'Hill Street Blues': The most influential TV show ever

CNN ^ | Tue April 29, 2014 | Todd Leopold

[mkleesma]

Loved this show! Might even pick up the DVD collection.

[mkleesma]

(CNN) -- "Sopranos" fan? "Breaking Bad" binge-watcher? "Mad Men" admirer? Take a moment to thank "Hill Street Blues." "There is no 'Sopranos' without 'Hill Street Blues,' " says Syracuse University pop culture professor Robert Thompson, who wrote a book tracing "Hill Street's" influence. "Matt Weiner ('Mad Men') and Vince Gilligan ('Breaking Bad') and David Chase ('The Sopranos') and all these people ought to wake up every morning and send a note to 'Hill Street Blues.' " Graphic: The children of 'Hill Street' The entire seven-season run of the groundbreaking series comes out on DVD Tuesday. It wasn't a success that could have been predicted. When it premiered on NBC in January 1981, "Hill Street" was unlike anything else on American television. It was a serialized mixture of drama and comedy featuring diverse, colorful and three-dimensional characters -- the policemen and policewomen of the rundown Hill Street Station. It was well-written, boldly directed and creatively revolutionary. Still, initial ratings were poor and audiences were confused. It stayed on through a combination of key corporate support, determination and a little bit of luck. The result? Two decades of dominance for the Peacock Network -- "Hill Street" was the first cornerstone of its Thursday lineup -- and the bounty of novelistic TV series we see today. "It just changed the rules of TV," its producer, Steven Bochco, said in an interview.

[PapaNew]

I guess my partial claim to fame is I grew up around the corner and went to high school with Charlie Haid. Back then he seemed like kind of a hard guy.

[Gay State Conservative]

M*A*S*H*

[atc23]

From this point forward, all television drama will be measured against

Breaking Bad

[PapaNew]

Breaking Bad

Never seen it. Stopped watching regular TV program series years ago. Can you say in 25 words of less what makes it so good?

[left that other site]

Great theme song too!

[Future Snake Eater]

Can you say in 25 words of less what makes it so good?

Bryan Cranston as Heisenberg.

[ExTxMarine]

I’m thinking about watching “Breaking Bad” via Netflix - but to date, I have not seen a single show.

But, I have heard, from many people, that it is actually a very good show.

[RIghtwardHo]

One of the great shows for sure.

[MattinNJ]

Loved Hill Street Blues. The high point was when the counselman fell out the window and landed on the SWAT van.

[ken5050]

Oh, man..thanks....just what I need for my stocking for Christmas..gotta start dropping hints now...

Veronica Hamel was gorgeous back then...reminds me of Brigit Moniyan on "Blue Bloods. Loved the way she'd call Furillo.... "Pizza Man"...

[ken5050]

Absolutely...one of the best ever...

[Hegewisch Dupa]

[oh8eleven]

"Hill Street" was unlike anything else on American television.
It was a serialized mixture of drama and comedy featuring diverse, colorful and three-dimensional characters
Oh yeah, for sure THAT had never been done before. Sheesh.
And as far as "most influential" - anyone ever hear of All In The Family? Seinfeld?

[ExTxMarine]

I have to admit, Hill Street Blues was a very good, edgy show that showed the ups and downs of everyday life for police officers. I mean, it really showed everything: deaths, drugs, good cops, bad cops, and even “good cops” doing things that were “in the gray area” of legal.

I would rate it right up there with M*A*S*H, as a “Must See” TV series.

[left that other site]

Sometimes when i am relaxing at the piano, i burst into the Theme from HSB! (Never saw any sheet music, but the theme is unforgettable)

[MrEdd]

Never watched it.
Do like the theme song though. It used to get some radio play.

[PapaNew]

Bryan Cranston as Heisenberg.

What is he like or what does he do that makes him and the show so good?

[ken5050]

Do YOU burst into the theme, or does the piano?

[left that other site]

Both...my fingers do the talking.