Always Be Watching

Always Be Watching

Hill Street Blues marks 45 years of being careful out there

Dan Barrett's avatar
Dan Barrett
Jan 14, 2026
∙ Paid

Today marks the 45th anniversary of the launch of Hill Street Blues on NBC. The show, which ran for seven seasons, is seen by many as one of the major pivot points in US television. It would be incorrect to suggest that it was the first sophisticated drama on TV, but the show was innovative at the time in ways that just seem like regular TV now.

I Just Got My Ass Broke All the Time': An Oral History of 'Hill Street Blues '

The prod…

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Dan Barrett.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 Dan Barrett · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture