the show with David Caruso, talks of Caruso's replacement, Jimmy Smits, and explains his own eventual exit from the show. He outlines the creation of the classic HBO series Deadwood and what he was trying to accomplish with that show through symbolism and language, and he talks about the show's lead character "Al Swearengen," played by Ian McShane. He recalls his less successful HBO ventures John from Cincinnati and Luck, and talks of personal difficulties that resulted from the two series. Finally, he talks about his unconventional writing process and offers advice to aspiring television writers. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on December 27, 2012 in Santa Monica, CA. 

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"What became known as 'Milchspeak' is just metrics. When you use profanity if the metrics aren't right it sounds stupid. You find most people in the street speak 'MilchSpeak.' Or I should be more humble and say that my characters speak like people in the street."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
David Milch on co-creating NYPD Blue  with Steven Bochco
05:11
David Milch on his dialogue, also known as "MilchSpeak" and the language of NYPD Blue
04:36
David Milch on dealing with the network on NYPD Blue
03:51
David Milch on favorite episodes of Hill Street Blues that he wrote
03:40
David Milch on creating Deadwood
02:38
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on meeting Kurt Vonnegut; on how he came to write for Hill Street Blues
On writing his first television script; on the process of writing Hill Street Blues; on producing the short-lived series Capital News
On working with Steven Bochco on Hill Street Blues; on favorite episodes of Hill Street Blues; on producing Beverly Hills Buntz
On co-creating NYPD Blue with Steven Bochco; on the look of NYPD Blue; on network battles over the show

Chapter 2

On David Caruso as "John Kelly" on NYPD Blue; on the writing process for NYPD Blue; on the dialogue of the show
On Jimmy Smits as "Bobby Simone" on NYPD Blue; on the production of NYPD Blue; on the end of the show and its legacy
On co-creating Murder One; on writing Brooklyn South and The Big Apple; on creating and writing Deadwood
On Ian McShane as "Al Swearengen" on Deadwood; on critical and public reaction to Deadwood; on the writing process and budget of the show

Chapter 3

On his favorite Deadwood storylines; on the end of Deadwood and the legacy of the show; on creating John from Cincinnati 
On the series Luck; on career highlights and regrets; on advice to aspiring writers and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows

Beverly Hills Buntz

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David Milch on producing Beverly Hills Buntz
03:33

Big Apple

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David Milch on writing the series Big Apple
01:14

Brooklyn South

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David Milch on writing Brooklyn South
02:47

Deadwood

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David Milch on creating Deadwood
02:38
David Milch on the premise of Deadwood
03:05
David Milch on the process of writing Deadwood
03:06
David Milch on Ian McShane as "Al Swearengen" on Deadwood
03:03
David Milch on symbolism on Deadwood
00:54
David Milch on the language of Deadwood
02:52
David Milch on critical and public reaction to Deadwood
00:50
David Milch on the tone of Deadwood
01:33
David Milch on his writing process for Deadwood and the budget
01:57
David Milch on the budget of Deadwood
00:46
David Milch on his favorite Deadwood storylines
04:19
David Milch on the end of Deadwood
02:55
David Milch on the legacy of Deadwood
01:18

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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David Milch on winning Emmys and other awards for NYPD Blue
03:15

Hill Street Blues

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David Milch on how he came to write for Hill Street Blues
04:04
David Milch on "leading a double life" while writing for Hill Street Blues and his duties as Story Editor
02:39
David Milch on the process of writing for Hill Street Blues
02:20
David Milch on being promoted though the ranks on Hill Street Blues to Executive Producer
02:51
David Milch on working with Steven Bochco on Hill Street Blues
02:51
David Milch on favorite episodes of Hill Street Blues that he wrote
03:40
David Milch on what he learned about television writing from Hill Street Blues and its success 
04:45

John from Cincinnati

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David Milch on creating John from Cincinnati 
04:34

Murder One

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David Milch on co-writing the pilot to Murder One
02:07

NYPD Blue

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David Milch on co-creating NYPD Blue with Steven Bochco
05:11
David Milch on the look of NYPD Blue
01:26
David Milch on collaborating with Steven Bochco on NYPD Blue and dealing with the network
04:51
David Milch on how NYPD Blue differed from other cop shows
01:10
David Milch on David Caruso as "John Kelly" on NYPD Blue 
04:39
David Milch on his writing process for NYPD Blue
04:21
David Milch on his dialogue, also known as "MilchSpeak" and the language of NYPD Blue
04:36
David Milch on network interference with NYPD Blue
01:20
David Milch on using real-life stories on NYPD Blue
01:01
David Milch on Jimmy Smits joining the cast of NYPD Blue as "Bobby Simone"
00:35
David Milch on the production of NYPD Blue
01:07
David Milch on favorite episodes of NYPD Blue
01:43
David Milch on Jimmy Smits leaving NYPD Blue
00:59
David Milch on exiting NYPD Blue and how he felt about the show after he left
01:45
David Milch on the legacy of NYPD Blue
00:56
David Milch on winning Emmys and other awards for NYPD Blue
03:15
Topics

Advice

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David Milch on advice to aspiring television writers
00:38

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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David Milch on dealing with the network on NYPD Blue
03:51
David Milch on network interference with NYPD Blue
01:20

Characters & Catchphrases

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David Milch on Ian McShane as "Al Swearengen" on Deadwood
03:03

Emmy Awards

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David Milch on winning Emmys and other awards for NYPD Blue
03:15

First Big Break

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David Milch on how he came to write for Hill Street Blues
04:04
David Milch on how he came to write for Hill Street Blues
04:04

Overcoming Adversity

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David Milch on "leading a double life" while writing for Hill Street Blues  and his duties as Story Editor
02:39

Pivotal Career Moments

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David Milch on "leading a double life" while writing for Hill Street Blues  and his duties as Story Editor
02:39

Pop Culture

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David Milch on Ian McShane as "Al Swearengen" on Deadwood
03:03

Television Industry

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David Milch on dealing with the network on NYPD Blue
03:51
David Milch on network interference with NYPD Blue
01:20
David Milch on advice to aspiring television writers
00:38
Professions

Show Creators

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David Milch on his writing process
05:31
David Milch on the key to creating a series
01:48
David Milch on advice to aspiring television writers
00:38

Writers

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David Milch on the process of writing for Hill Street Blues
02:20
David Milch on his writing process
05:31
David Milch on the key to creating a series
01:48
David Milch on advice to aspiring television writers
00:38
Genres

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

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David Milch on writing for Hill Street Blues
30:00
David Milch on co-creating and writing NYPD Blue (Part 1)
17:10
David Milch on co-creating and writing NYPD Blue (Part 2)
27:30

Western Series

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David Milch on creating and writing Deadwood   (Part 1) 
24:31
David Milch on co-creating and writing Deadwood (Part 2)
08:32
People

David Caruso

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David Milch on David Caruso as "John Kelly" on NYPD Blue 
04:39

Dennis Franz

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David Milch on producing Beverly Hills Buntz
03:33
David Milch on his dialogue, also known as "MilchSpeak" and the language of NYPD Blue
04:36

Dustin Hoffman

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David Milch on the series Luck
10:02

Jimmy Smits

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David Milch on Jimmy Smits joining the cast of NYPD Blue as "Bobby Simone"
00:35
David Milch on Jimmy Smits leaving NYPD Blue
00:59

Michael Mann

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David Milch on the series Luck
10:02

Steven Bochco

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David Milch on working with Steven Bochco on Hill Street Blues
02:51
David Milch on co-creating NYPD Blue with Steven Bochco
05:11
David Milch on collaborating with Steven Bochco on NYPD Blue  and dealing with the network
04:51

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