"Hill Street Blues" (1981) TV series 1981-1987

Creators:

Steven Bochco
Michael Kozoll
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

15 January 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Inner City | Police | Cult TV | Gang Warfare | Policewoman

Awards:

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 51 wins & 95 nominations

Cast

Daniel J. Travanti	...	Capt. Frank Furillo (115 episodes, 1981-1987)
Bruce Weitz	...	Sgt. Mick Belker (115 episodes, 1981-1987)
Betty Thomas	...	Sgt. Lucy Bates / ... (115 episodes, 1981-1987)
Taurean Blacque	...	Det. Neal Washington (114 episodes, 1981-1987)
Kiel Martin	...	Officer John 'J.D.' LaRue / ... (114 episodes, 1981-1987)
Charles Haid	...	Officer Andrew Renko (114 episodes, 1981-1987)
Veronica Hamel	...	Joyce Davenport (114 episodes, 1981-1987)
Michael Warren	...	Officer Robert 'Bobby' Hill / ... (113 episodes, 1981-1987)
James Sikking	...	Lt. Howard Hunter (113 episodes, 1981-1987)
Joe Spano	...	Det. Henry Goldblume (113 episodes, 1981-1987)
René Enríquez	...	Lt. Ray Calletano (98 episodes, 1981-1985)
Barbara Bosson	...	Fay Furillo (96 episodes, 1981-1987)
Ed Marinaro	...	Officer Joe Coffey (95 episodes, 1981-1986)
Robert Hirschfeld	...	Officer Leo Schnitz / ... (86 episodes, 1981-1985)
Michael Conrad	...	Sgt. Phil Esterhaus / ... (71 episodes, 1981-1984)
Jon Cypher	...	Chief Fletcher Daniels / ... (54 episodes, 1981-1987)

Series Directed by
Christian I. Nyby II		(12 episodes, 1983-1987)
Gregory Hoblit		(10 episodes, 1981-1985)
David Anspaugh		(9 episodes, 1981-1983)
Thomas Carter		(8 episodes, 1982-1984)
Robert Butler		(6 episodes, 1981)
Georg Stanford Brown		(5 episodes, 1981-1982)
Rick Wallace		(5 episodes, 1983-1985)
Randa Haines		(4 episodes, 1981-1983)
Arthur Allan Seidelman		(4 episodes, 1983-1984)
Stan Lathan		(4 episodes, 1985-1987)
Corey Allen		(3 episodes, 1981-1984)
Arnold Laven		(3 episodes, 1981-1982)
Jeff Bleckner		(3 episodes, 1982-1983)
Alexander Singer		(3 episodes, 1983-1985)
John Patterson		(3 episodes, 1985-1987)
Ben Bolt		(2 episodes, 1985)
Mark Frost		(unknown episodes)
Ken Lavet		(unknown episodes)
Edwin Sherin		(unknown episodes)
Michael Switzer		(unknown episodes)
Dale White		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Steven Bochco		(60 episodes, 1981-1987)
Jeffrey Lewis		(51 episodes, 1981-1987)
David Milch		(37 episodes, 1982-1987)
Michael I. Wagner		(34 episodes, 1982-1984)
Anthony Yerkovich		(31 episodes, 1981-1983)
Michael Kozoll		(25 episodes, 1981-1987)
Mark Frost		(18 episodes, 1982-1985)
Karen Hall		(15 episodes, 1982-1984)
Jacob Epstein		(6 episodes, 1984-1985)
Roger Director		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Walon Green		(4 episodes, 1985)
Robert Crais		(3 episodes, 1981)
Dick Wolf		(3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Lee David Zlotoff		(2 episodes, 1981)
Dennis Cooper		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Darrell Ray		(2 episodes, 1983)
Alan Toy		(2 episodes, 1983)
Elia Katz		(2 episodes, 1985)
David Black		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Gregory Hoblit		(1 episode, 1981)
Steve Bello		(unknown episodes)
Jerry Patrick Brown		(unknown episodes)
Floyd Byars		(unknown episodes)
Marjorie David		(unknown episodes)
Michael Duggan		(unknown episodes)
Neil Eglash		(unknown episodes)
Terry Curtis Fox		(unknown episodes)
George Goldsmith		(unknown episodes)
Brad Kern		(unknown episodes)
Ron Koertge		(unknown episodes)
Jonathan Lemkin		(unknown episodes)
John Mankiewicz		(unknown episodes)
Jeff Melvoin		(unknown episodes)
Jerome Portman		(unknown episodes)
Frank Saperstein		(unknown episodes)
Robert Schlitt		(unknown episodes)
John William Sel		(unknown episodes)
Duncan Smith		(unknown episodes)
Frank South		(unknown episodes)
David Stenn		(unknown episodes)
David Stern		(unknown episodes)
Darrell Vienna		(unknown episodes)
Bob Woodward		(unknown episodes)
Russ Woody		(unknown episodes)
Jody Worth		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Gregory Hoblit	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer / ... (71 episodes, 1981-1984)
Steven Bochco	....	executive producer (69 episodes, 1981-1984)
Scott Brazil	....	supervising producer / associate producer / ... (57 episodes, 1981-1984)
David Anspaugh	....	producer / associate producer (50 episodes, 1981-1983)
David J. Latt	....	associate producer / co-producer (37 episodes, 1982-1984)
Anthony Yerkovich	....	producer / supervising producer (35 episodes, 1981-1983)
Jeffrey Lewis	....	producer / executive producer (23 episodes, 1983-1987)
Sascha Schneider	....	producer (20 episodes, 1983-1984)
Michael Kozoll	....	executive producer (15 episodes, 1981)
Ellen S. Pressman	....	associate producer (13 episodes, 1983-1984)
Penny Adams	....	producer (2 episodes, 1987)
James C. Hart	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1987)
John Litvack	....	co-executive producer (2 episodes, 1987)
Jeff Melvoin	....	co-executive producer (2 episodes, 1987)
David Milch	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1987)
Michael Vittes	....	supervising producer (2 episodes, 1987)
Robert Ward	....	co-producer (2 episodes, 1987)
Walon Green	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Christian Williams	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Mike Post		(68 episodes, 1981-1987)
Velton Ray Bunch		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
John C. Flinn III		(38 episodes, 1981-1984)
William Cronjager		(27 episodes, 1981-1982)
Terry K. Meade		(3 episodes, 1983)
Jack Whitman		(2 episodes, 1987)
Ron Vargas		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Ray Daniels		(21 episodes, 1981-1984)
David Rosenbloom		(13 episodes, 1981-1982)
A. David Marshall		(8 episodes, 1981-1983)
Joe Ann Fogle		(7 episodes, 1983-1984)
Andrew Chulack		(6 episodes, 1981-1982)
Clay Bartels		(5 episodes, 1981)
Tom Stevens		(5 episodes, 1981)
David Saxon		(5 episodes, 1983-1984)
Jonathan Pontell		(unknown episodes, 1987)
Susan B. Browdy		(unknown episodes)
Tony de Zarraga		(unknown episodes)
Paul Dixon		(unknown episodes)
David Handman		(unknown episodes)
Susan Heick		(unknown episodes)
Alicia Hirsch		(unknown episodes)
Geoffrey Rowland		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Lori Openden		(52 episodes, 1981-1984)
Deborah Rosen		(18 episodes, 1981)
Geri Windsor		(14 episodes, 1981)
Sally Powers		(2 episodes, 1987)

Series Production Design by
Ned Parsons		(unknown episodes, 1983-1987)
Jeffrey L. Goldstein		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Jeffrey L. Goldstein		(34 episodes, 1981-1982)
Ned Parsons		(21 episodes, 1983-1987)

Series Set Decoration by
James Cane		(50 episodes, 1981-1983)
Bruce A. Gibeson		(23 episodes, 1984-1985)
Rochelle Moser		(5 episodes, 1983)
Gregory Garrison		(2 episodes, 1987)

Series Makeup Department
Bob Westmoreland	....	makeup artist (8 episodes, 1981-1987)
Ellen Powell	....	hair stylist (5 episodes, 1981)
Ronald W. Smith	....	hair stylist (2 episodes, 1987)

Series Production Management
Ted Rich	....	post-production supervisor / executive in charge of post-production (70 episodes, 1981-1987)
Sascha Schneider	....	unit production manager (47 episodes, 1981-1984)
Abby Singer	....	executive in charge of production: MTM Enterprises / executive in charge of production (47 episodes, 1981-1983)
Burt Bluestein	....	unit production manager (22 episodes, 1984-1985)
Cal Naylor	....	unit production manager (21 episodes, 1981-1982)
Bernard Oseransky	....	executive in charge of production (20 episodes, 1983-1987)
Carol Himes	....	production manager (15 episodes, 1981)
Penny Adams	....	unit production manager (2 episodes, 1987)
Daniel Franklin	....	production supervisor (2 episodes, 1987)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dale White	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (43 episodes, 1981-1984)
Jack Philbrick	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (38 episodes, 1982-1987)
Brenda Kalosh	....	second second assistant director (22 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jim Charleston	....	second assistant director (19 episodes, 1983-1984)
Rick Wallace	....	first assistant director (16 episodes, 1981-1983)
Stephen Lim	....	first assistant director (16 episodes, 1981-1982)
Herb Adelman	....	first assistant director (16 episodes, 1982-1984)
Sam Epstein	....	second assistant director (12 episodes, 1981)
Robert Brooks Mendel	....	dga trainee (7 episodes, 1986-1987)
Cal Naylor	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1981)
Conrad Irving	....	second assistant director (3 episodes, 1983)
Paul Deason	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1981)
Marsha Gutierrez	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1983)
Babu Subramaniam 'T.R.'	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1987)
Scott Printz	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes, 1984)
Matthew Hintlian	....	second assistant director: 1985 (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Willie J. Thompson	....	property master (67 episodes, 1981-1987)
Pat Grande	....	construction coordinator (5 episodes, 1981)
Dave DeGaetano	....	construction coordinator (4 episodes, 1981-1987)
Carrie Harris	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)
Kirk S. Heinlen	....	assistant property master / property master (unknown episodes)
Timothy W. Tiedje	....	property master: Chicago (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Paul J. Diller	....	sound effects editor (80 episodes, 1981-1985)
Sam Horta	....	sound editor (66 episodes, 1981-1984)
David John West	....	sound effects editor (62 episodes, 1981-1984)
Peter Reale	....	sound re-recording mixer (22 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bill Marky	....	production sound mixer (12 episodes, 1983-1984)
Vanessa Theme Ament	....	foley artist (7 episodes, 1984-1985)
David Schneiderman	....	production sound mixer (6 episodes, 1984)
'Fast' Eddie Mahler	....	sound mixer (5 episodes, 1981)
John T. Reitz	....	sound re-recording mixer (4 episodes, 1981)
Dean Vernon	....	production sound mixer / sound mixer (3 episodes, 1981-1987)
Ron Horwitz	....	sound editor (2 episodes, 1987)
William Shenberg	....	sound editor (2 episodes, 1987)
John Asman	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Ken Beauchene	....	cable person (unknown episodes)
Ken Brocious	....	cable person (unknown episodes)
Don Cahn	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Jim Cook	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Bob Cornett	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Tim Drury	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Donald W. Ernst	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
William Gazecki	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Joseph Geisinger	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Tom Gerard	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Robert W. Glass Jr.	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Avram D. Gold	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Robert L. Harman	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Denise Horta	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Eileen Horta	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Scott D. Jackson	....	supervising foley editor (unknown episodes)
Constance A. Kazmer	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Gary Krivacek	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Itzhak Magal	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Mark L. Mangino	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Sunny Meyer	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Bill Nicholson	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Howard Wilmarth	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Wayne Beauchamp	....	pyrotechnician (1 episode, 1981)
Ted Allen	....	special effects (unknown episodes)
Martin Bresin	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)
Richard Ratliff	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Bill Kent	....	animation camera (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
John Escobar	....	assistant stunt coordinator (55 episodes, 1981-1987)
Charlie Picerni	....	stunts (3 episodes, 1981-1984)
Gardner Doolittle	....	stunt actor (3 episodes, 1983)
Phil Adams	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Charlie Brewer	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Thomas Dewier	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Nick Dimitri	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Tom Elliott	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Debbie Evans	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Peter Horak	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Monty Jordan	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Kim Kahana Jr.	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Lane Leavitt	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Fred Lerner	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Ray Lykins	....	assistant stunt coordinator / stunts (unknown episodes)
Buck McDancer	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Alan Oliney	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Ron Oliney	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Ernie F. Orsatti	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Wally Rose	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
John C. Moulds	....	first assistant camera (12 episodes, 1981)
Patrick Fennell	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 1981)
Andrew M. Costikyan	....	photography: second unit (5 episodes, 1981)
Dave Lee	....	electrical gaffer (5 episodes, 1981)
Earl Linder	....	key grip (5 episodes, 1981)
John Burnett	....	assistant camera: second unit, additional photography (unknown episodes)
Vincent Contarino	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Paul Ferrara	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Chris La Fountaine	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Karen Hudson	....	costumer: women (9 episodes, 1981-1987)
Robert Harris Jr.	....	costumer: men (5 episodes, 1981)
Robert M. Moore	....	costumer: men (3 episodes, 1981)
David Rawley	....	costumer: men (3 episodes, 1984-1987)

Series Editorial Department
Alec Smight	....	assistant editor (6 episodes, 1986-1987)
Gloria Gunn	....	assistant editor (4 episodes, 1981)
James Rich	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 1981)

Series Music Department
Allan K. Rosen	....	music editor (65 episodes, 1981-1984)
Jim Weidman	....	music editor (13 episodes, 1981)
Susan Mick	....	music editor (2 episodes, 1987)
Bradley Carow	....	assistant music editor (unknown episodes)
Andy D'Addario	....	music scoring mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver / production driver (28 episodes, 1981-1987)
Gina August	....	driver (22 episodes, 1985)
David Price	....	transportation captain (5 episodes, 1981)
Frank Khoury	....	driver (2 episodes, 1981)

Series Other crew
Scott Hamilton	....	field publicist (129 episodes, 1981-1987)
Rich Sephton	....	car modifications (29 episodes, 1981-1982)
Craig Wyrick-Solari	....	production assistant (18 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jesse Brewer	....	technical advisor (9 episodes, 1981-1987)
Maria Lease	....	script supervisor (8 episodes, 1983-1984)
Mimi Leder	....	script supervisor (7 episodes, 1983-1984)
Marilyn Fiebelkorn	....	assistant to producers (6 episodes, 1981-1984)
Terri Redman	....	assistant to producers / production assistant (6 episodes, 1981)
Mary Jo Ballerini	....	production coordinator (5 episodes, 1981)
David J. Latt	....	location manager (5 episodes, 1981)
Sandy Nelson	....	script supervisor (5 episodes, 1981)
Melody Rowland	....	assistant to producers (5 episodes, 1981)
Geri Windsor	....	executive in charge of talent (4 episodes, 1982-1987)
Barton J. Ogburn	....	assistant to producer (3 episodes, 1981)
Abby Singer	....	production consultant / production executive: MTM Enterprises (2 episodes, 1981-1984)
Meryl O'Loughlin	....	talent executive (2 episodes, 1981)
Barbara D. Rosenstock	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1981)
David Milch	....	executive story editor / story editor (2 episodes, 1982-1984)
Michael I. Wagner	....	executive story editor / story editor (2 episodes, 1982-1984)
David Black	....	story editor (2 episodes, 1987)
Judi Brown	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 1987)
David J. Gascan	....	technical advisor (2 episodes, 1987)
John Romano	....	executive script consultant / executive story editor (2 episodes, 1987)
Peter Silverman	....	story editor (2 episodes, 1987)
Jim Carberry	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Adam Hill	....	shophand/set detail caster: CBS/MTM Studios (unknown episodes)
Jeffrey A. Humphreys	....	studio utility (unknown episodes)
Mark Rodney	....	stand-in (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Michael Conrad	....	in memory of (1 episode, 1983)

Production Companies

• MTM Enterprises
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1981-1987)

Distributors

• 20th Century Fox Television
• MTM Enterprises
• More4 (2005-) (UK) (TV)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1981-1987) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Special Effects

• Makeup Effects Laboratories

Other Companies

• Inter Video  24 frame playback

Runtime:

60 min (146 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

MTM Enterprises

Trivia:

The Police Station exterior shots was a real Chicago Police station. Now no longer used by The City, it was once the home of the 7th district, located near the old Maxwell Street Market, and is called the Hill Street Blues Station. It is now used by The UIC police. During Prohibition, this precinct had a reputation as the most corrupt precinct in the US. Its Captain once distributed his personnel list to the Mob bagmen who delivered the payoffs because they handed money to every cop in the place indiscriminately, and cops from other stations were showing up on payoff day.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: 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 as it facing to the trunk.

Quotes:

Joyce Davenport: I want you to know that what you did tonight frightens me.
Furillo: I understand.
Joyce Davenport: Do you?
Furillo: This is the kind of crime that tears the city apart. It brings out what's savage in thousands of people. It has to be dealt with very quickly.
Joyce Davenport: So the book goes out the window?
Furillo: I went by the book. I pushed a little hard at the bindings.
Joyce Davenport: That's a crock of the well known article, Furillo. You bulldozed...
Furillo: [Interrupting] I did what I've seen you do for clients fifty times. I used every resource.
Joyce Davenport: Furillo, I'm a public defender. I play a role in a system of checks and balances. And other people are supposed to play their's with the same kind of energy. You, with your jungle justice, threw that all out of whack tonight. Gerald Chapman would have confessed to killing Abraham Lincoln to avoid that mob tonight.
Furillo: I can live with what I did, Joyce. I went by my instincts, and they were right. Under these circumstances I'd do it again.
[...]

Movie Connections:

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

An Island in the Sea of Madness

During an era of cop shows where the main characters were often portrayed as superheroes or as charicatures, this priceless classic was born. For the first time since the days of Jack Webb and Joseph Wambaugh, we finally had a show that showed police as real people with all the faults and failings that all people had. You had Furillo, who was a recovering alcoholic, Renko and Hill, who were dealing with their own fears, Hunter, the reactionary head of the S.W.A.T. team, Bates, who just wanted to prove that she was a good police officer as well as a woman, Belker, the maniacal undercover cop, and of course the fatherly Sgt. Phil Esterhaus, the father figure for the whole squad. This show definitely set the stage for shows like N.Y.P.D. Blue and the Law and Order franchise and will always be a classic.