Hill Street Blues The Best Defense (Season 7, Episode 3)
TV-14
TV Episode | 47 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

Hill Street Blues

The Best Defense (Season 7, Episode 3)

TV-14

TV Episode | 47 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

After the public defenders walk out, the blues have to use discretion in making borderline arrests as the station overflows with suspects.

Director

John Patterson

Writers

Michael Kozoll (created by) | Steven Bochco (created by) | Steve Bello (teleplay by) (story by) | Robert Ward (teleplay by) (story by) (executive story editor) & 3 more

Producer

Composer

Cinematographer

Editor

Casting Director

See all filmmakers & crew (49)

Edit Released

Updated Oct 16, 1986

Release date

Oct 16, 1986 (United States)

Awards

Series awards

Won 26 Primetime Emmy Awards. Another 34 wins & 109 nominations

Contacts

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Cast	+ Add Cast
55 cast members

Name	Known for
Daniel J. Travanti Capt. Frank Furillo Capt. Frank Furillo See fewer	Hill Street Blues (1981)
Michael Warren Officer Bobby Hill Officer Bobby Hill See fewer	Anderson's Cross (2010)
Bruce Weitz Sgt. Mick Belker Sgt. Mick Belker See fewer	Hill Street Blues (1981)
Robert Prosky Sgt. Stan Jablonski Sgt. Stan Jablonski See fewer	Thief (1981)
James Sikking Sgt. Howard Hunter (as James B. Sikking) Sgt. Howard Hunter (as James B. Sikking) See fewer	The Pelican Brief (1993)
Joe Spano Lt. Henry Goldblume Lt. Henry Goldblume See fewer	Apollo 13 (I) (1995)
Taurean Blacque Det. Neal Washington Det. Neal Washington See fewer	DeepStar Six (1989)
Kiel Martin Officer J.D. LaRue Officer J.D. LaRue See fewer	The Panic in Needle Park (1971)
Betty Thomas Sgt. Lucy Bates Sgt. Lucy Bates See fewer	Howard Stern (1994)
Robert Clohessy Off. Patrick Flaherty Off. Patrick Flaherty See fewer	The Avengers (2012)
Dennis Franz Lt. Norman Buntz Lt. Norman Buntz See fewer	NYPD Blue (1993)
Charles Haid Officer Andrew Renko Officer Andrew Renko See fewer	Altered States (1980)
Veronica Hamel Joyce Davenport Joyce Davenport See fewer	Hill Street Blues (1981)
Jeffrey Tambor Judge Alan Wachtel Judge Alan Wachtel See fewer	Transparent (2014)
Trinidad Silva Jesus Martinez Jesus Martinez See fewer	UHF (1989)
George Wyner Irwin Bernstein Irwin Bernstein See fewer	Spaceballs (1987)
Lisa Sutton Officer Robin Tataglia Officer Robin Tataglia See fewer	28 Days (2000)
Reni Santoni Danny Santana Danny Santana See fewer	Cobra (1986)
William Phipps Professor Dynamite (as William Edward Phipps) Professor Dynamite (as William Edward Phipps) See fewer	The War of the Worlds (1953)
Jeffrey Josephson Flowers Flowers See fewer	Pale Rider (1985)
Megan Gallagher Officer Tina Russo Officer Tina Russo See fewer	Van Wilder (2002)
David Sage Councilman Councilman See fewer	The Birdcage (1996)
Wally Taylor Uninsured Driver Uninsured Driver See fewer	Night of the Creeps (1986)
Ted Harris Eli Arnold Eli Arnold See fewer	Blacula (1972)
Joe Alfasa Domarecki Domarecki See fewer	What's Up, Doc? (1972)
Meshach Taylor Con Man Con Man See fewer	Designing Women (1986)
John Howard Swain Deputy Mayor Deputy Mayor See fewer	A Younger Man (2011)
John Wesley Ed Andrews Ed Andrews See fewer	Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992)
Howard Mungo Summers Summers See fewer	Superhero Movie (2008)
Billy Beck Nut Case Nut Case See fewer	Just Like Heaven (2005)
Dean Wein Bailiff Bailiff See fewer	Ninja Scroll (1993)
Matt Kanen Melvin Melvin See fewer	Hill Street Blues (1981)
Anthony Montes Gomez (as Tony Montes) Gomez (as Tony Montes) See fewer	Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989)
Fernando Grimaldo Heavy Heavy See fewer	Marked for Death (1990)
Randy Vasquez Echeverra (as Randy Gallion) Echeverra (as Randy Gallion) See fewer	What You Wish For (2023)
Terry Brannon O'Brien O'Brien See fewer	Shrek 2 (2004)
Dianne Travis Coucilwoman (as Dianne Turley Travis) Coucilwoman (as Dianne Turley Travis) See fewer	Iron Nest of the Moon (2024)
Dan Woren P.D. P.D. See fewer	Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
Martha Hackett Carole Greene Carole Greene See fewer	Star Trek: Voyager (1995)
David Bond Gidwitz Gidwitz See fewer	The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
Joe Palese Uniform Uniform See fewer	Da Vinci's War (1993)
Peter Jolly Bomb Squad Bomb Squad See fewer	The Bold and the Beautiful (1987)
Gene Cross Officer (uncredited) Officer (uncredited) See fewer	xXx: State of the Union (2005)
Michael J. Grayson Officer Mike Grayson (uncredited) Officer Mike Grayson (uncredited) See fewer	Days of Our Lives (1965)
Bob Harks Bar Patron (uncredited) Bar Patron (uncredited) See fewer	Forrest Gump (1994)
Conrad Hurtt Hill Street Cop (uncredited) Hill Street Cop (uncredited) See fewer	Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)
Ray Nadeau Officer (uncredited) Officer (uncredited) See fewer	The Beast and the Vixens (1974)
Stan Rodarte Philipe (uncredited) Philipe (uncredited) See fewer	Fright Night (1985)
Frank Slaten Officer (uncredited) Officer (uncredited) See fewer	Takers (2010)
Walter Smith Man in Hardware Store (uncredited) Man in Hardware Store (uncredited) See fewer	South Pacific (1958)
Adrian Tafoya Officer (uncredited) Officer (uncredited) See fewer	Love Is Not Love (2020)
Sydney Urshan Witness (uncredited) Witness (uncredited) See fewer	Hard Copy (1989)
Richard Wakasa Officer (uncredited) Officer (uncredited) See fewer	Hard to Kill (1990)
Chino 'Fats' Williams Jerry the Wino (uncredited) Jerry the Wino (uncredited) See fewer	The Terminator (1984)
Ilona Wilson Officer (uncredited) Officer (uncredited) See fewer	The Mad Bomber (1973)