Regular Price $29.98

Starring: Barbara Bosson,  Lisa Sutton,  Lindsay Crouse, 
Directed By: Edwin Sherin,  Don Weis,  Ben Bolt (II),  Mark Frost,  John D. Hancock, 
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Release Date: 1981-01-15
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Format: Closed-captioned,  Color,  Dubbed,  DVD-Video,  Full Screen,  Subtitled,  NTSC, 

Editorial Reviews and DVD Information about Hill Street Blues - Season 1

Product Description
Drama that explores the lives and careers of a group of people who work at an inner city police precinct.
No Track Information Available
Media Type: DVD
Artist: HILL STREET BLUES
Title: SEASON 1
Street Release Date: 02/06/2007
Domestic
Genre: TELEVISION

Amazon.com essential video
Created by Steven Bochco and one of television's most influential series, Hill Street Blues was not your father's cop show. The Emmy-winning pilot episode, "Hill Street Station," immediately established the series as less a police procedural than an up-close and personal "interface with the police experience." To establish gritty, documentary-like realism, the show featured sequences, such as the pre-credit roll call, that were filmed with a hand-held camera. There was chaotic, overlapping dialogue. There were sudden, shocking bursts of violence that claimed popular characters. Story lines were not wrapped up at the end of the hour, but instead, unfolded serially throughout the season. It's no wonder that Hill Street, while championed by most critics, was initially not embraced by viewers. It was, in the beginning, one of television's lowest rated shows, its case not helped by NBC's criminal practice of juggling it in its primetime schedule). But there is justice in Hollywood. Hill Street Blues won the Emmy for best drama in its first season. Also honored were several members of the ensemble, including Daniel J. Travanti as the compassionate and incorruptible Precinct Capt. Frank Furillo, Michael Conrad as the avuncular Sgt. Phil Esterhaus (whose cautionary, "Let's be careful out there," became the show's pop culture signature), and Barbara Babcock as the wildly sexual Grace Gardner, who rocks Esterhaus's world (particularly in the episode that earned her her statuette, "Fecund Hand Rose").

There were no big stars on Hill Street Blues (or, for that matter, no little stars, as one of the cast members jokes during a near-hour-long reunion featurette included as a bonus feature on this three double-sided disc set). Each was an indelible character, among them Charles Haid as cowboy cop Andy Renko, Veronica Hammel as sexy public defender Joyce Davenport, Bruce Weitz as the untamed, animalistic Belker, Keil Martin as LaRue, whose descent into alcoholism is one of the season's most compelling dramatic arcs, and James Sikking as the gung-ho Howard Hunter. Once daring, Hill Street Blues seems almost quaint today, with none of the graphic sex or language that scandalized NYPD Blue (in one episode, a captured cat burglar, portrayed by a pre-L.A. Law Michael Tucker, makes a reference to "wolf pee-pee"). The ethnic portrayals, too, are not exactly nuanced. But the human dramas at the heart of Hill Street still make for arresting television. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews for Hill Street Blues - Season 1

Great Show; by awesomep
This show was terrific during its time. I really enjoyed watching them then and I will equally enjoy watching the show now. Oh and by the way, I purchased both season one and season two at Target's in a double pack for $19.99. A great bargain.Hill Street Blues - Season 1

Classic TV
Excellent packaging for a ground-breaking, insightful TV program. Most of the content is timeless, although a few themes reflecting the times now appear dated. I hope all seasons of this show are available soon.Hill Street Blues - Season 1

What happened to shows like this?
Although I was born in 1980 and therefore never able to watch Hill Street Blues when it originally aired, I am completely enthralled by the fantastic storylines, characters, and atmosphere that it creates. There are very few shows that can establish a direct relationship with the viewer which makes them want to watch the whole season in one sitting, but this show does this without blinking. All in all, I cannot commend this show enough for its originality, and remember, I am an unfortunate soul who has only been privileged to watch two seasons on dvd (which begins the problem).

The problem I see is threefold. First, why can't anyone in Hollywood come up with a long-lasting and unique idea that can create the fanbase that Hill Street Blues had? Where have the writers gone? Are we as people going to be treated with garbage reality shows and misfit sitcoms for the remainder of our lives? Second, what is the hold up with the rest of the releases? As many reviewers have already stated, there are countless (and marketless) TV-DVD releases every week, so why can't Hill Street Blues be one of the series' that people will actually buy? And finally, as such a fantastic show, shouldn't it get a little better DVD treatment? I know this is a minor gripe, but I am not a fan of double-sided discs. I've actually had trouble with both seasons skipping and becoming pixelated to the point that I had to skip over certain episode chapters. I'm not sure if anyone else has had this issue, but I would definitely like to see future releases (Please!) on one-sided discs.

I've now watched both seasons in their entirety three times, the latest being with my girlfriend, born in 1985, who finished them in a matter of weeks. Needless to say, Hill Street Blues is now in her top five favorite shows. So please, studio gods, release the remaining seasons and make all of us a little happier, especially those of us who haven't even seen the rest of the series!Hill Street Blues - Season 1

Give away Hill Street Blues!
I think Fox should license Hill Street Blues to Shout! Factory, because Shout! is more willing to release all 7 seasons better than Fox. If Fox really cared, they would sell Hill Street Blues to a new company. Please license Hill Street Blues to Shout! Factory!Hill Street Blues - Season 1

Hill Street Blues Cult Series
What is there to say? Hill Street Blues - one of the best police series made - from the 80s I think. No-one missed this weekly show when it first aired. Not going to write about the series, either you know it or you don't. If you do, buy it! If you don't know it - buy it anyway! The series hasn't really dated. It has the lot - comedy, action, romance, and so many different characters - everyone watching will find someone in the show to love! Then buy Season 2!!Hill Street Blues - Season 1

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