Customer Reviews

Very Best of Hill Street Blues (4 VHS Boxed Set)

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"Hill Street Blues" is a pivotal show in television history, not only because it brought a flinty-realism in terms of both the style and substance of the program, but because it proved that a show could survive despite low Nielsen ratings as long as people with large amounts of disposable income were the ones doing the watching. Created by Stephen Bochco and Michael Kozoll, "Hill Street Blues" used cinematic techniques associated with the films of Robert Altman ("M*A*S*H") with an unusual mixture of drama and comedy, fast-paced and deliberately choppy editing. Each episode usually began with morning roll call and ended late at night, with several stories interwoven in between. The seven episodes collected here do an excellent job of providing the very best of "Hill Street Blues" from start to finish:

Episode 1: "Hill Street Station," (January 15, 1981, written by Michael Kozoll & Steven Bochco) introduces us to beleaguered Captain Frank Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti), who has to defuse a tense hostage situation despite the aggressive inclinations of the leader of his EATers, Lt. Howard Hunter (James B. Sikking) and the uneasy help of gang leader Jesus Martinez (Trinidad Silva). Meanwhile, Public Defender Joyce Davenport (Veronica Hamill) tries to find a client lost in the system and boy are we surprised after watching Furillo and Davenport but heads all episode long to learn they are secretly lovers. Meanwhile, Sgt. Esterhaus (Michael Conrad), confides to Fay Furillo (Barbara Bosson) about his teenage girlfriend.

Episode 25: "The World According to Freedom" (January 7, 1982, written by Michael Wagner), has Mick Belker (Bruce Weitz) dealing with the zany self-professed super hero "Captain Freedom" (Dennis Dugan), who simply will not stop trying to help save the day. Meanwhile, Captain Furillo issues an ultimatum to the gangs after a brutal massacre at a local tavern. The conclusion of this one will get to you big time because you will not see it coming.

Episode 36: "Trial by Fury" (September 30, 1982, written by David Milch) was the season premiere for the third season. It may be the best single television episode I have ever seen in my life (yes, better than "Love's Labor Lost" on "ER") and I have used it in my television classes every chance I get. A nun is raped and murdered, outraging both the citizens on the Hill as well as Furillo and his cops. The assailant, Celestine Grey and Gerald Chapman, are quickly captured but the lack of evidence that will hold up in court puts a conviction in doubt. Then Furillo, in a chilling sequence, decides to use the lynch mob outside the precinct to coerce a confession from the assailants, one of whom is Joyce's client. Television does not get any better than this episode. It is worth the whole collection just by itself.

Episode 71: "Grace Under Pressure" (February 2, 1984, written by Jeffrey Lewis, Michael Wagner, Karen Hall, and Mark Frost) is the memorable episode that deals with death of Sgt. Esterhaus, necessitated by the death of actor Michael Conrad. The character is celebrated by going out with a bang: he died while making love to Grace (Barbara Babock). This episode also has Linda Hamilton as Sandy Valpraiso, whose relationship with Joe Coffey (Ed Marino) is shattered when she is raped, and Jane Kaczmarek as Officer Clara Tilsky. Clearly the opening eulogy is for the actor as well as the character.

Episode 80: "Mayo, Hold the Pickle" (September 27, 1984, writers Jeffrey Lewis & Mark Frost) finds new roll call sergeant Stan Jablonski (Robert Prosky) is called out by a woman while Detective Mayo (Mimi Kuzak) handles a messy assault case against an elderly couple. Meanwhile, Fay tries to help an out of town couple, played by Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker (soon to be big stars on "L.A. Law"). But the impressive part of this episode is that Davenport is upset over the impending execution of Celestine Gray, her client in the classic "Trial by Fury" episode from two year's earlier.

Episode 118: "Remembrance of Hits Past" (February 13, 1986, written by Walon Green), take us back before the beginning when Furillo is gunned down and Joyce remembers how they met as she waits for him to come out of surgery. Meanwhile, Norman Buntz (Dennis Franz) and the rest of the cops on the Hill are trying to find the shooter before he finishes the job.

Episode 146: "It Ain't Over Till it's Over" (May 12, 1987, written by Jeffrey Lewis, David Milch and John Romano) is the final episode of "Hill Street Blues" as rumors fly about what is going to happen to everyone after the station house is gutted by a fire. Buntz is already on the hot seat after being set up by some bad guys, but Furillo and Sid (Peter Jurasik) are trying to figure out who did it. Yes, there was "Beverly Hills Buntz" for a while after this one, with Franz and Jurasik putzing around, but this is the grand finale.

Without "Hill Street Blues" there is no "St. Elsewhere" or "L.A. Law," which in turn would have meant no "E.R.," no "N.Y.P.D. Blue," and pretty much no whatever you favorite drama of the last decade has been. Contemporary adult television comes from THIS program. It is one of the 10 best ever on television in terms of writing and acting. "Trial by Fury" is one of the 10 best episodes ever aired on television. If you missed this one the first time around, then you should try to catch it in syndication. But if you remember how good it was, then this collection will allow you to savor the show's very best moments.

Back in the ancient age of television, there was a cop show that surpassed all others. It was down to earth, dealt with people as people and made you forget that this was TV. I watched HSB when it was on prime time and I watched the reruns during the summer and the syndicated reruns. Steven Bochco broke into prime time with this show. It's hard to put into words what living with each character every week meant. If you are a TV viewer and haven't seen this show, then you've been on a desert island. Highly recommended for it's cast, suspense and relevant content.

Certainly the finest TV series I've ever watched. It sometimes brought tears almost simultaneously with laughter. The only thing to regret about this tape is that its not a complete DVD collection of Hill Street Blues.

WOW! Too bad there is not more of this series on video.

Hill Street was the best show on TV by a mile, and to my mind is still the best police drama ever. This was the show which really did make Thursday night "must see TV". It had a fabulous ensemble cast, including D. Travanti, Veronica Hammel, Charles Haid, Mike Warren, and a host of others.

The writing was like nothing else ever on TV at the time. One episode sagely included here, "Trial By Fury" still was the most intense television I can recall, and when that story line ended with the execution of the mentally challenged murderer of a nun, words were inadequate to desrcibe the horror.

Hill Street also brought us the first look (to my recollection) at a great character actor who in several seasons portrayed two different slimeball cops: Bad Sal Benedetto and Norman Buntz. Both played to perfection by NYPD Blue's Dennis Franz.

Great TV

It is so good to see this ground breaking show again in this special box set. There are episodes here that will leave the new viewer hanging since they were meant to be seen in a whole season of ongoing story (for example the shooting of Officer Hill and Renko) nonetheless, the sheer art of the acting and every present backround cast on these shows is incredible!

In Hill Street Blues you have the best ever TV Cop series. In the 7 episodes in this collection you have a complete cross-section of the characters across the 7 series 147 episode mega series.

Simply brilliant television. When will all the episodes be available on DVD or VHS to buy and enjoy.

Thamk you to the cast, writers and producers of Hill Street Blues for a wondeful show.

Television as a medium is legitimized if by nothing else then by "Hill Street Blues," the personification of excellence. It succeeds on many levels and does so by staying true to the restraints and liberties that set television apart from other art forms. It is a story that would be lost on a larger screen, one that requires the range and continuity of a weekly series, and one that would be flat on a page without the sounds, set design, camera work and fine performances that convey it.

Because it is first and foremost about the universal truths of the human condition, it remains as fresh as it was when it was launched a little over 20 years ago. Because the truths are revealed through the lens of a police station situated in an unnamed, decaying "Every City," we have a telescope to our cultural past. Because it is written impeccably, every sentence a gem, every character fully realized, every irony fulfilled, every moment is galvanizing.

I find strength from watching its mostly noble and always very human series regulars survive the indignities of life, balancing compassion with leadership. There is never the sense that this grew out of Hollywood: the regular characters, the guest or recurring characters and the background extras provide a realistic, organic mix of age, girth, complexion, education, gender, racial diversity and class. The media tools--background music, occasional use of slow motion, lighting--all heighten the sense of reality rather than detract from it.

These episodes are a reminder of how much society has changed from just 20 years ago. When these first aired, women could not expect protection against a stalker, disabled Americans had designated parking spaces but no other public accommodations, and forms were banged out on old typewriters. No one was worried about AIDS. Communication that might today be taken up by cell phone, e-mail or voice mail was by necessity carried out face to face, which allowed for a level of drama and emotion that is eclipsed by latterday technology. The station house was a fortress, the city was wild with Barbarians who never slept. The Hill Street Barbarians have gone and there are new ones in their place. We will always need the fortress.

First off, I need to start by saying, I've never seen this show. I gave it a 4 based on other people's feelings. However, in an attempt to make other viewers happy I wanted to write a review to list the episodes included in this Boxed Set. So to get right to the point, this set includes the following seven episodes: "Grace Under Pressure,""Hill Street Station," "The World According to Freedom," "Trial by Fury," "Mayo, Hold the Pickle,""Remembrance of Hits Past," and "It Ain't Over Till It's Over." Hope this helps!

I am very pleased with my VHS tapes, I am very glad to have ventured in to the Amazon sit eto located this tape, I have been looking for it,until someone recommended Amaazon. I will be searching this website from now on before I seek elsewhere.