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Posted on 7/7/26 at 11:24 am to Ace Midnight
quote:It doesn't age well, but at the time it was considered "gritty and real". The main reason for the aging is that the genre leaped so far forward so quickly with NYPD Blue.
It's the grandfather of all the great modern dramas.
But it's still entertaining as hell, well written, and if you can reset your mind to the mid-80s it's a great watch. Same with it's companion series, St. Elsewhere.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 12:34 pm to ChestRockwell
As good as network tv gets especially for its time. The writing, acting & dialogue are so good, you soon pay no attn to the age. It was ahead of its time.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 4:08 pm to ChestRockwell
I appreciate everyone's opinion. Thank you. I was a pre teen when it first came out, and adults watched it.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 7:34 am to Fewer Kilometers
quote:
It doesn't age well, but at the time it was considered "gritty and real". The main reason for the aging is that the genre leaped so far forward so quickly with NYPD Blue.
I mean, what does age well? HSB being successful and critically acclaimed changed television, forever. Prior to that, primetime dramas were largely Jack Webb-style or nighttime soaps. After that, you had St. Elsewhere (as you said), L.A. Law, Miami Vice and China Beach (among others).
Magnum was already airing prior to HSB, but it was its own thing (action dramedy - it's progeny would be A-Team, Simon and Simon, etc.) I guess Cagney and Lacy gets lost in the shuffle as it also started in '81 with HSB.
And NYPD Blue itself is a soft sequel series to HSB. Recall Franz got his start in the late seasons of HSB, got his own failed spinoff (Beverly Hills Buntz) and then morphed into Sipowicz for NYPD Blue. Bochco and Milch came almost directly out of HSB for NYPD Blue.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 9:19 am to Ace Midnight
quote:My point was that NYPD Blue was such a leap forward. LA Law was sort of a bridge between Hill Street and NYPD, and it was clean and had the soap aspects of Hill Street. And then NYPD Blue hit and it was kind of a shock for TV, being that dark and edgy with it's camera work, and the characters themselves being so dark and almost humorless (except for Upstairs John).
And NYPD Blue itself is a soft sequel series to HSB.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 9:51 am to Fewer Kilometers
quote:
My point was that NYPD Blue was such a leap forward.
I don't disagree, but my point was that it (NYPD Blue) was literally standing on the shoulders of a giant (Hill Street Blues).
Going back - you say it didn't age well - on the other hand, I am shocked at how much better the acting and writing are than almost any other drama that came before it, and how much closer it was to, say, modern GOATs like Sopranos, Breaking Bad, The Wire, The Shield, etc., than it was shows that aired alongside it - certainly before its influence was felt, it looked like a Ferrari in a parking lot full of Pintos.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 12:33 pm to Fewer Kilometers
quote:quote:
And NYPD Blue itself is a soft sequel series to HSB.
My point was that NYPD Blue was such a leap forward
Been awhile since I've seen either, but I watched both when they aired.
Would honestly say Hill Street Blues had the more interesting cast of characters. Some don't stand up that well now, because they were a bit over the top.... Belker and Howard for instance. But they were fun to watch.
I still remember things like Howard getting the Sherman tank for his SWAT team.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 4:47 pm to boxcarbarney
The theme song still rings through my head. One of my dad’s favorite shows and hearing that meant tomorrow is Friday.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 7:52 pm to TejasHorn
I loved that series. Have the theme song as one of my ring tones. along with Rockford Files theme, Barney Miller Theme, Magnum theme and Taxi theme.
Alternate every month or so.
Alternate every month or so.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 7:53 pm to Chadaristic
Posted on 7/8/26 at 8:41 pm to TejasHorn
Posted on 7/8/26 at 9:28 pm to ChestRockwell
It's the only series I remember my step dad paying attention to. USN, so gone a ton, and we didn't even have a color TV until 1984, and didn't have VCR until 88?
Posted on 7/9/26 at 6:21 pm to Fewer Kilometers
quote:
St Elsewhere
GOAT plot twist
Posted on 7/9/26 at 7:07 pm to boxcarbarney
They actor in your post Michael Conrad, died 43 years ago
Posted on 7/9/26 at 7:53 pm to TejasHorn
quote:The HSB song is one of many masterpieces by composer Mike Post.
The theme song still rings through my head.
Posted on 7/9/26 at 7:54 pm to ChestRockwell
quote:
Hill Street Blues
Saw them filming a segment for an episode that aired March 15, 1984 while I was kidnapped.
Watched it (and LSU lose to Dayton in the 1st round of March madness) with my Dad the night before the shooting.
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