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David Milch
Writer / Show Creator
"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."
About This Interview
In his two-and-a-half-hour Archive 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 though symbolism and language, and 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, California.
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Highlights
David Milch on co-creating NYPD Blue with Steven Bochco
Clip begins at: 46:46, Duration: 05m 11sDavid Milch on his dialogue, also known as "MilchSpeak" and the language of NYPD Blue
Clip begins at: 10:14, Duration: 04m 36sDavid Milch on dealing with the network on NYPD Blue
Clip begins at: 54:21, Duration: 03m 51sDavid Milch on favorite episodes of Hill Street Blues that he wrote
Clip begins at: 32:37, Duration: 03m 40sDavid Milch on creating Deadwood
Clip begins at: 34:25, Duration: 02m 38s
Interview
- Part 1
- On his early life and influences; on meeting Kurt Vonnegut; on how he came to write for Hill Street Blues
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On writing his first television script; on the process of writing Hill Street Blues; on producing the short-lived series Capital News
Clip begins at: 15:06 - On working with Steven Bochco on Hill Street Blues; on favorite episodes of Hill Street Blues; on producing Beverly Hills Buntz
Clip begins at: 29:38 - On co-creating NYPD Blue with Steven Bochco; on the look of NYPD Blue; on network battles over the show
Clip begins at: 45:41 - Part 2
- On David Caruso as "John Kelly" on NYPD Blue; on the writing process for NYPD Blue; on the dialogue of the show
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On Jimmy Smits as "Bobby Simone" on NYPD Blue; on the production of NYPD Blue; on the end of the show and its legacy
Clip begins at: 14:50 - On co-creating Murder One; on writing Brooklyn South and The Big Apple; on creating and writing Deadwood
Clip begins at: 27:31 - On Ian McShane as "Al Swearengen" on Deadwood; on critical and public reaction to Deadwood; on the writing process and budget of the show
Clip begins at: 43:39 - Part 3
- On his favorite Deadwood storylines; on the end of Deadwood and the legacy of the show; on creating John from Cincinnati
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On the series Luck; on career highlights and regrets; on advice to aspiring writers and how he'd like to be remembered
Clip begins at: 13:07
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