On this day May 12, 1987, NBC aired the final episode of Hill Street Blues, bringing to a close one of the most groundbreaking and critically acclaimed television dramas of the 1980s. Running for seven seasons and totaling 146 episodes, Hill Street Blues redefined the modern police drama with its gritty realism, layered storytelling and ensemble cast.
Premiering in 1981, the series was known for its documentary-style camera work, overlapping dialogue and focus on the daily lives of officers in an urban police precinct. It earned widespread critical acclaim and quickly became a staple of prestige television. Over its run, Hill Street Blues received an astonishing 98 Emmy nominations and won 26, including four consecutive wins for Most Outstanding Drama Series from 1981 to 1984. It also influenced a generation of television writers and producers, paving the way for later hits like NYPD Blue and The Wire.
Even after its finale, the legacy of Hill Street Blues endures as a show that raised the standard for network drama and introduced a new level of storytelling to prime time television.
Fun fact: Hill Street Blues was the first television drama to win the Emmy for Most Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row, setting a record at the time.
Premiering in 1981, the series was known for its documentary-style camera work, overlapping dialogue and focus on the daily lives of officers in an urban police precinct. It earned widespread critical acclaim and quickly became a staple of prestige television. Over its run, Hill Street Blues received an astonishing 98 Emmy nominations and won 26, including four consecutive wins for Most Outstanding Drama Series from 1981 to 1984. It also influenced a generation of television writers and producers, paving the way for later hits like NYPD Blue and The Wire.
Even after its finale, the legacy of Hill Street Blues endures as a show that raised the standard for network drama and introduced a new level of storytelling to prime time television.
Fun fact: Hill Street Blues was the first television drama to win the Emmy for Most Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row, setting a record at the time.
