Hill Street Blues

A realistic glimpse into the daily lives of the officers and detectives at an urban police station.

Hill Street Blues (1981-1987) is a US network police procedural drama created by Steven Bochco for NBC. Captain Frank Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti) runs a rundown big-city precinct, juggling a sprawling roster of officers and detectives while keeping his crew together under pressure from the brass and the streets. Robert Hill (Michael Warren) and Phil Esterhaus (Michael Conrad) anchor the station's daily rhythms, from the morning roll call briefing to the long shifts that follow. Across seven seasons and 146 episodes, the series is built from interlocking storylines: each episode mixes several criminal cases with the private troubles of the officers, including marriages, addictions, and career pressures. The engine is the constant tension between doing the job decently and the grinding bureaucracy and danger around it. Its tone is gritty, humane, and naturalistic, with a restless handheld energy and overlapping dialogue that feel like a real station house. Shown in the vein of NYPD Blue and Law and Order, it is a landmark of ensemble police drama that set the template for later precinct shows. Viewers who enjoy character-rich urban crime stories with a documentary-like texture will find it rewarding.

Viewers regard Hill Street Blues as an acclaimed, pioneering police drama that introduced the ensemble procedural form with realism and craft.

• NYPD Blueshared ensemble precinct drama with procedural cases and workplace relationships
• Law & Ordershared realistic police procedural tone and ensemble station-house focus
• The Wireshared gritty urban police setting with serialized personal arcs

Created by

Steven Bochco

Release Date

1981-01-15

Episode runtime

49 min

Rating

8.2 / 10 (132)

What is Hill Street Blues about?

A realistic ensemble drama following the officers and detectives of an urban police precinct through their cases and personal lives.

What is Hill Street Blues like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Hill Street Blues as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.

Is Hill Street Blues violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Hill Street Blues as mild.

What did critics think of Hill Street Blues?

Viewers regard Hill Street Blues as an acclaimed, pioneering police drama that introduced the ensemble procedural form with realism and craft.

Which shows are like Hill Street Blues?

Shows with a similar feel include NYPD Blue, Law & Order, and The Wire.

How long is Hill Street Blues?

Hill Street Blues: 7 seasons, 146 episodes.

Is Hill Street Blues still running?

No, Hill Street Blues has ended.

Where can I watch Hill Street Blues?

In United States, Hill Street Blues is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home.