Hill Street Blues

Hill Street Blues, American television law enforcement drama that aired on the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) network for seven seasons (1981–87). The show received great critical acclaim, winning four consecutive Emmy Awards for outstanding dramatic series, and it is recognized as a pioneer in the crime and police television genre.

Each episode of Hill Street Blues recounted a day in the life of the officers at the Hill Street police precinct, which was located in a crime-ridden urban ghetto in an unnamed American city. The show followed a rote structure, with each episode beginning with a morning roll call and ending with a late-night summary of events. Between those bookends, however, Hill Street Blues was anything but predictable. The show placed a premium on good writing, and its scripts were recognized for their artistry, innovation, complexity, and hard-hitting realism. These qualities were dramatized by an award-winning ensemble cast that included Daniel J. Travanti, Betty Thomas, Robert Prosky, and Ed Marinaro and an innovative and edgy style, overseen by producer Stephen Bocho (who later repeated his success with other series, most notably, L.A. Law [1986–94] and NYPD Blue [1993–2005]). The show employed handheld cameras that lent it a documentary-style authenticity. The fast-paced editing style ratcheted up the tension while braiding together the show’s numerous plotlines. Hill Street Blues offered sophisticated, multilayered narratives. Although the daily crime investigations occupied much of the characters’ lives, the show owed most of its success to its depiction of the psychological drama and moral ambiguities that played out on a personal level for those characters. However, for all its innovation, the show was never a huge hit for NBC.

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