Hill Street Blues 1981
“Let's be careful out there.”
- Status
- Ended
- First Aired
- January 15, 1981
- Last Aired
- May 12, 1987
- Format
- 7 seasons · 146 eps
- Total Runtime
- ~119.2 hours (49 min/ep)
- Highest Rated Episode
- S3E9 "A Hair of the Dog" (★ 1/10)
- Created By
- Steven Bochco
- Network
- NBC
- Where to Stream
- Channel 4, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
What is Hill Street Blues?
Hill Street Blues is an American serial police procedural television series that aired on NBC in prime time from January 15, 1981, to May 12, 1987. Created by Steven Bochco and Michael Kozoll, the program ran for a total of 146 episodes.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1981
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 146
- Runtime
- 49 minutes
- First aired
- Jan 15, 1981
- Last aired
- May 12, 1987
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- NBC
- Genres
- Drama, Crime
- Updated
At a glance
- Rating
- ★ TMDB users: 7.6/10 from 127 votes
- Format
- 7 seasons · 146 episodes
- Episode runtime
- ~49 minutes
- Status
- Ended
- Network
- NBC
Where to watch in United States
With ads
With ads
Stream
Buy
Streaming availability data provided by JustWatch via TMDB. Availability changes by country and date; verify on the provider before subscribing or purchasing.
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 146 episodes and an average 49-minute runtime.
Trailer
No official trailer is available for this title yet.
Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Hill Street Blues is an American serial police procedural television series that aired on NBC in prime time from January 15, 1981, to May 12, 1987. Created by Steven Bochco and Michael Kozoll, the program ran for a total of 146 episodes. The series provides a realistic glimpse into the daily lives and work of the officers and detectives stationed at an urban police precinct. The narrative offers a gritty look at the experiences of the staff operating within a large, unnamed metropolitan city. Led by Captain Frank Furillo, the personnel at the Hill Street Station navigate the challenges of their professional environment. The cast features actors including Daniel J. Travanti, Michael Warren, Bruce Weitz, and James B. Sikking. The show focuses on the routine operations and personal lives of those tasked with maintaining order in the inner city. By documenting the environment of the precinct, the series presents a detailed perspective on the responsibilities and pressures faced by law enforcement officials in a high-stakes urban setting.
Should you watch it?
“This series offers a realistic glimpse into the daily lives of urban police officers and detectives.”
- authentic depiction of police work
- focus on daily operations
- may feel dated to modern viewers
Watch it if you enjoy realistic portrayals of law enforcement environments.
The series depicts the daily activities of police personnel in an urban setting.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Hill Street Blues — answers are spoiler-safe.
Your verdict
Is Hill Street Blues worth watching?
Cast
Episode guide
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Season 1 · 17 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Hill Street Station Mytharc Jan 15, 1981
- E2 Presidential Fever Core Jan 17, 1981
- E3 Politics as Usual Core Jan 22, 1981
- E4 Can World War III Be an Attitude? Core Jan 24, 1981
- E5 Double Jeopardy Core Jan 31, 1981
- E6 Film at Eleven Core Feb 7, 1981
- E7 Choice Cut Core Feb 14, 1981
- E8 Up in Arms Core Feb 21, 1981
- E9 Your Kind, My Kind, Humankind Core Feb 28, 1981
- E10 Gatorbait Core Mar 7, 1981
- E11 Life, Death, Eternity Core Mar 14, 1981
- E12 I Never Promised You a Rose, Marvin Core Mar 21, 1981
- E13 Fecund Hand Rose Core Mar 25, 1981
- E14 Rites of Spring (1) Core May 19, 1981
- E15 Rites of Spring (2) Core May 19, 1981
- E16 Jungle Madness (1) Mytharc May 26, 1981
- E17 Jungle Madness (2) Mytharc May 26, 1981
Season 2 · 18 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 Hearts and Minds Mytharc Oct 29, 1981
- E2 Blood Money Core Nov 5, 1981
- E3 The Last White Man on East Ferry Avenue Core Nov 12, 1981
- E4 The Second Oldest Profession Core Nov 19, 1981
- E5 Fruits of the Poisonous Tree Core Dec 3, 1981
- E6 Cranky Streets Core Dec 10, 1981
- E7 Chipped Beef Core Dec 17, 1981
- E8 The World According to Freedom Core Jan 7, 1982
- E9 Pestolozzi's Revenge Core Jan 14, 1982
- E10 The Spy Who Came in from Delgado Core Jan 21, 1982
- E11 Freedom's Last Stand Core Jan 28, 1982
- E12 Of Mouse and Man Core Feb 11, 1982
- E13 Zen and the Art of Law Enforcement Core Feb 18, 1982
- E14 The Young, the Beautiful and the Degraded Core Feb 25, 1982
- E15 Some Like It Hot-Wired Core Mar 18, 1982
- E16 Personal Foul Core Mar 25, 1982
- E17 The Shooter Mytharc May 6, 1982
- E18 Invasion of the Third World Body Snatchers Mytharc May 13, 1982
Season 3 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 Trial by Fury Mytharc Sep 30, 1982
- E2 Domestic Beef Core Oct 7, 1982
- E3 Heat Rash Core Oct 14, 1982
- E4 Rain of Terror Core Oct 21, 1982
- E5 Officer of the Year Core Oct 28, 1982
- E6 Stan the Man Core Nov 4, 1982
- E7 Little Boil Blue Core Nov 11, 1982
- E8 Requiem for a Hairbag Core Nov 18, 1982
- E9 A Hair of the Dog Core Nov 25, 1982
- E10 Phantom of the Hill Core Dec 2, 1982
- E11 No Body's Perfect Core Dec 9, 1982
- E12 Santaclaustraphobia Core Dec 16, 1982
- E13 Gung Ho Core Jan 20, 1983
- E14 Moon Over Uranus Core Jan 27, 1983
- E15 Moon Over Uranus: the Sequel Core Feb 3, 1983
- E16 Moon Over Uranus: the Final Legacy Core Feb 10, 1983
- E17 The Belles of St. Marys Core Feb 17, 1983
- E18 Life in the Minors Core Feb 24, 1983
- E19 Eugene's Comedy Empire Strikes Back Core Mar 3, 1983
- E20 Spotlight on Rico Core Apr 28, 1983
- E21 Buddy, Can You Spare a Heart? Mytharc May 5, 1983
- E22 A Hill of Beans Mytharc May 12, 1983
Season 4 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 Here's Adventure, Here's Romance Mytharc Oct 13, 1983
- E2 Ba-bing, Ba-bing Core Oct 20, 1983
- E3 The Long Law of the Arm Core Oct 27, 1983
- E4 Death by Kiki Core Nov 3, 1983
- E5 Doris in Wonderland Core Nov 10, 1983
- E6 Praise Dilaudid Core Nov 17, 1983
- E7 Goodbye, Mr. Scripps Core Nov 24, 1983
- E8 Midway to What? Core Dec 1, 1983
- E9 Honk if You're a Goose Core Dec 8, 1983
- E10 The Russians Are Coming Core Dec 15, 1983
- E11 Ratman and Bobbin Core Jan 12, 1984
- E12 Nichols from Heaven Core Jan 19, 1984
- E13 Fuchs Me? Fuchs You! Core Jan 26, 1984
- E14 Grace Under Pressure Mytharc Feb 2, 1984
- E15 The Other Side of Oneness Core Feb 9, 1984
- E16 Parting is Such Sweep Sorrow Core Feb 16, 1984
- E17 The End of Logan's Run Core Mar 1, 1984
- E18 The Count of Monty Tasco Core Mar 8, 1984
- E19 Nutcracker Suite Core Mar 15, 1984
- E20 Hair Apparent Core May 3, 1984
- E21 Lucky Ducks Mytharc May 10, 1984
- E22 Eva's Brawn Mytharc May 17, 1984
Season 5 · 23 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 Mayo, Hold the Pickle Mytharc Sep 27, 1984
- E2 Watt a Way to Go Core Oct 4, 1984
- E3 Rookie Nookie Core Oct 18, 1984
- E4 Fowl Play Core Oct 25, 1984
- E5 Bangladesh Slowly Core Nov 1, 1984
- E6 Ewe and Me, Babe Core Nov 8, 1984
- E7 Blues for Mr. Green Core Nov 15, 1984
- E8 Fuched Again Core Nov 22, 1984
- E9 Low Blow Mytharc Nov 29, 1984
- E10 The Rise and Fall of Paul the Wall Mytharc Dec 6, 1984
- E11 Last Chance Salon Core Dec 13, 1984
- E12 Intestinal Fortitude Core Jan 10, 1985
- E13 Of Human Garbage Core Jan 17, 1985
- E14 Dr. Hoof and Mouth Core Jan 24, 1985
- E15 Davenport in a Storm Core Jan 31, 1985
- E16 Washington Deceased Core Feb 7, 1985
- E17 Passage to Libya Core Feb 14, 1985
- E18 El Capitan Core Feb 21, 1985
- E19 The Life and Time of Dominic Florio Jr. Core Mar 21, 1985
- E20 G.Q. Core Mar 28, 1985
- E21 Queen for a Day Core Apr 11, 1985
- E22 You're in Alice's Mytharc May 9, 1985
- E23 Grin and Bear It Mytharc May 16, 1985
Season 6 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 6 guide & lore primer →- E1 Blues in the Night Mytharc Sep 26, 1985
- E2 Hacked to Pieces Core Oct 3, 1985
- E3 Seoul on Ice Core Oct 17, 1985
- E4 In the Belly of the Bus Core Oct 24, 1985
- E5 Somewhere Over the Rambo Core Oct 31, 1985
- E6 Oh, You Kid Core Nov 7, 1985
- E7 An Oy for an Oy Core Nov 14, 1985
- E8 Fathers and Huns Core Nov 21, 1985
- E9 What Are Friends For? Core Dec 5, 1985
- E10 The Virgin and the Turkey Core Dec 12, 1985
- E11 Two Easy Pieces Core Jan 9, 1986
- E12 Say It as It Plays Core Jan 16, 1986
- E13 Das Blues Core Jan 23, 1986
- E14 Scales of Justice Core Jan 30, 1986
- E15 I Want My Hill Street Blues Core Feb 6, 1986
- E16 Remembrance of Hits Past Core Feb 13, 1986
- E17 Larry of Arabia Core Feb 27, 1986
- E18 Iced Coffey Core Mar 6, 1986
- E19 Jagga the Hunk Core Mar 13, 1986
- E20 Look Homeward, Ninja Core Mar 20, 1986
- E21 Slum Enchanted Evening Mytharc Mar 27, 1986
- E22 Come and Get It Mytharc Apr 3, 1986
Season 7 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 7 guide & lore primer →- E1 Suitcase Mytharc Oct 2, 1986
- E2 A Case of Klapp Core Oct 9, 1986
- E3 The Best Defense Core Oct 16, 1986
- E4 Bald Ambition Core Oct 30, 1986
- E5 I Come on My Knees Core Nov 6, 1986
- E6 Say Uncle Core Nov 13, 1986
- E7 Amazing Grace Core Nov 27, 1986
- E8 Falling from Grace Core Dec 2, 1986
- E9 Fathers and Guns Core Dec 9, 1986
- E10 More Skinned Against than Skinning Core Dec 23, 1986
- E11 She's So Fein Core Jan 6, 1987
- E12 A Wasted Weekend Core Jan 13, 1987
- E13 City of Refuse Core Jan 20, 1987
- E14 Der Roachenkavalier Core Feb 3, 1987
- E15 Norman Conquest Core Feb 10, 1987
- E16 Sorry, Wrong Number Core Mar 3, 1987
- E17 The Cookie Crumbles Core Mar 10, 1987
- E18 Dogsbreath Afternoon Core Mar 17, 1987
- E19 Days of Swine and Roses Core Mar 31, 1987
- E20 The Runner Falls on His Kisser Core Apr 7, 1987
- E21 A Pound of Flesh Mytharc May 5, 1987
- E22 It Ain't Over Till It's Over Mytharc May 12, 1987
Frequently asked questions
What is the show about?
It follows the daily lives of officers and detectives working at an urban police station.
Is this a documentary?
No, it is a television series portraying the lives of police personnel.
What is the tone?
The series maintains a realistic tone throughout its depiction of police work.
Who are the main characters?
The series focuses on the officers and detectives stationed at an urban precinct.
Is it a procedural?
Yes, the show centers on the daily professional activities of police staff.
■ Ended / Final Season Complete Renewal tracker
Explore Hill Street Blues
Where to watch Episode ratings heatmap How long to watch Facts & FAQ Similar shows Take the quiz More from NBC
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Hill Street Blues.