Hill Street was definitely revolutionary in its form and content. It was my first communal-watching show with my friends in college.
It was also one of the things Joss cited as an inspiration for Firefly (along with The Killer Angels).
Book: Yes, I'd forgotten you're moonlighting as a criminal mastermind now. Got your next heist planned? Simon: No. But I'm thinking about growing a big black mustache. I'm a traditionalist.
'War Stories'
The Minearverse 4: Support Group for Clumsy People
[NAFDA] "There will be an occasional happy, so that it might be crushed under the boot of the writer." From Zorro to Angel (including Wonderfalls and The Inside), this is where Buffistas come to anoint themselves in the bloodbath.
DavidS - Aug 17, 2005 9:42:14 am PDT #2589 of 10001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
Largo - Aug 17, 2005 4:45:48 pm PDT #2590 of 10001
Johnson points out that Hill Street Blues was one of the first shows that combined the complexity of multithreaded over multiple episodes and seasons storytelling with complex social issues.
Alas, I always preferred "St. Elsewhere" to "Hill Street." The latter show was exceptional, but "Elsewhere" was always more entertaining.
quester - Aug 17, 2005 4:58:38 pm PDT #2591 of 10001
Danger is my middle name, only I spell it R. u. t. h. - Tina Belcher.
I still regret missing episodes of St Elsewhere. Too much theatre work and the lack of vcr.
JenP - Aug 17, 2005 5:03:07 pm PDT #2592 of 10001
Is it out on DVD? St. E, that is? I missed more than I saw, but I did like.
quester - Aug 17, 2005 5:33:23 pm PDT #2593 of 10001
Danger is my middle name, only I spell it R. u. t. h. - Tina Belcher.
I think it was out on video tape, but I donot know if it ever got burned to dvd.
sumi - Aug 17, 2005 5:40:52 pm PDT #2594 of 10001
Art Crawl!!!
Largo -- did you just feel like you had to choose between them? Because they were both on NBC, right?
Largo - Aug 17, 2005 5:41:51 pm PDT #2595 of 10001
did you just feel like you had to choose between them? Because they were both on NBC, right?
Right (though, "Hill Street" was on opposite "Knots Landing," and that was the show I would drop everything for back in the day). I just looked forward more to "Elsewhere" when TVLand acquired the MTM library, b/c, it was all good and soap-like.
ETA: I know it seems odd for a second- or third-grader (circa 1986-87) to be all "tied up in KNOTS," so to speak, but it's the truth. I swear it. I can't say I was a Doogie Howser, or anything, but back then, I had zero patience for alot of shows you'd think a kid my age would've enjoyed. (I think alot of it had to do w/ having only one sibling who was nine years older than I, and whom I wanted to show I wasn't just some annoying tag-along.) When other kids were watching cartoons and Miller-Boyett sitcoms, I was watching the NBC Thursday night lineup (or whatever).
Unfortunately, neither "Hill Street Blues," nor "St. Elsewhere," is out on DVD at the moment. But, "The White Shadow," another, underrated drama series from MTM, will be, next month; so, you know, "hope springs eternal," and all that.
quester - Aug 17, 2005 5:44:39 pm PDT #2596 of 10001
Danger is my middle name, only I spell it R. u. t. h. - Tina Belcher.
"The White Shadow"
I loved this show! I had such a crush on Ken Howard.
Largo - Aug 17, 2005 6:00:13 pm PDT #2597 of 10001
Another show I'm praying will come to DVD: "The Rockford Files." I discovered it when I was living in L.A. (thanks, KDOC), and from the first wise Jim Rockford cracked, I was in love (w/ the show, not w/ the Garner). If I could create a detective series in the same vein as "Rockford," believe me, I'd die happy.
Tamara - Aug 17, 2005 6:37:02 pm PDT #2598 of 10001
You know, we could experiment and cancel football.
I have been in love with James Garner since I was a little little girl. I loved Maverick and The Rockford Files.