T V | House of Stapleton

Hill Street Blues (1981)

Rating

Run Time: 49 min

Color: Color

Aspect Ratio: 1.33 : 1

Sound: Mono

Producer: MTM Enterprises

Genre

Crime
Drama
Mystery

Seasons: 7

Episodes: 146

Overview

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."

Barbara Bosson

Fay Furillo

Betty Thomas

Officer Lucy Bates / Sgt. Lucy Bates

Lt. Norman Buntz / Det. Sal Benedetto

Ed Marinaro

Officer Joe Coffey

James B. Sikking

Lt. Howard Hunter / Sgt. Howard Hunter

Joe Spano

Lt. Henry Goldblume / Det. Henry Goldblume

Ken Olin

Det. Harry Garibaldi

Kiel Martin

Detective J.D. LaRue / Officer J.D. LaRue

Michael Conrad

Sgt. Philip Freemason 'Phil' Esterhaus

Michael Warren

Officer Bobby Hill

Rene Enriquez

Lt. Ray Calletano / Capt. Ray Calletano

Robert Prosky

Sgt. Stanislaus 'Stan' Jablonski

Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Season 7

1. Hill Street Station

First Aired January 14, 1981

A hostage situation arises in Captain Furillo's precinct. Public defender Joyce Davenport is looking for her client, lost due to bureaucratic mismanagement. Officers Hill and Renko are shot in the line of duty. The audience is introduced to Belker's growling, and his mother. This episode was awarded an Edgar for Best Teleplay from a Series. In 1996, TV Guide included this episode as part of its "100 Most Memorable Moments in TV History", ranking it # 63.

2. Presidential Fever

First Aired January 16, 1981

Furillo is not pleased by the proposed visit of the US President to Hill Street. Meanwhile his emerging relationship with Joyce Davenport is floundering. Hill and Renko (who was in a coma for two weeks) return to work. Grace Gardner arrives to redecorate, and has her eyes at once on Sergeant Esterhaus. Belker solves a series of rapes and captures two rapists - but the main suspect remains at large. Two officers are jumped when they leave a building after finding no evidence of a suspected theft.

3. Politics as Usual

First Aired January 21, 1981

Negotiations continue with the gangs over the Presidential visit. Hill and Renko split as partners. Corrupt detective Sergeant Ralph Macafee is introduced, and LaRue is challenged by a massive bribe. When LaRue attempts to return the bribe money back to Macafee, he is immediately busted by IAD agents. Faye is also busted for being at the wrong place at the wrong time, but Furillo gets her out of jail on the condition they talk about an alimony arrangement they can both live with.

4. Can World War III Be an Attitude?

First Aired January 23, 1981

The Presidential visit is canceled, leading to gang warfare, and a tense moment as the station house appears to be besieged. LaRue, under suspension, is investigated for corruption and referred to the DA for prosecution. Grace Gardner begins her efforts to win over Sergeant Esterhaus. "Malibu" (a talented car thief and mechanic) is arrested by Hill and Renko, but released after mending most of the patrol cars and the station plumbing and electrics.

5. Double Jeopardy

First Aired January 30, 1981

Many of the male officers appear in drag in an attempt to trap the serial rapist; they succeed, but Bates is hospitalized. Sergeant Esterhaus struggles with his two women, Cindy and Grace. Sergeant Macaffee's secret is finally uncovered - he has two wives and two families. His resulting corruption is uncovered and saves LaRue from prosecution.

6. Film at Eleven

First Aired February 06, 1981

A film crew shadows the precinct and takes a patrol with Hill and Renko. LaRue and Washington discover the gun used in the Hill/Renko shooting. Hunter appears for the first time as a Lieutenant (although he remains in the uniform of a Sergeant in the opening credits until the start of the fourth series; no direct reference is made to his promotion). Kevin "Dracula" (Tony Plana) is brought in by Belker on an assault charge, is detained in a jail cell and due to his mental instability hangs himself before the day is out. Both Joyce and Frank wonder if they did everything they could have to prevent it.

7. Choice Cut

First Aired February 13, 1981

Hector, a 15-year-old repeat offender for whom Furillo has a soft spot, takes hostages after an armed robbery; Furillo talks the situation to an end, preventing Hunter from deploying a massive arsenal of high-powered weaponry. Renko and Hill steal a large piece of meat, only to have it stolen from them by LaRue and Washington ... only for them to lose it in a bizarre switch. The TV crew continues to cause trouble. There are questions about whether Renko has correctly identified his shooter. Men are still being kidnapped, stripped naked and robbed by three prostitutes in a black van.

8. Up in Arms

First Aired February 20, 1981

Esterhaus goes out to meet a dangerous criminal once convicted on his evidence, now released from prison, only to find that his nemesis has taken to religion and is seeking forgiveness from Esterhaus. Santini and Harris (Mark Metcalf) encounter the black van and attempt to apprehend the three prostitutes without calling for assistance; as a result, Harris is murdered. The alleged shooter of Renko and Hill is released without charge.

9. Your Kind, My Kind, Humankind

First Aired February 27, 1981

After the TV crew is involved (unauthorized, thanks to LaRue) in a liquor store stakeout that turns deadly, the TV presentation is favorable to Hill Street. The alleged shooter of Hill and Renko makes a confession, but Hill remains unconvinced and distanced from Renko. Belker's love life suffers a setback. Following the death of Harris, Officer Santini resigns to pursue his passion for cabinet making.

10. Gatorbait

First Aired March 06, 1981

Commander Swanson has been promoted to Deputy Chief of Police. Furillo and Ed Chappell are the two Captains competing to be the new Commander. Hunter and the Emergency Action Team (EAT) are in the sewers on the annual alligator hunt where they discover to their dismay that LaRue and Washington have already deployed a decoy Gator. Fay Furillo is receiving obscene and abusive telephone calls.

11. Life, Death, Eternity /Life, Death, Eternity, Etcetera

First Aired March 13, 1981

Marvin (Marv) Box, the station handyman, aged 32, dies suddenly, leaving no relatives and causing much reflection by the other characters. Fay's stalker becomes bolder, entering her home. Furillo takes on a possibly corrupt City Councilman, despite the potential to damage his promotion to Commander. Esterhaus informs Furillo that in the light of his possible promotion out of the Precinct, certain other officers have requested to leave: one retirement, plus transfer requests from 17 detectives and 28 uniformed officers. Lieutenant Hunter produces a model of the PANDA (urban tank) with relish, while Furillo is upset by its proposed use in "Sniper Alley"; however, Chief Daniels has already authorized the deployment. A new patrol officer who has a past history with Belker harasses him due to his Jewish heritage, eventually resulting in a fight between the two.

12. I Never Promised You a Rose, Marvin

First Aired March 20, 1981

The investigation of Councilman McAuley is successful, and he is charged; but given his influential friends, Furillo loses any chance of promotion to Commander. Esterhaus reveals (to Goldblume) that Cindy is only just 18. His other girlfriend (Grace) is considerably more mature, but he needs both. Hunter receives his PANDA (urban tank), but while lunching with a squad of EAT officers and two Japanese businessmen (from the PANDA's manufacturers) it is stolen, stripped, gutted, and dumped in the East River. Fay's telephone stalker is caught - a patient of Harvey. Transfer requests had topped 75, and everyone at the Hill is relieved that their Captain will not be promoted away from them.

13. Fecund Hand Rose

First Aired March 24, 1981

Lives are threatened as a mystery sniper takes a shot at Macafee and the officers protecting him; Goldblume, under fire for the first time, is particularly unnerved. Esterhaus is shocked when Grace bares all in the roll-call room. Later she turns up at his wedding to Cindy, prompting him to faint, and leaving the wedding postponed.