| No. |
Episode |
Air Date |
Overview |
| 1 |
Hill Street Station |
1/15/1981 |
A hostage situation arises in Captain Furillo's precinct. Public defender Joyce Davenport is looking for her client lost due to bureaucratic mismanagement. Officers Hill and Renko are shot in the line of duty.
- the episode was awarded an Edgar for Best Teleplay from a Series
|
| 2 |
Presidential Fever |
1/17/1981 |
Furillo is not pleased by the proposed visit of the US President to Hill Street. Meanwhile his emerging relationship with Joyce Davenport is floundering. Hill and Renko return to work. Grace Gardner arrives to redecorate, and has her eye at once on Sgt Esterhaus. Belker solves a series of rapes and captures two rapists - but the main suspect remains at large. |
| 3 |
Politics as Usual |
1/22/1981 |
Negotiations continue with the gangs over the Presidential visit. Hill and Renko split as partners. Corrupt detective Sergeant Ralph Macafee is introduced, and LaRue is challenged by a massive bribe. The audience is introduced to Belker's growling, and his mother. |
| 4 |
Can World War III Be An Attitude? |
1/24/1981 |
The Presidential visit is cancelled, leading to gang warfare, and a tense moment as the station house appears to be besieged. LaRue, under suspension, is investigated for corruption, and referred to the DA for prosecution. Grace Gardner begins her 'campaign' to win over Sgt Esterhaus. 'Malibu' (a talented car thief and mechanic) is arrested by Hill & Renko, but released after mending most of the patrol cars and the station plumbing and electrics. |
| 5 |
Double Jeopardy |
1/29/1981 |
Many of the male stars appear in drag in an attempt to trap the serial rapist; they are successful, but Bates in left in hospital. Sgt Esterhaus struggles with his two women, Cindy and Grace. Sgt Macaffee's secret is finally uncovered - he has two wives and two families. His resulting corruption is uncovered, and saves LaRue from dismissal or prosecution. |
| 6 |
Film at Eleven |
2/5/1981 |
A film crew shadows the precinct, and takes a patrol with Hill and Renko. LaRue and Washington discover the gun used in the Hill/Renko shooting (pilot episode). Hunter appears for the first time as a Lieutenant, although he remains in the uniform of a Sergeant in the opening credits for several more episodes. No direct reference is made to his promotion. |
| 7 |
Choice Cut |
2/12/1981 |
Hector (a 15-year old repeat offended, for whom Furillo has a soft spot) takes hostages in an armed robbery; Furillo talks the situation to an end, preventing Hunter from deploying a massive arsenal of high-powered weaponry. Renko & Hill steal a large piece of meat, only to have it stolen from them by LaRue & Washington. The TV crew continues to cause trouble. There are questions about whether Renko has correctly identified his shooter. Men are still being kidnapped and stripped naked by three prostitutes in a black van. |
| 8 |
Up in Arms |
2/19/1981 |
Esterhaus goes out to meet a dangerous criminal, convicted on his evidence, now released from prison, only to find that his nemesis has taken to religion, and is seeking forgiveness from Esterhaus. Santini and Harris encounter the black van and attempt to apprehend the three prostitutes without calling for assistance; as a result, Harris is murdered. The alleged shooter of Renko & Hill is released without charge. |
| 9 |
Your Kind, My Kind, Humankind |
2/26/1981 |
The TV presentation is favourable to Hill Street. The alleged shooter of Hill & Renko makes a confession, but Hill remains unconvinced, and distanced from Renko. Belker's love life suffers a set-back. Following the death of Harris, Officer Santini resigns to pursue his passion for cabinet making. |
| 10 |
Gatorbait |
3/5/1981 |
Commander Swanson has been promoted to Deputy Chief of Police. Furillo and Ed Chappell are the two Captains competing to be the new Commander. Hunter and the EAT are in the sewers on the annual alligator hunt, when LaRue and Washington play a joke on them. Fay Furillo is receiving abusive telephone calls. |
| 11 |
Life, Death, Eternity |
3/12/1981 |
Marvin (Marv) Box, the station handyman, dies aged 32, leaving no relatives, and causing much reflection by the other characters. Fay's stalker becomes bolder, entering her home. Furillo takes on a possibly corrupt City Councilman, despite the potential to damage his promotion to Commander. Esterhaus informs Furillo that in the light of his possible promotion out of the Precinct, certain other officers have requested to leave: one retirement, plus transfer requests from 17 detectives and 28 uniformed officers. Lt Hunter produces a model of the PANDA (urban tank) with relish, whilst Furillo is upset by its proposed used in 'Sniper Alley'; however, Chief Daniels has already authorised the deployment. |
| 12 |
I Never Promised You a Rose, Marvin |
3/19/1981 |
The investigation of Councilman McAuley is successful, and he is charged; but given his influential friends, Furillo loses any chance of promotion to Commander. Esterhaus reveals (to Goldblume) that Cindy is only just 18. His other girlfriend (Grace) is considerably more mature, but he needs both. Hunter receives his PANDA (urban tank), but whilst lunching with a squad of EAT officers and two Japanese businessmen (from the PANDA's manufacturers) it is stolen, stripped, gutted, and dumped in the East River. Fay's telephone stalker is caught - a patient of Harvey. Transfer requests had topped 75, and everyone at the Hill is relieved that their Captain will not be promoted away from them. |
| 13 |
Fecund Hand Rose |
3/26/1981 |
Lives are threatened as mystery sniper takes a shot at Macafee and the officers protecting him; Goldblume, under fire for the first time, is particularly unnerved. Esterhaus is shocked when Grace bears all in the roll-call room. Later she turns up at his wedding to Cindy, prompting him to faint, and leaving the wedding postponed. |
| 14 |
Rites of Spring (1) |
5/21/1981 |
Officers Mike Perez and Joe Coffey both have their first major roles in this episode; both were to be regulars for the next 4 years. There is a major clash between their respective partners (Cooper and Bates). Goldblume, reflecting on his son's illness and his clashes with narcotics colleagues, decides to resign, but Furillo persuades him to reflect further. Esterhaus is back with Grace, and marriage to Cindy is cancelled. LaRue has an increasing problem with alcohol dependency, which leads to a near disaster for Belker, under cover, when he requests back-up from LaRue. Weeks, a racist narcotics officer, shoots a black suspect (legitimately) in the final scene. |
| 15 |
Rites of Spring (2) |
5/21/1981 |
Whilst everyone persues Weeks, he finds an unlikely ally in Washington, who believes his story. LaRue's drinking problem intensifies, and Furillo puts him on notice. Fay is mugged in the street. |
| 16 |
Jungle Madness (1) |
5/28/1981 |
Everyone is still out to get Weeks, and even Furillo begins to question him; only Washington defends him. Davenport still wants to keep her relationship with Furillo secret. Esterhaus has a birthday, but doen't like his belly dancing surprise gift, which interupts roll call. LaRue's drinking nearly kills him and Washington, and Furillo gives him an ultimatum. |
| 17 |
Jungle Madness (2) |
5/28/1981 |
At the eleventh hour Washington finds the evidence to save Weeks, proving him innocent. Chief Daniels, who had already written off Weeks, is greatly displeased, and tempers flair between him and Capt Furillo. LaRue reaches rock bottom and finally walks into his first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous - only to find Furillo also in attendance (a theme that was to recur strongly throughout all seven seasons). Coffey is shot during a vehicle stop. In the original version (now hard to obtain) he dies instantly. In the remade version (now broadcast as the repeat, and also the version available on video release) he is gravely injured, but recovers to return to the second season. |
| No. |
Episode |
Air Date |
Overview |
| 18 |
Hearts and Minds |
10/29/1981 |
Coffey is on his 10th day back at work after the shooting. A missing 7 year old boy has a huge team searching throughout the episode, including Bates, Coffey, Renko, Hill, and Perez, but it is Goldblume who finally locates the child. A thieving orangutan and its owner are arrested. Esterhaus is worn out by Grace Gardner and trying to distance himself from her, without success. Detective Ben Lambert (Charles Guardino) is accused of sexual assault during an arrest. Furillo celebrates his 40th birthday, and both Fay and Davenport ask to spend the night with him; he chooses Davenport, but having demanded more in their relationship, he ends the episode alone. Jesus Martinez makes his first appearance. |
| 19 |
Blood Money |
11/5/1981 |
The orangutan is still in the station, and Belker leads a successful raid to recover stolen military weaponry, in an otherwise relationship-dominated episode. Goldblume (who is married), undercover as a cab driver, meets a new lady friend; Furillo and Davenport meet socially at an art exhibition, with other partners; Esterhaus formally breaks up with Grace; Hunter asks Grace on a date, and ends up heading towards the desired night of passion; Goldblume throws caution to the wind, and ends the episode back with his new friend in her apartment. |
| 20 |
The Last White Man on East Ferry Avenue |
11/12/1981 |
The eponymous hero of the episode is a widower defending his property from immigrant neighbours who have already killed his dog; unfortunately, carried away, he produces a shotgun and kills a teenage boy, leading to a seige, ended by Goldblume's brave intervention. In the other main storyline, Detective Brooks is murdered by the Black Arrow, leading to the arrest of John Jesse Hudson, their leader, posing as a respectable politician. Goldblume's affair is discovered by his wife, who throws him out and ends their marriage. Hunter is forced to admit failure in his proposed night of passion with Grace Gardner, due to what Furillo calls "an equipment failure". Esterhaus spends the night with Margaret, his estranged wife "just sleeping". |
| 21 |
The Second Oldest Profession |
11/19/1981 |
The title comes from 'Operation Jezebel', uniformed officers and EAT rounding up prostitutes on the Hill. Hudson arrives at court to face Furillo, but is assassinated by his former lawyer, still bearing the scars of the beating he gave her. Macallister comes out as gay to Esterhaus, and makes a pass at him - ruining Esterhaus's first lunch break outside the station since he came to the Precinct "three years ago". Esterhaus and Gardner, Furillo and Davenport, and the two Goldblumes, all get back together. |
| 22 |
Fruits of the Poisonous Tree |
12/3/1981 |
When LaRue and Washington arrest Maxwell Jenkins (Essex Smith) a cat and mouse game begins between police and Joyce Davenport, resulting in Jenkins (a serial mugger preying on elderly people) being released, due to a legal concept known as "Fruits of the Poisonous Tree". Grace briefly thinks she is pregnant, much to the delight of Esterhaus - and his dismay when it proves untrue. Bates shoots and kills a 14 year old boy (who had first fired on her), himself the murderer of a 10 year old girl, leading many officer to reflective contemplation. |
| 23 |
Cranky Streets |
12/10/1981 |
Officers Gerry Nash and Estella Sanchez, transferring from other precincts, are assigned to Hill and Renko for local training. Hill and Nash formerly served together at Jefferson Heights Precinct, and Nash starts well, rescuing two people from a burning car. Later, at a violent incident, Nash uses excessive force and seriously wounds a suspect, for which Hill later covers, also persuading Renko, Bates, and Coffey to do likewise. Coffey encounters childhood friends, whilst patrolling his old neighbourhood, and arrests one of them. A strike looms as the City Council fails to meet police pay and conditions demands. |
| 24 |
Chipped Beef |
12/17/1981 |
William Teacher, a friendly and helpful black father and husband, saves Renko from a serious assault and Washington & LaRue from a mob - yet is arrested due to an outstanding warrant, 5 years old, from a different state. The officers are indignant and demand his release - something Furillo initially refuses, but finally arranges. In the initial scene with teacher (15 minutes into the episode) Hill uses an early example (1981 broadcast date) of the techno-intransigent catchphrase "Computer says no". Furillo talks to the officers covering for Nash and persuades them to change their statements and tell the truth; this leads Nash to resign. Belker has an undercover encounter with the new phenomenon of ATM cash machines - and catches the culprits involved. On the personal front Washington and his girlfriend Jill (Lynn Whitfield) have a hiccup and a reconciliation. Fay's new fiancé collapses and dies at a public lunch, in front of Furillo and Hunter. She is comforted by Davenport - their first formal meeting. |
| 25 |
The World According to Freedom |
1/7/1982 |
An unidentified street gang tortures and murders several innocent people in an extended robbery and Furillo responds angrily against all the gangs. Belker's petrol station undercover operation is ruined by the well-intentioned 'Captain Freedom', who fancies himself as a superhero, and dresses in a red lycra suit and green shorts and elbow pads, with a red leather cap and goggles. The downstairs holding cells are refurbished, and at once a prisoner tries to hang himself in them. |
| 26 |
Pestolozzi's Revenge |
1/14/1982 |
Chief Daniels is concerned about corruption in the South Ferry Precinct and asks Furillo to set up a fake saloon there; Furillo is dismayed that when he appears before the politically-motivated corruption commission, plans (and the details of his private conversation with Daniels) appear to be known. As just part of a very bad day, Renko crashes two patrol cars, and has to confess to having his police revolver stolen whilst he was engaged in illegal gambling. Coffey is discovered to have engaged in sexual activity with a married woman, whilst standing up Bates - she is unforgiving. Captain Freedom continues his anti-crime campaign. |
| 27 |
The Spy Who Came in From Delgado |
1/21/1982 |
|
| 28 |
Freedom's Last Stand |
1/28/1982 |
Goldblume goes undercover to solve a purse snatching. Furillo testifies before the commission and offers his resignation to Chief Daniels. |
| 29 |
Of Mouse and Man |
2/11/1982 |
|
| 30 |
Zen and the Art of Law Enforcement |
2/18/1982 |
|
| 31 |
The Young, the Beautiful and the Degraded |
2/25/1982 |
|
| 32 |
Some Like it Hot-Wired |
3/18/1982 |
|
| 33 |
Personal Foul |
3/25/1982 |
|
| 34 |
Shooter |
5/6/1982 |
|
| 35 |
Invasion of the Third World Body Snatchers |
5/13/1982 |
|
| No. |
Episode |
Air Date |
Overview |
| 125 |
Suitcase |
9/30/1986 |
Revolves around a suitcase lost in a light aircraft crash - the case contains a large shipment of illegal drugs. Appears to be self-contained, but is in fact a plot-line that returns to dominate the final two episodes of the series. |
| 126 |
A Case of Klapp |
10/7/1986 |
|
| 127 |
The Best Defense |
10/14/1986 |
|
| 128 |
Bald Ambition |
10/28/1986 |
|
| 129 |
I Come on My Knees |
11/4/1986 |
|
| 130 |
Say Uncle |
11/11/1986 |
|
| 131 |
Amazing Grace |
11/25/1986 |
Grace Gardner, a character from the early series (who stalked Sgt Esterhaus), returns as a nun. |
| 132 |
Falling from Grace |
12/2/1986 |
Grace's vocation is challenged by her attraction to Flaherty, and she leaves the religious order. |
| 133 |
Fathers and Guns |
12/9/1986 |
|
| 134 |
More Skinned Against Than Skinning |
12/23/1986 |
|
| 135 |
She's So Fein |
1/6/1987 |
|
| 136 |
A Wasted Weekend |
1/13/1987 |
Jablonski, Hill, and Renko go deer hunting (unsuccessfully). Goldblume is kidnapped and forced to dig his own grave, whilst trying to join the hunters. |
| 137 |
City of Refuse |
1/20/1987 |
During a strike by refuse collectors, the police take over collections, with dramatic consequences when a gangland funeral interferes with a refuse route. |
| 138 |
Der Roachenkavalier |
2/3/1987 |
LaRue becomes obsessed with a competition to find the largest live cockroach. |
| 139 |
Norman Conquest |
2/10/1987 |
|
| 140 |
Sorry, Wrong Number |
3/3/1987 |
LaRue becomes obsessed with a troop of under-age cheerleaders. |
| 141 |
The Cookie Crumbles |
3/10/1987 |
Renko is increasingly worried about his wife's relationship with her business partner in her cookie-making company. Belker is shot in his car in the final scene. |
| 142 |
Dogsbreath Afternoon |
3/17/1987 |
Centres around Belker's touch-and-go situation in hospital. Renko and his wife part company after he confesses to sleeping with another woman, and his wife responds by confessing her on-going affair with her business partner. Belker recovers. Sgt Hunter is restored to his former rank of Lieutenant, and resumes command of the EAT. |
| 143 |
Days of Swine and Roses |
3/31/1987 |
The city is full of stunts after a radio station challenges citizens to commit "outrageous acts". Hill and Renko are assigned a new unit (2403), state of the art, and computer controlled - with disasterous results, which include Renko inadvertently winning the radio competition. The episode ends with Hunter and a friend caught in a basement roof collapse. |
| 144 |
The Runner Falls on His Kisser |
4/7/1987 |
Uniquely this episode begins without the usual on-screen opening time check, though Furillo quotes the time as 6.30am after examining his own bedside alarm clock. A famous American Football player is arrested for soliciting, and fears grow as Lt Hunter fails to report on duty. |
| 145 |
A Pound of Flesh |
5/5/1987 |
Lt Hunter is found alive (but his friend is dead) after 11 days buried under rubble and trouble breaks over how he survived. The sister of Jesus Martinez is apparently kidnapped shortly before her wedding. Lt Buntz is accused of corruption by IAD. LaRue narrowly escapes death and faces a traumatic mental reaction. |
| 146 |
It Ain't Over Till It's Over |
5/12/1987 |
The final episode. Lt Hunter returns to work, though neither he nor Lt Goldblume have a real storyline. The key plot revolves around Lt Buntz and efforts to clear his name. Capt Furillo and Sidney Thurston lead the effort and uncover a plot to frame Buntz, in which IAD investigator Lt Shipman is implicated. All seems set for a happy ending until Buntz takes matters into his own hands and is arrested for carrying a gun whilst suspended. He punches Chief Daniels, and so ends his career. Coupled with the gutting of the Hill Street Precinct Station House (police station) by fire, the final episode is given a melancholy feel. However, Sgt Bates and Sal the plummer finally have dinner together, with perhaps a hint at a relationship developing. Buntz leaves the fire-damaged station in the final scene, but the last words are spoken by a constant, but low-profile, character - the night shift Desk Sergeant. He answers a ringing telephone, and voices the final words of the series: "Hill Street". |
