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) – 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) – Suitcase, and A Case of Klapp

The seventh and final season of Hill Street Blues began on 2 October, 1986 with the episode Suitcase. It was written by David Milch and John Romano from a story by Milch, Romano and Darrell Vienna. A small cub plane comes down near the precinct and someone gets away from it on foot with a…

Hill Street Blues (1985) – Washington Deceased, and Passage to Libya

It’s Belker’s (Bruce Weitz) thirty-seventh birthday (and gets a nice surprise by episode’s end), the police bowling league is playing, and some new directives from headquarters about officers being responsible for reimbursing phonecalls and vehicle conditions stir up a hornets’ nest in Washington Deceased. Written by Frank South, this episode was first broadcast on 7…

Hill Street Blues (1984) – Fuched Again, and Low Blow

There’s trouble at the precinct and in Vegas with Fuched Again. Written by Jeffrey Lewis, David Milch, Mark Frost and Jacob Epstein from a story by Milch, Lewis and Steven Bochco this episode first aired on 22 November, 1984. While Belker (Brice Weitz) and a number of the guys are in Vegas, Furillo (Danel J….

Hill Street Blues (1984) – Fowl Play, and Bangladesh Slowly

Fowl Play opens with the reveal that Swan (Tim Robbins) took his own life after what happened at the rookie party in the previous episode, and all eyes are on Buttman (Micheal Biehn). Lucy (Betty Thomas) is determined to bust him, and Washington (Taurean Blacque) and Coffey (Ed Marinaro) are right there with him. The…