Hill Street Blues (1987) – A Pound of Flesh, and It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over

The penultimate episode of Hill Street Blues aired on 5 May, 1987. It was written by Christian Williams and it begins tying things up for the end of the series. Hunter (James Sikking) has been found, he was trapped, buried alive for eleven days, and it comes out that to survive, he ate part of…

Hill Street Blues (1987) – The Cookie Crumbles, and Dogsbreath Afternoon

Lucy (Betty Thomas) discovers the affair going on between Russo (Megan Gallagher) and Flaherty (Robert Clohessy) and that’s just the beginning of the melodrama this time out in The Cookie Crumbles. Written by Robert Ward, this episode debuted on 10 March, 1987. While Renko (Charles Haid) worries over the fact that his wife may be…

Hill Street Blues (1987) – Norman Conquest, and Sorry Wrong Number

While Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti) and Goldblume (Joe Spano) review officers for promotion alongside Mike (Richard Herd) Lt. Norman Buntz (Dennis Franz) is left in charge of the precinct for the day. Norman Conquest was written by Steve Bello from a story by Bello, Neil Eglash, Jonathan Lemkin and Micheal I. Wagner and it was…

Hill Street Blues (1987) – City of Refuse, and Der Roachenkavalier

City of Refuse may be my favourite episode of the season so far. Written by Peter Silverman, it first debuted on 20 January, 1987. Hunter (James Sikking) gets to put on his tactical uniform for the first time since his demotion when he joins Goldblume (Joe Spano) in dealing with a hostage situation. Why was…

Hill Street Blues (1987) – She’s So Fein, and A Wasted Weekend

Joyce (Veronica Hamel) is showing a new Public Defender, Sharon Fein (Gela Nash) the ropes around the precinct, and J.D. (Kiel Martin) has his eye on her, but she seems to have her eye on Washington (Taurean Blacque). She’s So Fein was written by Marjorie David and was first broadcast on 6 January, 1987. While…

Hill Street Blues (1986) – Amazing Grace, and Falling From Grace

The character of Grace (Barbara Babcock) returns this week, and she’d been gone so long that I didn’t even make the connection with the episode’s title! She returns with a bit of a shocking change of character, she’s become a nun! Amazing Grace was written by Robert Ward from a story by Ward and David…

Hill Street Blues (1986) – I Come on My Knees, and Say Uncle

I Come on My Knees first aired on 6 November, 1986 and was written by David Milch. There’s a lot going on in this episode, and once again the silly melodrama has been pushed aside. Sure there are fun character moments, but as a whole the series seems to be determined to finish incredibly strong….

Hill Street Blues (1986) – The Best Defense, and Bald Ambition

With the public defenders going on strike, the precinct has to exercise caution in pursuing arrests, as the courts are going to be jammed until the strike is over, and the holding cells will be full. The Best Defense was written by Steve Bello and Robert Ward from a story by Bello, Ward and Jonathan…