Hill Street Blues: Season 4

Detective Arthur "Art" Bradley (Lawrence Pressman), who is homosexual, but married with children, is the only surviving witness to a mass-murder in a gay bar; much of the episode revolves around attempts by Washington and LaRue to cover for him, and his eventual decision to come forward formally as a witness. Goldblume becomes Fay's partner in natural childbirth classes, a horse-riding eccentric, the "Cisco Kid" (Martin Ferrero) causes problems, and Calletano finally passes a kidney stone (with

The title is a comment by Renko as Coffey walks out on a date with twin mud-wrestlers, arrested earlier in the day at a fracas in a mud-wrestling bar. Hill wins $100,000 on the lottery and promptly sets about losing it through gambling. Gang trouble flares on the eve of mayoral candidate Ben Fisk moving into a rough part of the Hill, the Dante Projects. The other candidate, Chief Daniels, attempts to engage the support of Furillo. Furillo and Goldblume fall out over the issue of gang leadership

Deputy Chief Mahoney continues to make trouble for the Hill Street officers, leading Furillo to an uncharacteristic display of insubordination. LaRue and Washington recover a missing arm in time to have it sewn back on to the victim of a car crash. Davenport defends Kiki, a West Indian student who is robbed while working as a cab driver. Hector Ruiz takes another hostage - Ben Fisk - but this time loses his life when an EAT sniper kills him to save Fisk. Hill's winnings begin to have a negative

Bates and Coffey both pass the Sergeant's Examination (Bates third, Coffey 23rd) and hope for forthcoming vacancies in that rank. Kiki finds the knife used to attack him, but in his anxiety over his immigration status he visits his attacker to plead with him, and in the ensuing fight, kills him. Hill becomes insufferable (and only Renko stands by him) until he loses all his money in gambling. Fay is delivered of a healthy baby girl. At the Dante Projects, Ben Fisk returns (with press coverage) a

Wonderland is a sex shop and peep show in Midtown Precinct, where Furillo's officers undertake an anti-vice operation on the orders of Daniels, as the Chief seeks points in the mayoral election race against his new opponent, Commander Ozzie Cleveland. Mike Perez accidentally shoots a small boy, Jimmy Robson, who was armed with a toy gun (this incident was based on a real-life incident in Stanton, California). To deflect attention during the election campaign, pressure is brought to bear on Furil

Hill and Renko capture the "Emily Post Bandit", though Renko is turned green by the explosion of dye packets in the money. The Bandit escapes custody and takes a woman hostage in her own home, demanding Dilaudid for her safe release. In court, the prosecution of Mrs. Robson for felony child endangerment is thrown out, with a severe reprimand from Judge Oberman to the city authorities for ever pursuing it. At the Wonderland operation, LaRue meets attorney Wachtel in a dress, exploring his sexual

It is election day. Randolph Scripps, a late candidate, is creating more trouble than interest; Goldblume takes an interest. Daniels, expecting to win, offers to put Furillo forward as the next Chief. Deputy Chief Mahoney, overhearing, goes public with Daniels' and Furillo's roles in the failed Robson prosecution. Wachtel continues his comeback - still in women's clothes. Jimmy Robson's funeral takes place. Furillo spends time with Mike Perez Junior, the teenage son of Officer Mike Perez. Mike J

"Buck Naked" (Lee Weaver) has his feature role as a witness against corrupt taxi operators. The judge unexpectedly overturns the decision of the jury, and Davenport implies to Furillo that she suspects the judge of corruption. An investigation into police corruption turns up evidence that, fourteen years prior, rookie patrolman Howard Hunter was coerced into being the "bagman" for two corrupt Midtown detectives. Furillo informs Hunter, who sinks immediately into depression, believing that he has

Honk, the "guard goose on the loose", is caught by Bates and Coffey, but executed in the station by its owner; Calletano and Schnitz make arrangements to salvage the "dark meat". Hunter appears at the stationhouse with powder burns, having survived a suicide attempt (LaRue, seeing his depression, had put blanks in Hunter's revolver); Furillo uses a favor from Daniels to avoid an Internal Affairs investigation of Hunter, then confronts Hunter about his state of mind. Belker is devastated and blam

Three "Russian" journalists from the Soviet Republic of Georgia (now the independent Republic of Georgia) visit the Hill, where one attempts to defect. It transpires that he and the female delegate are in a relationship which has been complicated by the advances of the third delegate, a KGB officer. The matter is resolved without international incident. Belker goes undercover with an ambulance crew, and strikes up an unlikely relationship with the ambulance driver (Bruno Kirby) arising at first

For the first time, Lieutenant Goldblume conducts Roll Call, filling in for Sergeant Esterhaus who is said to be "in for a check-up". Rats have infested the station house, but a man wearing evening dress and playing an accordion (Ron Rifkin) seems to lure them away, just as he promised. A cop killer is at large, causing anxiety. Belker goes undercover as a bag lady, and is slashed with a knife. Coffey and Bates staff an experimental police office within a housing project. Drawing on his recent s

Esterhaus is said to be in hospital for tests. For the second consecutive episode, Lieutenant Goldblume conducts Roll Call. Hill senses something wrong with his girlfriend, but she is gunned down before he can find out what. The cop killer is caught and arrested, but then discovered to be a copy-cat killer, with the original killer still at large. Nonetheless, the copy-cat killer helps implicate the corrupt Midtown cops being investigated secretly by Furillo, Calletano, LaRue, and Washington (wi

Two cops are transferred from Polk Avenue and are quickly joined by the third member of a love triangle, resulting in one shooting another. Coffey is shot and wounded by the cop killer. Goldblume takes his third roll call, but says Esterhaus will be "back tomorrow". The cop killer turns out to be the proprietor of the local cop hang-out cafe - he is arrested after nearly shooting Hunter. A social assembly of lieutenants and captains is interrupted by Washington, LaRue, and Goldblume as they arre

Sergeant Phil Esterhaus dies while making love with Grace Gardner, and Captain Furillo announces the death at Roll Call, shocking the officers. In a double blow for Leo, he discovers his wife to be having an affair. Belker is let down by his backup (Hill and Renko) on an undercover operation, and the city suffers multiple lawsuits in consequence. Coffey's girlfriend Sandy (Linda Hamilton) is raped by a man recently released from prison as a non-violent offender. Jesus Martinez trades information

A high class call girl (Kay Lenz) dominates the episode - particularly her relationship with Goldblume. Chief Daniels steals two videotapes of Goldblume's call girl having sex with prominent clients; he admits to Furillo that he (Daniels) appears on these two tapes. Furillo reads a last letter from Esterhaus to the officers at Roll Call, and then tries to find a legal way to scatter Esterhaus' ashes on the Hill. Bates tells Coffey that her promotion to Roll-Call Sergeant is to be announced the n

The previous episode's murdered call girl may yet be avenged thanks to the evidence of her "manager", until he too is executed in the station, by an assassin dressed as a police officer. The police chaplain leads a memorial service for Phil Esterhaus. Bates' promotion is announced, but her first roll call goes badly, particularly as she reacts to the stealing of the podium; nonetheless, she gains respect during the episode. Renko develops what may have been a hernia, lifting a heavy woman stuck

Belker's recurring pickpocket is shot and killed - his real name finally emerging as James Logan; Belker reacts badly and breaks up with Robin, but she refuses to accept it. Fay and Goldblume also break up, but agree to remain friends. Deputy Chief Briscoe proves an annoyance to Furillo and Mayor Cleveland an even greater one, especially after Furillo is misquoted in the press over "Operation Stop and Cop", an operation Cleveland personally backed. The Mullins brothers appear - William is arrest

A genial census worker (Barry Corbin) is taken hostage and murdered, much to the dismay of his bodyguards, Hill and Renko, who were called away to back up other officers on the order of Deputy Chief Briscoe. Joyce Davenport agrees to testify against Timothy Mullins, but both brothers issue death threats against her. Furillo, most in need of his command to defend her, is relieved of duties by Chief Daniels on the orders of Mayor Cleveland. Cleveland is unhappy with Furillo's apology concerning hi

In a packed episode, "Operation Stop and Cop" continues to claim victims as Pilsky is shot and killed by a fleeing suspect; her delay in returning fire was caused by her "officer-involved" shooting the previous day. Bates and Briscoe argue publicly when the Deputy Chief denies that he ordered Pilsky's deployment; her death also affects Hunter, who had planned a date with her. Washington surrenders a video tape to Calletano showing Chief Daniels having sex with a prostitute (see Episode 72 above)

The title comes from Judge Wachtel's wig as he wears a wire to help the DA's office convict a group of Mafia-connected loan sharks. The Hill Street precinct is also targeting them (with Belker, Renko, and Hill undercover), as is the State Liquor Authority, leading to considerable confusion and a SLA bust that nearly collapses the entire operation. Garibaldi does some unofficial investigation to avoid being sued after he crashed without insurance - Washington assists him, successfully. Marcus Pea

Lieutenant Calletano appears on the TV game show Lucky Ducks and does very well until he freezes on the question that would have guaranteed his winnings, losing everything. Peabody, back in charge of the Blood and seeking quick money to finance a gang war, approaches the group of Mafia-connected loan sharks which Belker has infiltrated. Peabody becomes too aggressive with the loan sharks, and they arrange to have him killed, leading to their arrests. Davenport's current client seems in a huge hu

Belker is in demand from his Mafia prisoners after they hijack the prison bus transporting them to their incarceration. A guard is killed, but the prisoners are eventually recaptured. Goldblume and Garibaldi try video-dating, but Goldblume ends up arresting his first contact for solicitation. In order to make up a deficit to buy Renko's wedding gift, Coffey bets on a horse. Renko, after initial cold feet, finally marries Daryl Ann; J.D. LaRue, now recovered, is able to attend. Martinez and Calle