Entertainment

SHARON OUT OF THE BLUE

P ASADENA, Calif. – Sultry Sharon Lawrence’s announcement that she was leaving “NYPD Blue” was a suprise to series co-creator Steven Bochco.

Lawrence, who plays glamorous attorney Sylvia Costas – wife of gritty Det. Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) – said Wednesday she was unhappy with the way her character has been handled by series co-creators Bochco and David Milch, and says she wants to leave the highly rated ABC cop drama after the end of this season.

Lawrence told a reporter earlier this week that she was promised a more meaty part when she returned to the show full-time this season.

But Lawrence’s declaration caught both Bochco and ABC by surprise.

An ABC spokeswoman said Lawrence hasn’t approached the network about leaving the show, and said ABC first heard about her desire to bolt when her comments appeared in a Philadelphia newspaper.

A spokeswoman for Bochco echoed those sentiments, saying Bochco had no comment on Lawrence’s desire to depart.

Lawrence, an original “NYPD Blue” cast member, appeared only sporadically on the show last season while starring in her own, short-lived NBC sitcom, “Fired Up,” with Leah Remini (now starring in CBS’ “The King of Queens”).

When “Fired Up” was canned, Lawrence returned to “NYPD Blue” on a full-time basis – but this season has been limited mostly to scenes at home with Sipowicz and the couple’s baby, Theo.

Lawrence’s departure would be the second major change on “NYPD Blue” this season.

Jimmy Smits (Bobby Simone) left the show last fall and was replaced by Rick Schroder, who plays streetwise Det. Danny Sorenson.

Lawrence’s manager was “tied up in client meetings all day” and couldn’t comment, her assistant said.