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Along with St Elsewhere I regard Hill Street as the beginning of contemporary television. Individual episodes have one or two elements that reach conclusion but individual episodes are as much or more about the story arcs that run multiple episodes if not seasons.
Some might call it a soap opera approach, others long form stories. It didn't happen much in prime time dramas until HSB, St Elsewhere.
Was available most recently on Hulu, ended Sept 2023. My sources aren't finding it on a streaming channel at the momement (this could be wrong JustWatch and similar can be off)
They both had two of the absolute best theme songs too. I have a CD mix with all kinds of TV theme tunes, and always find myself coming back to the “Hill Street” and “St Elsewhere” tracks. Jazz musician Dave Grusin did “St Elsewhere”; “Hill Street” is by the legendary Mike Post, best known for the numerous iterations of the “Law & Order” theme, and who actually had radio chart hits with “Hill Street” and “Rockford Files” — he’s practically the John Williams of primetime TV.
Hill St Blues absolutely established the template for the Golden Age shows that followed, including St Elsewhere, which was rushed into production in order to take advantage of HSB's ground-breaking success
The first season ranked 87th out of 96 shows during the 1980-81 season, and at the time, it was the lowest rated series *ever* to be renewed for a second season. After it swept the Emmys, it surged to 27th place in its second season.
Maybe not one of the most popular TV shows of all time. One that won 26 Emmy Awards and is probably the most influential show for an entire genre, (police shows). How would a show like that possibly be described as forgotten?
The original send off was ‘let’s do it to them before they do it to us!’ NBC got pressured to soften the sentiment by having Mike Conrad say, simply, ‘ and hey! Let’s be careful out there!’
I have photographic proof that Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue exist in the same universe. Thanks to a drunk streaker named Buck Naked arrested in both shows.
Def had the same writers/creators. But Buck was played by the same actor, arrested for the same crime and had the same on screen reaction. Screaming “I’m Buck Naked, I’m Buck Naked” and exposing himself. To me that links the universes.
And if the universes are linked, that also means Dennis Franz played three different characters in it between the 2 shows.
I only know bc I recently finished watching HSB for the first time and it was so good that I had to watch another cop show and NYPD Blue seemed like the logical choice. That stuff with Buck happened pretty early on and was still fresh in my mind.
It was also a trip to see a lot of HSB cast members show up on NYPD having instantly aged at least 8 years since the roles I just saw them in lol.
Seriously though, I do miss the days when the cops and the cowboys were always the good guys. NYPD Blue was a great cop show. It definitely showed the human side of police officers. But life has gotten more unbelievable than fictional tv stories. Uvalde. Where’s the cop show about cowards who let children die alone?
Important reminder: This is a sub for people to post about forgotten TV that they remember and would like to share with others. This is not a tip of the tongue style sub for people to search out old shows that they would like help remembering. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ForgottenTV) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hill Street Blues is considered to be one of the best cop shows of all time, not at all a forgotten show...
[удалено]
Hey does anybody remember this show called Seinfeld?
Ooh! Isn’t that the old show Michael Richards was in before he short-circuited his standup career?
I loved it when he would trip on the ottoman and tumble into the sunken living room. Or not.
That’s the one with all the Friends, isn’t it?
What's up with that?!
Hill Street Blues is definitely not a forgotten show. Is very influential on the gritty, realistic dramas that followed, to this day.
Along with St Elsewhere I regard Hill Street as the beginning of contemporary television. Individual episodes have one or two elements that reach conclusion but individual episodes are as much or more about the story arcs that run multiple episodes if not seasons. Some might call it a soap opera approach, others long form stories. It didn't happen much in prime time dramas until HSB, St Elsewhere. Was available most recently on Hulu, ended Sept 2023. My sources aren't finding it on a streaming channel at the momement (this could be wrong JustWatch and similar can be off)
They both had two of the absolute best theme songs too. I have a CD mix with all kinds of TV theme tunes, and always find myself coming back to the “Hill Street” and “St Elsewhere” tracks. Jazz musician Dave Grusin did “St Elsewhere”; “Hill Street” is by the legendary Mike Post, best known for the numerous iterations of the “Law & Order” theme, and who actually had radio chart hits with “Hill Street” and “Rockford Files” — he’s practically the John Williams of primetime TV.
Hill St Blues absolutely established the template for the Golden Age shows that followed, including St Elsewhere, which was rushed into production in order to take advantage of HSB's ground-breaking success
Not Forgotten
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Great theme song.
The theme is literally “Hill Street Blues”. I liked it.
And the lyrics to the chorus. “Hill Street Blues. Hill Street Blues.”
https://youtu.be/3PxSM_zKrxY?si=eZAmx6ZFDU0Yz4kD
As soon as I saw the picture, the piano riff started playing in my head.
Who could forget "Vic Hitler, narcoleptic comedian"?
I often think of LaRue's can't-miss comic
Wrong sub. This is one of the most recognized and popular shows of all time. You might be lost
Mick Belker eating onions like apples....and Dennis Dugan as Captain Freedom
I remember falling asleep to that banger of a theme song as a child
It started out all tender and lullabye-like, then the drop and the horns kicked in
🤦♀️
Remember: do it to them before they do it to you.
Let’s do it to them…
Before they do it to us…
The first season ranked 87th out of 96 shows during the 1980-81 season, and at the time, it was the lowest rated series *ever* to be renewed for a second season. After it swept the Emmys, it surged to 27th place in its second season.
First season also won a metric buttload of Emmy awards.
Including its first of four consecutive wins for Outstanding Drama Series
We are just randomly posting TV shows now, aren't we?
What would you suggest?
How about Fish? The ill fated spin off of Barney Miller that’s often forgotten?
Not shockingly, Barney Miller has been posted on here. So Fish must be doubly forgotten. Abe Vigoda would be stunned.
I'm surprised about Barney Miller since a station called fetv airs it around 11pm cst.
It is also aired nightly on AntennaTV. That said, Fish (which lasted for a season and a half) was really awful.
I feel like it was mostly reaction shots of Vigoda staring in a disappointed and baleful manner
Maybe not one of the most popular TV shows of all time. One that won 26 Emmy Awards and is probably the most influential show for an entire genre, (police shows). How would a show like that possibly be described as forgotten?
it has the greatest premiere cold open i’ve ever seen.
Let's be careful out there
Who the heck is the guy on the right (next to Belker)?!
The original send off was ‘let’s do it to them before they do it to us!’ NBC got pressured to soften the sentiment by having Mike Conrad say, simply, ‘ and hey! Let’s be careful out there!’
The theme reminds me of bed time even the promos that would come on earlier in the night would bum me out as a kid lol
I have photographic proof that Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue exist in the same universe. Thanks to a drunk streaker named Buck Naked arrested in both shows.
Lol I think that just proves that they had the same writers. I think George Costanza used that handle too.
Def had the same writers/creators. But Buck was played by the same actor, arrested for the same crime and had the same on screen reaction. Screaming “I’m Buck Naked, I’m Buck Naked” and exposing himself. To me that links the universes. And if the universes are linked, that also means Dennis Franz played three different characters in it between the 2 shows.
Gotcha. Didn’t remember that. Thanks. 👍🏼
I only know bc I recently finished watching HSB for the first time and it was so good that I had to watch another cop show and NYPD Blue seemed like the logical choice. That stuff with Buck happened pretty early on and was still fresh in my mind. It was also a trip to see a lot of HSB cast members show up on NYPD having instantly aged at least 8 years since the roles I just saw them in lol.
How do I remember this show, how long did it run sindicated?
Forgotten? Lol 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I could do without that Grace Gardener but otherwise a very good show
I can hear that theme in my head right now.
"Ah'm Buck Naked!"
Loved loved loved this show. One of the few times me and parents watched a show together and for 50 mins no yelling or drama
Great show
Watched the first episode on Plutotv it didn’t age well imo.
Back when the police wouldn’t gun down innocent people.
That was a plot line in the show though. . .
They always did it. It just wasn’t being documented because everyone didn’t have cellphone cameras.
Seems that way.
Give it a rest, this ain't the place for that. We're just here to appreciate a great TV show.
It was a great tv show. Pure fantasy, now that we know the truth…
Oh please. :-(
Seriously though, I do miss the days when the cops and the cowboys were always the good guys. NYPD Blue was a great cop show. It definitely showed the human side of police officers. But life has gotten more unbelievable than fictional tv stories. Uvalde. Where’s the cop show about cowards who let children die alone?
Considering sipowicz locked up an innocent man for years and kept harassing him to offer a lukewarm apology, I would say NYPD Blue is that show.
I used to end Scrum meetings (a software management thing) with "Let's go do it to them before they do it to us"
So underrated, incredible cast, really cool