After one season on '' NYPD Blue '' , David Caruso decided to leave his role as Detective John Kelly and pursue a movie career when he was unable to secure a salary increase from $ 80,000 ( US$ in dollars ) per episode to $ 100,000 ( US$ ) . At the time , Caruso had a pending Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series nomination for the 46th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1994 . Meanwhile , ABC was enduring the odd combination of high ratings , high critical praise and largescale network affiliate boycotts of its breakthrough use of nudity and profanity on public television that forced it to offer discounted advertising rates in spite of its success . Smits , who had left his Emmy Award-winning role as Victor Sifuentes on '' L.A. Law '' in 1991 , was signed as a replacement on August 18 , 1994 . Caruso would continue in his role for the first four episodes of the second season , and Smits replaced him in a new role in episode 5 in November . Smits originally hoped to sign with the show for three years , while ABC sought a more standard five-year contract
46th Primetime Emmy Awards
46th Primetime Emmy Awards
Hearts and Souls