Can World War III Be an Attitude? (24 Jan. 1981)

Hill Street finds the precinct under siege when the gangs react to the president canceling his walking tour. Hill and Renko arrest a car thief who has a knack for fixing things around the station. Frank asks Joyce to represent LaRue who is facing bribery charges.

Director:

Robert Butler

Writers:

Michael Kozoll (creator), Steven Bochco (creator),

Stars:

Daniel J. Travanti, Michael Conrad, Michael Warren

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel J. Travanti	...	Capt. Frank Furillo
Michael Conrad	...	Sgt. Phil Esterhaus
Michael Warren	...	Officer Robert 'Bobby' Hill
Bruce Weitz	...	Sgt. Mick Belker (credit only)
James Sikking	...	Lt. Howard Hunter (as James B. Sikking)
Joe Spano	...	Det. Henry Goldblume
Barbara Bosson	...	Fay Furillo (credit only)
Taurean Blacque	...	Det. Neal Washington
Kiel Martin	...	Officer John 'J.D.' LaRue
René Enríquez	...	Lt. Ray Calletano
Betty Thomas	...	Officer Lucy Bates
Charles Haid	...	Officer Andrew Renko
Veronica Hamel	...	Joyce Davenport
Barbara Babcock	...	Grace Gardner
Dan Hedaya	...	Ralph Macafee

Storyline

Esterhaus finds himself tempted by a new woman when Grace Gardner returns to decorate the precinct and won't take no for an answer. LaRue has his first hearing and draws support from both partner Washington and captain Furillo. Lucy Bates questions her femininity when Hunter asks her to join his team. A car jacking leads Hill and Renko to arrest "Malibu," who turns out to be completely willing to confess and pay back his time doing fix-up work around the precinct. And with Furillo out at LaRue's hearing, the hill finds itself under siege from gangs angry with the president canceling his walking tour.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 January 1981 (USA)

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

MTM Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

User Reviews

Excellent episode

The street gangs retaliate and plan to attack Hill Station after the President cancels his walking tour. Meanwhile, LaRue ((Kiel Martin) tries to clear his name and Furillo (the always terrific Daniel J. Travanti) asks Davenport (the equally fine Veronica Hamel) to represent LaRue in court. The delightfully radiant Barbara Babcock returns as enticing and spirited decorator Grace Gardner and once again butts heads with Esterhaus (Michael Conrad, who brings a wonderfully appealing warmth to his role); their confrontation scenes are a treat to watch. Esterhaus also displays his tender side in a moving scene with Lucy Bates (Betty Thomas), who's insulted after Hunter (an exquisitely deadpan James B. Sikking) asks her to join his elite emergency task force squad for all the wrong reasons. Guest star Charles Fleischer, who's best known as the voice of Roger Rabbit, nearly steals the whole show with a funny and likable performance as Malibu, a hip would-be car thief and electronics fix-it whiz who repairs various faulty things in the station after he's arrested by Renko (Charles Haid) and Hill (Michael Warren). Martin as LaRue really shines in this episode, with a conversation with his partner Washington (Taurean Blacque) about him being possibly corrupt rating as the definite highlight. Dan Hedaya simply oozes as shrewd and slippery dirty cop Ralph Macafee. Moreover, there's a pretty tense and gripping sequence when all the power gets cut off at the station and the show overall nicely explores the theme of loyalty among police officers.