CBSJimmy Smits is fired up. As Police Chief John Suarez, he’s filming in the Brooklyn neighborhood where he grew up and reuniting with exec producers William Finkelstein and Michael M. Robin, friends from his L.A. Law and NYPD Blue days, on the new CBS cop drama East New York (premieres Sunday, Oct. 2, at 9:30pm ET/PT). “I trust them, where their hearts are. Bochco alums emeritus!” the actor crows, referring to Steven Bochco, cocreator of those series.
Of his character, Smits says, “Suarez is a rock — politically savvy but realizes there needs to be change.” That’s why he’s handpicked a deputy inspector to head the 74th Precinct, a mostly minority area that requires fresh thinking to bring down crime rates.
For onetime street cop Regina Haywood (Amanda Warren, The Leftovers), “Her priority is to give people a sense of safety and security,” Finkelstein notes. “As she says, ‘We’re not an occupying army.’” Some of her plans — like ending infractions quotas — will “ruffle feathers among the higher-ups,” says Mike Flynn, cocreator with Finkelstein.
At the 74th, veteran officer Marvin Sandeford (Ruben Santiago-Hudson) and Detective Tommy Killian (Kevin Rankin) are skeptics. In the premiere, Haywood encourages cops to live in East New York; Sandeford worries when the first volunteer to move into a housing project is one of the more green officers, Brandy Quinlan (Olivia Luccardi), an ambitious young white woman. Haywood does have allies. Underestimated Capt. Stan Yenko (a scene-stealing Richard Kind) becomes her loyal No. 2. And Suarez has her back, when he can.
There’s “a minefield of city politics he has to contend with,” Smits says. “‘The long game,’ that is his motto!” — Ileane Rudolph
Jimmy 5th grade boyfriend. We did talent show. “Stop in the name of love” lol. Please remove mustach