"Hill Street Blues" - The First Episode Quiz

Answer: Let's be careful out there

"Let's be careful out there" was Esterhaus' signature sign-off from morning roll call. After season four, Esterhaus was replaced by Sgt. Stan Jablonski, who used the more inflammatory "Let's do it to them before they do it to us". There was some reaction to this at the time, suggesting that it displayed an uncaring attitude, and it was toned down in later series to "They're getting away out there".

Answer: People's Drive and 124th Street

"Hill Street Blues" was set in a fictional city, with the Producer, Steven Bochco, himself stating that it was a "hybrid of Chicago, Buffalo and Pittsburgh". However, during the series, there were a couple of location-specific giveaways that suggested it was probably Chicago.

In addition to that, the patrol cars bear a strong resemblance to the livery applied to that of Chicago patrol cars, the obvious difference being the word "Chicago" being replaced with "Metro".

Answer: Her prisoner had been misplaced

Her prisoner had been misplaced, and it seems that neither Furillo, Esterhaus or Calletano know exactly where he is, so they give Davenport the ol' run around with a number of lame excuses, such as he could be in transit between facilities, or he could have gotten on the wrong bus. Davenport's reply is to say "Never in my entire life have I listened to so much incompetence covered up by so much unmitigated guff".

As she leaves the office with a threat of having Furillo up on charges, Esterhaus states "Mmmm, that young woman has a very handsome carriage" and Calletano adds "With twenty more pounds she would be perfect!" Furillo (who is her lover, unbeknownst to the other two) looks uncomfortable.

As an aside, before this scene, Detective John LaRue HAD just tried to chat her up, but there was no complaint and she brushed it off. Later in the episode, LaRue lies to Davenport about the prisoner showing up. When she discovers this is a ruse, she pours a drink onto him and declares there are no hard feelings.

Answer: Bite him

We know that the prisoner is on angel dust, because in the finest tradition of television, we have it explained to us by someone yelling out in the background: "He's on angel dust"!

As Belker grabs the offender by the leg and pulls down his sock, ready to bite, Furillo warns him against the act. Then Belker gets upset and launches into a tirade about how "...It's not fair. Alright, three years ago I bit off a nose. That's one lousy nose. I'm branded for life here. Belker the biter...".

Answer: A baby pacifier

Goldblume is asking the operator to break into a call being made between the gunmen in the store and the media, so that he can negotiate. The operator asks him to hang up and when she calls him back, asks him to deposit ten cents. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a baby pacifier, which he then puts in his mouth, so that he can search for change.

The policeman who is present with him asks: "Are you teething, or are you just stopping smoking?" Goldblume replies: "My two year old is stopping smoking".

Answer: defuse a roll of kosher toilet paper

Hunter and Goldblume are frequently in disagreement throughout the series - Hunter is a gung-ho militaristic type. Goldblume is a trained Psychologist, and in his role as negotiator, understandably wants to resolve things without force.

Answer: This place stinks

Fay, who is divorced from Frank and struggles with being a single mother, regularly walks into Frank's office and starts complaining - it is a recurring scenario throughout the series.

In her debut scene, she sets the tone with all of the above-listed complaints, plus some, and then adds: "I hate your guts. I really hate your guts, Frank. This marriage and everything connected with it has caused me nothing but grief".

Answer: As soon as she graduates

"As soon as she graduates". Fay says: "She's a college student?", to which Esterhaus answers with even more unease: "High School. She's a graduating senior". Fay, having just had an argument with Frank regarding their own relationship problems, starts to cry.

Answer: A cop car to take Jesus' mother to the cleaner

After laughing at Furillo's counter-suggestion of the tee-shirts, Jesus scales down his demands to "One flak jacket. And a cop car to take my mother to the cleaners on 145th street. Every Tuesday afternoon. Poor woman's scared to go by herself".

Jesus and Furillo had a workable love-hate relationship during the series, with both realising that it was advantageous to not get the other party offside. Jesus would often affectionately refer to Furillo as "Frankie".

Answer: A drug deal taking place

Hill and Renko find their car missing. Renko, in particular, is still complaining about the way "these people" treat him on a daily basis, and as they enter the building, they are not taking as much caution as they should be. The drug dealers are surprised by the officers' appearance, and guns are drawn. Hill and Renko are both shot.

The episode ends on a sombre note as Belker finally finds their bodies lying motionless on the floor.