List of Hill Street Blues episodes

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 audience is introduced to Belker's growling, and his mother. This episode was awarded an Edgar for Best Teleplay from a Series.

"Buck Naked" has his feature role as a witness against corrupt taxi operators; the judge overturns the decision of the jury, and Davenport implies to Furillo that she suspects the judge of corruption. An investigation into cop corruption turns up evidence that as a probationary police officer Hunter was coerced into the margins of some minor corruption. The matter is too old for proceedings, but Hunter feels he has let everybody down. At home, and ending the episode, he tidies his desk, arranges his photographs and medals, writes a last note, and holds a revolver to his head. Also in this episode Fay and Henry have a sexual encounter, Hill is victorious in a police boxing match, and Michael Conrad makes a short and shaky appearance at roll call, looking very drawn and unwell.

Three "Russians" (from what is now the independent Republic of Georgia, then part of the USSR) visit the Hill, where one attempts to defect. It transpires that he and the female delegate are in a relationship which has been complicated by the advances of the third delegate, a KGB officer. The matter is resolved without international incident. Belker goes undercover with an ambulance crew, and strikes up an unlikely relationship with the ambulance driver, arising at first out of a shared diet. A temporary freeze on promotions upsets Bates who has newly passed her sergeant's examination, but is awaiting a vacant sergeant's post. A young man with mental instability who is shot by police leaves a dependent dog whom Bates adopts, ironically naming him "Sarge".

Sergeant Phil Esterhaus dies while making love with Grace Gardner, and the entire precinct is shocked. In a double blow for Leo, he discovers his wife to be having an affair. Belker is let down by his backup (Hill and Renko) on an undercover operation, and the city suffers multiple law suits in consequence. Fay Furillo is arrested for prostitution by Officer Pfiezer, much to his embarrassment. Lucille Bates is offered promotion to sergeant, and the opportunity to take Esterhaus' job as roll call Sergeant - a thought which scares her.

A genial census worker is taken hostage and murdered, much to the dismay of his bodyguards, Hill and Renko, who were called away to back up other officers on the order of Deputy Chief Briscoe. Joyce Davenport agrees to testify against Timothy Mullins, but both brothers issue death threats against her. Furillo, most in need of his command to defend her, is relieved of duties by Chief Daniels on the orders of Mayor Cleveland; he is reassigned to command a task force at Division. Cleveland is unhappy with Furillo's apology concerning alleged comments about "stop and cop". In the personal storylines, Renko's girlfriend is pregnant, and Hunter dates both Bates and Fay Furillo, while looking for a partner - both turn him down.

In a packed episode, "stop and cop" continues to claim victims as Pilsky is shot by a fleeing suspect; her delay in returning fire was caused by her "officer involved" shooting the previous day. Later Bates and Briscoe argue publicly when the Deputy Chief denies his order that Pilsky should be deployed again. Washington proves invaluable to the Furillo household; he hands a copy tape to Calletano showing Chief Daniels having sex with a prostitute (see episode 72 above) which the Lieutenant uses to bargain for Furillo's return to his command at Hill Street (ending arguments between Lieutenants Calletano and Hunter about who has seniority); then Washington (with Garibaldi and Belker) follows William Mullins all day until he slips up - refusing to surrender after committing an armed robbery, he is shot dead by the detectives. Hunter's next date had been arranged with Pilsky - his plans ruined by her being shot. Renko proposes to Daryl Ann. Jesus Martinez marries his pregnant girlfriend (avoiding a conviction for her, as she had threatened him with a gun). Furillo, narrowly avoiding drinking the alcohol he has bought, seeks out his AA sponsor - only to discover that the sponsor has returned to hard drink himself and is in denial about the consequences. The episode title comes from a minor storyline about a legal battle between two men who have fought publicly. The apparent aggressor reveals that his victim had been responsible for the mechanical equipment in which his genitals had become caught in extreme suction.

The title comes from Judge Wachtel's wig as he wears a wire to help the DA's office convict a Mafia-related gang. The Hill Street precinct are also targeting them (with Belker, Renko, and Hill undercover), as are a third agency (leading to confusion). Garibaldi does some unofficial investigation to avoid being sued after he crashed without motor insurance - Washington assists him, successfully. Marcus Peabody, a former gang member, proves corrupt and embarrasses his new employer, the Mayor. Natyalie continues to admire Leo, and discourages his attempts to regain the affections of his wife. Hunter's proposed "Equine Rapid Development Force" is rejected under budget cuts, even though he had bought his own horse (Apollo) to save the city money. The Furillos separate, at Joyce's suggestion.

Lieutenant Calletano appears on TV game show "Lucky Ducks" and does very well until the crucial final question, when he loses everything. Peabody is killed by the same Mafia gang which Belker has infiltrated, leading to their arrests. Renko tries to marshal his wedding attendants - Hill (Best Man), Washington, Coffey, and Davis. Lieutenant Hunter is increasingly worried about Apollo, his horse, who is seriously ill; the episode ends with Hunter settling down to a night in the stable with Apollo.