1981 TV Series – Hill Street Blues

Hill Street Blues is an American serial police drama television series that aired on NBC in prime-time from January 15, 1981, to May 12, 1987, for 146 episodes. The show chronicled the lives of the staff of a single police station located on a fictional Hill Street, in an unnamed large city. The “blues” are the police officers in their blue uniforms. The show received critical acclaim and its production innovations influenced many subsequent dramatic television series produced in the United States and Canada. Its debut season won eight Emmy Awards, a debut season record surpassed only by The West Wing. The show received 98 Emmy nominations during its run.

The theme song for “Hill Street Blues” was written by Mike Post (featuring Larry Carlton on guitar), and was released as a single reaching #10 on the US Billboard’s Hot 100 in November 1981. It was an Adult Contemporary hit in the U.S. and in Canada.