Hill Street Blues (1981–1987)

The lives and work of the staff of an inner city police precinct.

Creators:

Steven Bochco, Michael Kozoll

Stars:

Daniel J. Travanti, Taurean Blacque, Bruce Weitz

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 55 wins & 101 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Daniel J. Travanti	...	Capt. Frank Furillo (144 episodes, 1981-1987)
Taurean Blacque	...	Det. Neal Washington (144 episodes, 1981-1987)
Bruce Weitz	...	Sgt. Mick Belker (143 episodes, 1981-1987)
Joe Spano	...	Det. Henry Goldblume (143 episodes, 1981-1987)
Kiel Martin	...	Officer John 'J.D.' LaRue (143 episodes, 1981-1987)
Betty Thomas	...	Sgt. Lucy Bates (143 episodes, 1981-1987)
Charles Haid	...	Officer Andrew Renko (142 episodes, 1981-1987)
Veronica Hamel	...	Joyce Davenport (142 episodes, 1981-1987)
Michael Warren	...	Officer Robert 'Bobby' Hill (141 episodes, 1981-1987)
James Sikking	...	Lt. Howard Hunter (140 episodes, 1981-1987)
René Enríquez	...	Lt. Ray Calletano (104 episodes, 1981-1987)
Ed Marinaro	...	Officer Joe Coffey (104 episodes, 1981-1986)
Barbara Bosson	...	Fay Furillo (101 episodes, 1981-1987)
Robert Hirschfeld	...	Officer Leo Schnitz (90 episodes, 1981-1985)
Michael Conrad	...	Sgt. Phil Esterhaus (71 episodes, 1981-1984)
Jon Cypher	...	Chief Fletcher Daniels (66 episodes, 1981-1987)

Storyline

The original "ensemble drama," this is the story of an overworked, under-staffed police precinct in an anonymous inner city patterned after Chicago. We follow the lives of many characters, from the lowly beat and traffic cops to the captain of the precinct himself. This is the show that blazed the trail followed later by such notable ensemble dramas as "St. Elsewhere" and "L.A. Law."

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Plot Keywords:

police | inner city | gang warfare | policeman | sergeant | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 January 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Balada de Hill Street

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

MTM Enterprises, National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (146 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

The pilot script said the show took place in an unnamed Midwestern city. Throughout the show's seven year run, the exact name of the city was never mentioned.

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Goofs

During the opening credits when the police cars pull out of the garage, one of them has the overhead light bar on backwards. You can see that the others have the siren speakers between the lights facing front, while one has it facing to the trunk.

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Quotes

Detective Mick Belker: I'm a police officer and you... are... BUSTED!

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Crazy Credits

After the credits it shows the MTM kitten wearing a policeman's hat to match this show.

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Connections

Spoofed in Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show (2009)

User Reviews

Grrrrrrrrrrrr!! This was Chicago by the way!!

Tough cops are everywhere!! This series did not officially designate a city in which it took place, but, all indications point to "Hill Street Blues" being set in the city of Chicago!! The Old Style beer sign outside one of the bars that the television audience saw during the introduction of the show sort of gave it away!! I loved this show, the cast was a big reason!! Daniel Travanti was extremely likable just by virtue of the fact that he was very faulted!! Veronica Hamel, was the hard working feminist D. A. who attempted to dissect reality, it then became a moot question as to whether or not she would be able to stomach it!! Ed Marinaro was terrific as a Chicago cop, this is absolutely remarkable considering the fact that he was a professional football player from New York!! Betty Thomas was the ideal prototype for a lady cop!! Kiel Martin was perfect as the sleaze ball working on the right side of the law!! Last but not least, Bruce Wietz, "Grrrrrrrr!!" he added an astutely hilarious perspective to the series through his portrayal as the undercover guy!! One time, Kathy Bates played his sister, she also made the noise "Grrrrrrrr!!" and used the term "dog breath". "Hill Street Blues" was enormously popular throughout the entire eighties decade because, it depicted tragedy in a manner which portrayed it as something that does not simply disappear!! Part of NBC's powerful Thursday night line-up, it always highlighted the bothersome travesties which afflicted a precinct in a poverty ridden section of the city!! So many ideas seemed complicated, until the figureheads of the law came to grips with the fact that there was no solution to most crimes, just aspects of mollification to them!! The prevailing circumstances of adversity on this program are what gave all of the characters in the show "Hill Street Blues" a tailor made invitation to seek amelioration for their actions!! Many situations that are very sad remain that way for both sides!! Victims of their environment turned criminals by default, as well as the detectives and policemen, all seem to be making deals with the devil!! Before "Law and Order", before "L A Law", there was "Hill Street Blues"... Reality is nauseating, reality is humorous, reality is perverse, reality has a definite monotony, and, in this case, reality for effective television programming was "Hill Street Blues". I thought this television show was one of the best ever!! I wish there could be more shows like "Hill Street Blues" on prime time television today!! "Hill Street Blues" was a definite winner!!