egafd.com

. . . . that The Bill is getting its social conscience back amid all the wannabe soap opera personal relationships. Firstly, a couple of weeks back, the plight of ex-squaddies among the down and outs---nice timing since these were supposed to be troops disillusioned after their part in GWI. Last night, a look at the consequences of rape on a couple of victims. And I suspect the far right local councillor storyline will simmer on for some months yet, with the spotlight again on racism.

The crimes themselves, and the people involved, used to be the focus of this show, and we knew next to nothing about the police characters outwith their job. Hopefully the powers that be behind the programme can redress the balance again soon.

Hill Street Blues is the only cop show that broke the mould

Didn't the Bill start around the same time or just after?

The Bill in the early years was watchable but like most long running dramas
the stories become stale and only the cast members changing prolong the show

cheers
B.....OZ

the bill was 1984,hill street was 1981 im pretty sure,havent watched the bill for weeks.

Who wrote the Hill street theme then Stevie ? and what was it called ?

mike post,it sounded like taxi backwards good themes though,wasnt taxi de vitos 1st real starring role

I loved Hill Street Blues apart from one thing:

Fay Feckin' Furrillo walking in every episode to hassle Frank about Frank Jnr.

NYPD Blue is pretty strong stuff.

veronica hamel,didnt they share a bath together in one episode,saw her in a tv film with the other guy from taxi,was it judd hirsch?as a rapist?

Was Fay Feckin' Furrillo the really tasty Brunet ( a bit Stef Semour )
Or his old misses who was minging and hassled Frank ? ... er I guess I kinda answered my own question , er .... so who was the brunet ?

remember barbara babcock,she was always grinning[the redhead].lol.

EASILY the best US import from the 80's!!
Veronica Hamel was Joyce Davenport who was real-life girlfriend of Frank Furillo (Daniel Travanti) she was the Public Defender who usually made mincemeat of the charges against the scum that the police had arrested much to Furillo's annoyance, but they kept it professional and shagged like good 'uns after work.
Faye Furillo was played by real wife of creator Steven Bochco, Barbara Bosson (?)
My personal favourite character was the brilliant James B Sikking who played Howard Hunter, the SWAT leader, excellent at his job, an emotional fuck-up without the uniform.
Another noticable character was Jesus Martinez the street gang leader who was fair to all.
Some characthers were tiresome, particularly the growling tramp-like Belker who, when first on was so succesful, a spin-off was put into production which was shelved due to the massive success of HSB.