Hill Street Blues

10 Best Episodes of Hill Street Blues - Season 1

This groundbreaking and award-winning NBC crime drama provided a very realistic view into the lives of the dedicated cops and detectives of an urban police station. From January 1981 to August 1986, the show ran on Thursdays at 10/9 Central, with occasional repeats on Saturdays at 10/9 Central. From August 1986 to August 1987 first-run episodes aired Tuesdays at 10/9 Central.

Written by Sophie and last updated on jan 04, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Hill Street Blues - S1E11

#15 - Life, Death, Eternity (Season 1 - Episode 11)

Furillo's chances for promotion are threatened when a city councilman is implicated in the murder of the teenage prostitute; LaRue continues to look for money for his "saloondramat"; Fay's obscene caller breaks into her home; and Belker confronts an anti-Semitic cop just transferred to the Hill.

The episode was rated 7.50 from 30 votes.

Hill Street Blues - S1E16

#14 - Jungle Madness (1) (Season 1 - Episode 16)

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Neal continues to investigate the Weeks shooting, despite pressure from the Chief to drop it because of the bad publicity; LaRue goes from one shady scam to another as he tries to raise money; Belker's sham fence operation nets a surprise; Shirrett Anders leaves her children again; Furillo warns LaRue to get help for his drinking problem after he ruins a drug bust; and Joe Coffey, Lucy's new partner, is shot.

The episode was rated 7.52 from 27 votes.

Hill Street Blues - S1E12

#13 - I Never Promised You a Rose, Marvin (Season 1 - Episode 12)

Furillo pushes the investigation of Councilman McAuley; LaRue's business dream comes to a bitter end; Lt. Hunter gets his chance to test out an "urban tank" in sniper alley.

The episode was rated 7.54 from 28 votes.

Hill Street Blues - S1E9

#12 - Your Kind, My Kind, Humankind (Season 1 - Episode 9)

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The Dekker Avenue Merchants Association continues helping the police; Eddie Hoban finds himself out in the cold; Hill, Renko and Belker all have personal problems; Furillo tries to help a confused Santini decide what to do; and LaRue asks Cynthia Chase along on a dull stakeout that suddenly heats up.

The episode was rated 7.56 from 34 votes.

Hill Street Blues - S1E10

#11 - Gatorbait (Season 1 - Episode 10)

Renko gets put out when a Division homicide detective ridicules his efforts to learn who killed a 15-year-old prostitute; Furillo learns that he may be in line for a promotion to commander; LaRue and Washington have a surprise for Hunter during his annual Alligator hunt in the city sewers; and Fay asks Furillo's help with an obscene phone caller.

The episode was rated 7.56 from 32 votes.

Hill Street Blues - S1E5

#10 - Double Jeopardy (Season 1 - Episode 5)

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Neal continues to investigate Macafee's life as a way of clearing LaRue; Belker and several others go undercover dressed as women to catch a rapist; Esterhaus broods over his two women; and Goldblume questions his ability after losing a jumper.

The episode was rated 7.57 from 47 votes.

Hill Street Blues - S1E17

#9 - Jungle Madness (2) (Season 1 - Episode 17)

Neal continues to investigate the Weeks shooting, despite pressure from the Chief to drop it because of the bad publicity; LaRue goes from one shady scam to another as he tries to raise money; Belker's sham fence operation nets a surprise; Shirrett Anders leaves her children again; Furillo warns LaRue to get help for his drinking problem after he ruins a drug bust; and Joe Coffey, Lucy's new partner, is shot.

The episode was rated 7.60 from 20 votes.

Hill Street Blues - S1E13

#8 - Fecund Hand Rose (Season 1 - Episode 13)

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Esterhaus faces immense pressure as his wedding day to Cindy dawns and Grace shows him what he's giving up; Furillo resents providing protection for Ralph Macafee, who's now a state witness; Belker busts an entertaining professional cat burglar; and everyone scrambles to get ready for the wedding ceremony.

The episode was rated 7.64 from 25 votes.

Hill Street Blues - S1E7

#7 - Choice Cut (Season 1 - Episode 7)

Hector Ruiz takes hostages again, this time at a supermarket; LaRue and Washington try to connect the gun that shot Hill and Renko with addict Eddie Hoban; and Cynthia Chase uses the hostage scene to stir up the local merchants.

The episode was rated 7.64 from 42 votes.

Hill Street Blues - S1E6

#6 - Film at Eleven (Season 1 - Episode 6)

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A television reporter rides with Hill and Renko; Washington and LaRue find the gun that shot Hill and Renko; and Belker busts Kevin Herman Dracula for biting a prostitute.

The episode was rated 7.67 from 45 votes.

Hill Street Blues - S1E3

#5 - Politics as Usual (Season 1 - Episode 3)

Hill and Renko decide to split up as a team; LaRue is offered a bribe by a drug dealer who turns out to be a cop; Furillo tries to negotiate with the gangs to ensure a peaceful Presidential tour; Belker agrees to a blind date; and Fay is arrested in a hot tub.

The episode was rated 7.72 from 54 votes.

Hill Street Blues - S1E4

#4 - Can World War III be an Attitude? (Season 1 - Episode 4)

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Furillo backs LaRue in the bribery case brought by Macafee; Hill and Renko bust a car thief who's a mechanical whiz; and Esterhaus sees Grace in a new light when they share a crisis at the station house when the Presidential visit is cancelled and gang revenge is feared.

The episode was rated 7.76 from 49 votes.

Hill Street Blues - S1E2

#3 - Presidential Fever (Season 1 - Episode 2)

Hill and Renko meet again for the first time since their shooting; Esterhaus tries to avoid Grace Gardner, the new police decorator; two transfer officers get themselves into trouble; Belker pursues rapists in the park; and Furillo must deal with Fay's demands for more money and an impending Presidential visit.

The episode was rated 7.76 from 70 votes.

Hill Street Blues - S1E1

#2 - Hill Street Station (Pilot) (Season 1 - Episode 1)

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Precinct Captain Furillo tries to defuse a hostage situation despite the advice of his gung-ho Emergency Action Team leader and the temperament of a self-absorbed gang leader; public defender Joyce Davenport tries to find a client who has been lost in the bureaucratic maze; Detective LaRue gets a lapful of coffee; Sgt. Esterhaus confides to Fay about his teenage sweetheart; Officers Hill and Renko are shot in the line of duty.

The episode was rated 7.92 from 96 votes.

Hill Street Blues - S1E15

#1 - Rites of Spring (2) (Season 1 - Episode 15)

Furillo and Neal go out of their way to help clear an obnoxious, racist narcotics detective accused of shooting an unarmed black man; LaRue's drinking gets really out of hand; and Hill and Renko try to help a young black woman accused of neglecting her children.

The episode was rated 7.94 from 18 votes.

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