About
"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."
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.
Highlights
David Milch on co-creating NYPD Blue with Steven Bochco
David Milch on his dialogue, also known as "MilchSpeak" and the language of NYPD Blue
David Milch on dealing with the network on NYPD Blue
David Milch on favorite episodes of Hill Street Blues that he wrote
David Milch on creating Deadwood
Full Interview
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
David Milch on producing Beverly Hills Buntz
Big Apple
David Milch on writing the series Big Apple
Brooklyn South
David Milch on writing Brooklyn South
Deadwood
David Milch on creating Deadwood
David Milch on the premise of Deadwood
David Milch on the process of writing Deadwood
David Milch on Ian McShane as "Al Swearengen" on Deadwood
David Milch on symbolism on Deadwood
David Milch on the language of Deadwood
David Milch on critical and public reaction to Deadwood
David Milch on the tone of Deadwood
David Milch on his writing process for Deadwood and the budget
David Milch on the budget of Deadwood
David Milch on his favorite Deadwood storylines
David Milch on the end of Deadwood
David Milch on the legacy of Deadwood
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
David Milch on winning Emmys and other awards for NYPD Blue
Hill Street Blues
David Milch on how he came to write for Hill Street Blues
David Milch on "leading a double life" while writing for Hill Street Blues and his duties as Story Editor
David Milch on the process of writing for Hill Street Blues
David Milch on being promoted though the ranks on Hill Street Blues to Executive Producer
David Milch on working with Steven Bochco on Hill Street Blues
David Milch on favorite episodes of Hill Street Blues that he wrote
David Milch on what he learned about television writing from Hill Street Blues and its success
John from Cincinnati
David Milch on creating John from Cincinnati
Murder One
David Milch on co-writing the pilot to Murder One
NYPD Blue
David Milch on co-creating NYPD Blue with Steven Bochco
David Milch on the look of NYPD Blue
David Milch on collaborating with Steven Bochco on NYPD Blue and dealing with the network
David Milch on how NYPD Blue differed from other cop shows
David Milch on David Caruso as "John Kelly" on NYPD Blue
David Milch on his writing process for NYPD Blue
David Milch on his dialogue, also known as "MilchSpeak" and the language of NYPD Blue
David Milch on network interference with NYPD Blue
David Milch on using real-life stories on NYPD Blue
David Milch on Jimmy Smits joining the cast of NYPD Blue as "Bobby Simone"
David Milch on the production of NYPD Blue
David Milch on favorite episodes of NYPD Blue
David Milch on Jimmy Smits leaving NYPD Blue
David Milch on exiting NYPD Blue and how he felt about the show after he left
David Milch on the legacy of NYPD Blue
David Milch on winning Emmys and other awards for NYPD Blue
Topics
Advice
David Milch on advice to aspiring television writers
Censorship / Standards & Practices
David Milch on dealing with the network on NYPD Blue
David Milch on network interference with NYPD Blue
Characters & Catchphrases
David Milch on Ian McShane as "Al Swearengen" on Deadwood
Emmy Awards
David Milch on winning Emmys and other awards for NYPD Blue
First Big Break
David Milch on how he came to write for Hill Street Blues
David Milch on how he came to write for Hill Street Blues
Overcoming Adversity
David Milch on "leading a double life" while writing for Hill Street Blues and his duties as Story Editor
Pivotal Career Moments
David Milch on "leading a double life" while writing for Hill Street Blues and his duties as Story Editor
Pop Culture
David Milch on Ian McShane as "Al Swearengen" on Deadwood
Television Industry
David Milch on dealing with the network on NYPD Blue
David Milch on network interference with NYPD Blue
David Milch on advice to aspiring television writers
Professions
Show Creators
David Milch on his writing process
David Milch on the key to creating a series
David Milch on advice to aspiring television writers
Writers
David Milch on the process of writing for Hill Street Blues
David Milch on his writing process
David Milch on the key to creating a series
David Milch on advice to aspiring television writers
Genres
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
David Milch on writing for Hill Street Blues
David Milch on co-creating and writing NYPD Blue (Part 1)
David Milch on co-creating and writing NYPD Blue (Part 2)
Western Series
David Milch on creating and writing Deadwood (Part 1)
David Milch on co-creating and writing Deadwood (Part 2)
People
Steven Bochco
David Milch on working with Steven Bochco on Hill Street Blues
David Milch on co-creating NYPD Blue with Steven Bochco
David Milch on collaborating with Steven Bochco on NYPD Blue and dealing with the network
David Caruso
David Milch on David Caruso as "John Kelly" on NYPD Blue
Dennis Franz
David Milch on producing Beverly Hills Buntz
David Milch on his dialogue, also known as "MilchSpeak" and the language of NYPD Blue
Dustin Hoffman
David Milch on the series Luck
Michael Mann
David Milch on the series Luck
Jimmy Smits
David Milch on Jimmy Smits joining the cast of NYPD Blue as "Bobby Simone"
David Milch on Jimmy Smits leaving NYPD Blue