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From: wiso@ihwpt.UUCP (Jack Wisowaty)
Newsgroups: net.tv
Subject: Re: Cliff Notes on Hill Street Blues
Message-ID: <540@ihwpt.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 31-Oct-85 17:39:24 EST
Article-I.D.: ihwpt.540
Posted: Thu Oct 31 17:39:24 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Nov-85 03:04:17 EST
References: <2854@vax4.fluke.UUCP> <12300044@uiucdcsb>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 34

> 
> > And remember all those arguments we had last year pertaining to
> > where Hill Street actually takes place?  Solved last week.  Mick is
> > knocked unconscious and placed in a duffle bag, which is shipped
> > by bus to Springfield, Ill.  His trek takes place in the morning, and
> > he reaches Springfield by noon, and returns to the city that the Hill
> > resides in by evening, in time to put the bite (!) on the perpatrator. 
> > Thus, which city does HSB take place in?  You have 10 minutes...
> 
> I watched the episode in question, and I did not hear anyone say Springfield
> ILLINOIS.  There are cities named Springfield in several states, including
> one in Massachusetts which could be reached from either Boston or NYC in less
> than a day's time.  I don't want this to start another round of "What city is
> HSB really set in?", however, so I will admit that much of the opening was
> shot in Chicago, with clips from various other cities interspersed.  I do 
> wonder at times about the pathological need of netters to explain every single
> detail of a fictional setting.  Remember folks, it ain't real.
> 

What makes this discussion interesting is that the producers of HSB seem to
be toying with us.  It was absolutely clear that they intended us to get
the Chicago reference in this episode.  Yes there are a number of
Springfields around, but how many of them have local buses arriving from
Evanston, Glen Ellyn, and Elgin, as this bus was announced on its arrival?
Only Chicago, I trust.  But even after they gave this incredibly blatant
"hint" they refuse to come out say Chicago and instead just call it the
City.  I don't think a discussion of this running gag that the producers
are playing is pathological.  They obviously intended us to make inferences
about the location or they wouldn't keep throwing these tidbits in.  So cut
us some slack if we want to play along with the game.

Jack Wisowaty
AT&T Bell Labs
Naperville, IL