Hill Street Blues

Watch Hill Street Blues

  • TV-14
  • 1981
  • 7 Seasons
  • 8.2  (9,523)

Hill Street Blues, was a stand out police drama show of the 1980's. It featured a stellar standout cast, and ran for seven seasons. The show regularly garnered awards during it's original run. It was a show that became a blueprint for police and crime shows that followed it. The premise of the show centers around a police precinct in an American city that is not specified. The show was known as one of the first, to feature more true to life language in the regular dialogue then any other show that had previously been aired. The show focused on work related issues, as well as the private lives of the central characters. Hill Street Blues was one of the first nightly shows that featured story lines that did not necessarily end at the end of sixty minutes. Some story lines were played out and continued through out the season. It was also highly regarded for tackling important issues that had previously never been addressed in dramatic television shows. Many viewers and television insiders, speculated that the show takes place in Chicago, or a similar mid western city, however, the city was never disclosed. The proverbial patriarch of the cast was the fictional Captain Frank Furillo, played by the seasoned actor, Daniel J. Travanti. His character more often then not set the tone, for the episode to follow. The character of Joyce Davenport, was a district attorney in the show, she was played by Veronica Hamel. Davenport and Furillo become romantically involved, and that makes for some rather interesting story lines, outside of the police precinct. Famed character actor Michael Conrad, played the endearing character of, Sargent Phil Esterhaus. Conrad would pass away after the third season of the show, and his character died off as well. In addition to extraordinary story lines and critically acclaimed performances, the show also had music that received musical accolades.

Hill Street Blues
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Seasons
It Ain't Over Till It's Over
22. It Ain't Over Till It's Over
May 12, 1987
A nighttime fire sweeps through the station. Buntz experiences fear for the first time when he is suspended on charges of stealing cocaine.
A Pound of Flesh
21. A Pound of Flesh
May 5, 1987
Hunter is rescued after being buried alive for eleven days and is advised by Furillo to avoid any references to the Donner party.
The Runner Stumbles
20. The Runner Stumbles
April 7, 1987
A football star gets caught in a Hill Street hooker sweep, and Prunella returns to look for the missing Hunter.
Days of Swine and Roses
19. Days of Swine and Roses
March 31, 1987
Renko attempts a reconciliation with his wife, Belker returns and Hunter gathers the troops for a hostage siege.
Dogbreath Afternoon
18. Dogbreath Afternoon
March 17, 1987
Buntz tracks down Belker's snitch as the whole station house works to find out who shot Mick. Renko is forced to be honest with Daryl Ann by a blackmailing hooker.
The Cookie Crumbles
17. The Cookie Crumbles
March 10, 1987
Renko erupts in jealousy over Daryl Ann's business partner, and Flaherty allows his feelings for Russo to interfere in a bust.
Sorry, Wrong Number
16. Sorry, Wrong Number
March 3, 1987
Goldblume and Furillo clash over using a former gang member to obtain evidence against a gang leader in a murder case. Renko's mounting problems affect his work.
Norman Conquest
15. Norman Conquest
February 10, 1987
During his day in station command, Buntz mounts a campaign to confiscate $130,000 worth of illegal substances, while Belker busts a tough kid who runs drugs.
Der Roachenkavalier
14. Der Roachenkavalier
February 3, 1987
Buntz worries over the state of Furillo's marriage, while LaRue and Washington get lots of help in their quest for a prize winning cockroach and Belker pursues a purse-snatching dog.
City of Refuse
13. City of Refuse
January 20, 1987
A sanitation workers' strike causes problems for some of the men, especially Hill. Russo and Flaherty become friends.
A Wasted Weekend
12. A Wasted Weekend
January 13, 1987
Buntz reassures Officer McBride about her shooting of an armed robber, while Goldblume is kidnapped while trying to start a short, much-needed vacation.
She's So Fein
11. She's So Fein
January 6, 1987
Joyce Davenport is taken hostage by a desperate suspect who holes up in a market with her and a wounded victim. Belker wrecks a car belonging to LaRue's brother-in-law.
More Skinned Against Than Skinning
10. More Skinned Against Than Skinning
December 23, 1986
Racial tensions rise when a white undercover officer shoots his black partner, and a temporarily blind Buntz goes undercover with Belker as a beggar.
Fathers and Guns
9. Fathers and Guns
December 9, 1986
Furillo faces a moral and emotional dilemma when his father is shot, while Belker has nightmares about nuclear destruction.
Falling from Grace
8. Falling from Grace
December 2, 1986
Daniels pushes Furillo to drop the Wade investigation, while a literary agent offers Goldblume a chance to write his memoirs.
Amazing Grace
7. Amazing Grace
November 27, 1986
Grace Gardner, the highly sexual former flame of Sgt Esterhaus, returns to the police station as Sister Chastity, a nun who now seeks Furillo's help.
Say Uncle
6. Say Uncle
November 13, 1986
Renko worries all day when a gypsy places a curse on him, while Larue is giddy about the glory he will get when a suspect he arrests admits to more than a dozen murders.
I Come on My Knees
5. I Come on My Knees
November 6, 1986
It's the odd couple revisited when Buntz lets 'Sid the Snitch' bunk in his apartment to hide from a vengeful ex-con.
Bald Ambition
4. Bald Ambition
October 30, 1986
Furillo is asked to help a proud Calletano head off a mutiny when his precinct officers are on the verge of a racial war among themselves.
The Best Defense
3. The Best Defense
October 16, 1986
After the public defenders walk out, the blues have to use discretion in making borderline arrests as the station overflows with suspects.
A Case of Klapp
2. A Case of Klapp
October 9, 1986
Hunter shoots a boy caught robbing a convenience store, while Belker struggles to protect senior citizens from a violent mugger.
The Suitcase
1. The Suitcase
October 2, 1986
Goldblume investigates a suspected case of aspirin tampering, while Belker works undercover looking into a scam.
Description

Hill Street Blues, was a stand out police drama show of the 1980's. It featured a stellar standout cast, and ran for seven seasons. The show regularly garnered awards during it's original run. It was a show that became a blueprint for police and crime shows that followed it. The premise of the show centers around a police precinct in an American city that is not specified. The show was known as one of the first, to feature more true to life language in the regular dialogue then any other show that had previously been aired. The show focused on work related issues, as well as the private lives of the central characters. Hill Street Blues was one of the first nightly shows that featured story lines that did not necessarily end at the end of sixty minutes. Some story lines were played out and continued through out the season. It was also highly regarded for tackling important issues that had previously never been addressed in dramatic television shows.

Many viewers and television insiders, speculated that the show takes place in Chicago, or a similar mid western city, however, the city was never disclosed. The proverbial patriarch of the cast was the fictional Captain Frank Furillo, played by the seasoned actor, Daniel J. Travanti. His character more often then not set the tone, for the episode to follow. The character of Joyce Davenport, was a district attorney in the show, she was played by Veronica Hamel. Davenport and Furillo become romantically involved, and that makes for some rather interesting story lines, outside of the police precinct. Famed character actor Michael Conrad, played the endearing character of, Sargent Phil Esterhaus. Conrad would pass away after the third season of the show, and his character died off as well. In addition to extraordinary story lines and critically acclaimed performances, the show also had music that received musical accolades.

Hill Street Blues is a series that is currently running and has 7 seasons (217 episodes). The series first aired on January 15, 1981.

Where to Watch Hill Street Blues

Hill Street Blues is available for streaming on the NBC website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Hill Street Blues on demand at Amazon Prime, Amazon, Hulu, Vudu, Microsoft Movies & TV, Google Play and Apple TV.

  • Premiere Date
    January 15, 1981
  • IMDB Rating
    8.2  (9,523)