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Hill Street Blues Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
15 Episodes 1981 - 1981
Episode 1
Hill Street Station
Thu, Jan 15, 198149 mins
"Hill Street Station" introduces us to the many stories on the street, in the squad room, and in the homes of both the uniform and plainclothes officers at Hill Street. After Sergeant Phil Esterhaus completes Roll Call, we begin to learn something of the regulars. John "J.D." LaRue goes out of his way to hit on Assistant DA Joyce Davenport. She's at the Hill and livid with Captain Frank Furillo and his sergeants, who explain that they have "temporarily misplaced" the suspect she is supposed to have in court in just a few minutes. Meanwhile, while on patrol, street cops Andy Renko and Bobby Hill stumble on a liquor store heist that ends in a hostage standoff. Clashes occur between Detective Henry Goldblume, who believes in negotiation and talking to suspects, and Lt. Howard Hunter, a gung-ho commander of a type of SWAT team on the Hill. Add to this mix gang leader Jesus Martinez whose gang members planned the robbery and tries to end it only to yell at his members, and Capt. Furillo finds only by showing up on the scene himself can he end the situation. Amongst this we meet Sgt. Mick Belker, a tough undercover cop who has a penchant for biting his suspects if they try to resist him in any way. Belker has his first run in of several with a pickpocket he picks up in the crowd at the liquor store holdup. Personal relationships are also introduced, when we meet Furillo's ex-wife Fay, who wants more child support, Esterhaus's new love interest, a high-school senior (he's in his 50s), and a secret love affair between Assistant DA Davenport and someone on the Hill. The episode ends with a cliffhanger when Hill and Renko, looking for a phone after their squad car is stolen while they respond to a domestic dispute, stumble onto kids using drugs who shoot the two officers and leave them for dead.
Episode 2
Presidential Fever
Sat, Jan 17, 198160 mins
The station prepares for the president's visit, calling a summit of the various gang leader's in the hopes the president can get in and out of the city without being killed or putting the city's citizens at risk. But tempers flare as rival gangs find out whose territory the president will visit, and whose he won't. Division decides that the city's police stations need "sprucing up." The Hill is first on the list for official department decorator Grace Gardner, a fiery redhead who immediately clashes with Sergeant Phil Esterhaus. He'd rather see the money spent on real issues for the department. Hill and Renko return to the job after several weeks in the hospital, but can't come to terms with working together again. Bobby admits he's scared after the shooting, and Renko can't seem to forgive Bobby for not ever coming to visit him in the hospital. Belker makes it a priority to bring in the two rapists who continue to assault women in St. James Park. New uniformed cops Harris and Fuentes let a good bust go to their heads, and when they roust a group of Latino men moving out of an apartment and accuse them of actually stealing someone's furniture, the two cops are jumped. When they organize the rest of the cops to help them with "softball practice" where they intend to take baseball bats back to the community and recover their guns, Furillo shuts it down. Furillo's personal problems persist when he gets served by his ex-wife to pay more child support, and he can't find the time to actually meet with Joyce Davenport for more than an hour at a time.
Episode 3
Politics as Usual
Thu, Jan 22, 198160 mins
Hill and Renko finally deal with the issues left over from their near fatal shooting. LaRue finds himself under investigation when a dirty cop corners him with a bribe during a bust gone bad. Belker agrees to a blind date set up by his Mom. Furillo's problems with women continue, when his ex-wife Fay first hits him with an attorney's letter requesting more child support, then he has to leave Joyce's apartment late one night to bail Fay out of jail after being arrested for being naked in a hot tub.
Episode 4
Can World War III Be an Attitude?
Sat, Jan 24, 198160 mins
Esterhaus finds himself tempted by a new woman when Grace Gardner returns to decorate the precinct and won't take no for an answer. LaRue has his first hearing and draws support from both partner Washington and Captain Furillo. Lucy Bates questions her femininity when Hunter asks her to join his team. A car jacking leads Hill and Renko to arrest "Malibu," who turns out to be completely willing to confess and pay back his time doing fix-up work around the precinct. And with Furillo out at LaRue's hearing, the hill finds itself under siege from gangs angry with the president canceling his walking tour.
Episode 5
Double Jeopardy
Sat, Jan 31, 198150 mins
Davenport begins to assist Furillo and Washington in their attempt to clear Larue's name. They probe deep into Macafee's personal life but are having difficulty finding anything dirty on him. 'Operation Duckling' puts many of the officers in drag as they go undercover to apprehend the St. James Park rapist. After responding to a call on a jumper Henry has a flat tire in a bad neighborhood and is harassed by a gang of youths and Phil is beginning to show signs of weariness trying to keep up with two women.
Episode 6
Film at Eleven
Sat, Feb 7, 198149 mins
Furillo agrees to let a local news crew film the precinct. Belker brings in a suspect who believes that he is Dracula. Washington and LaRue capture a woman who is in possession of the gun that shot Hill and Renko.
Episode 7
Choice Cut
Sat, Feb 14, 198150 mins
Frank is forced to deal with a hostage situation at a grocery store. The precinct continues to investigate the shooting of Hill and Renko.
Episode 8
Up in Arms
Sat, Feb 21, 198149 mins
Renko gets upset when the lie detector test for his shooting suspect comes up inconclusive. Esterhaus meets with a criminal that he helped put away. Furillo feels that the news crew is to blame for convincing local merchants form a crime watch union.
Episode 9
Your Kind, My Kind, Humankind
Sat, Feb 28, 198149 mins
LaRue asks a television reporter to go with him on a stakeout. Furillo has trouble finding a home for the juvenile who held up a grocery store. Renko begins to exhibit bizarre behavior. After witnessing his partner's death, Santini has second thoughts about being a police office
Episode 10
Gatorbait
Sat, Mar 7, 198149 mins
Furillo considers leaving the station to run for commander. Renko and Hill investigate the murder of a 15-year old prostitute. LaRue and Washington decide to play a practical joke on Hunter.
Episode 11
Life, Death, Eternity
Sat, Mar 14, 198149 mins
Frank risks a promotion to commander by pursuing an investigation that links a city councilman from another district to the murder of a prostitute. Belker is harassed by a new anti-Semitic cop.
Episode 12
I Never Promised You a Rose, Marvin
Sat, Mar 21, 198149 mins
Furillo continues to push the investigation of a well-respected city councilman even after it become apparent that it will cost him a promotion. LaRue's dream for a business gets destroyed. Hunter gets Chief Daniel's approval to use an "urban tank". Belker considers a transfer.
Episode 13
Fecund Hand Rose
Wed, Mar 25, 198149 mins
Furillo angrily agrees to use his men to protect corrupt cop turned informant Ralph Macafee from a possible assassination attempt. Esterhaus has second thoughts about his upcoming marriage to Cindy after Grace Gardner pays him a visit at the station house.
Episode 14
Rites of Spring
Tue, May 19, 198195 mins
An undercover narc with a history of racism is accused of shooting an unarmed black man. LaRue's drinking starts to affect his job performance. Hill goes out of his way to help a woman who neglected her children. Goldblume's son lands in the hospital.
Episode 15
Jungle Madness
Tue, May 26, 198193 mins
Washington unearths evidence to clear vicious racist narcotics cop Charlie Weeks in a back alley shooting of a black youth while Furillo clashes with Chief Fletcher Daniels over the investigation. LaRue's alcoholism undermines his ability to do his job and causes his life to fall apart. Hill comes down hard on a teenage mother who continually neglects her two children. Bates and her new partner Coffey get to know each other better.