Steven Bochco Productions/Summary

(September 19, 1989-September 4, 2016)
Nickname: "The Violinist"

Logo: On a black background, we see a picture of a man playing a violin, (who happens to be Bochco's father), hung by a string. The picture then animates, playing a fast paced, and loud violin tune, and while that happens, the string turns into Steven Bochco's signature, and "P R O D U C T I O N S  " appears below the signature. "Steven Bochco P RODUCTIONS   " is placed next to the picture.

Variants:


 * On Capitol Critters, an animated mouse plays the violin. This was seen from January to March of 1992. The animation was provided by Hanna-Barbera Productions.


 * The first HD version, shown on NYPD Blue reruns and Shout! Factory DVDs and from 2000 to 2004 had a much uglier signature and the "PRODUCTIONS" text is in a different font.


 * The second HD version, used from 2004 to the logo's end had a sepia toned violin piece and the text and the yellow box is in a more realistic gold color.

FX/SFX: The picture animating.

Music/Sounds: A very dramatic and fast paced violin tune (in that case, was ripped off as a piece of "The Four Seasons: Summer" by Antonio Vivaldi), which would carry on to the logos that follow it (such as either the 20th Television logo, the Paramount Television logo, or the CBS Productions logo),

Music/Sounds Variants:


 * ABC airings of Blind Justice, Commander in Chief and NYPD Blue (starting 2003?) would have a voice over.


 * CBS airings of Brooklyn South run Letterman promo voiceovers after the theme concludes.


 * On Capitol Critters, the music is more high pitch and faster.


 * On overseas and Sleuth prints of Blind Justice, the end title theme plays over the entire logo.

Availability: Last seen on Doogie Howser, M.D. (the first show this logo was used on) on The Hub (now Discovery Family) and Antenna TV. It's also intact on all shows produced by Steven Bochco from 1989 onward, such as NYPD Blue, Raising the Bar, Commander in Chief, City of Angels (2000), Brooklyn South, and Blind Justice. The latter title was last reran on Sleuth. The Capitol Critters variant is extinct and was last seen in the mid-90s on Cartoon Network. The last show to carry the logo was Murder in the First on TNT. Also appeared on the short-lived series Cop Rock last aired on Trio under the Flops block.

Editor's Note: It appears that the logo seems to be moving by way of paper cutouts (i.e. stop motion). The animation is outdated by the late 1990's-early 2000's.