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The first of NYPD Blue's "delayed" season premieres (its Tuesday-night time slot was briefly supplanted by Once and Again) , this inaugural episode of the series' seventh season did not air until the second week of January in 1999. Still having trouble getting over the death of his wife Sylvia, 15th precinct detective Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) has at least managed to shed some weight during the summer. This newer, leaner Sipowicz jumps back into the swim by joining partner Danny Sorenson (Rick Schroder) in the investigation of a beating death involving two of the fellow officers. Elsewhere, Danny finds a kindred spirit in a newcomer to the 15th, Officer Mary Franco (Sheeri Rappaport in her first series appearance), and Detective Jill Kirkendall (Andrea Thompson) considers getting back together with her unsavory ex-husband, Don (Erich Anderson). Austin Majors, introduced at the end of season six as Andy's son Theo, becomes a semi-regular with this episode.