LISTEN TO HIM

Hill St. Blues was one of my favorite tv shows back in the early eighties. Lots of action and lots of good actors. From Belker to the Captain to and his wife to Ed Marinaro to Renko. They took care of crime and those whose committed it.

One of the best parts, besides when the really bad guys got roughed up by the police. I know, that's not a good thought, but catharsis is like that. Besides that, was roll call at the show's beginning.

When they would review what had happened and what suspects and characters they were looking for. Sometimes, more important issues intervened. Other times, apathy did. Sometimes poignancy dictated reverential silence. Other times boisterous clowning around set the tone.

But the man in charge, and I've forgotten his actor or show name, but he's pictured, would always stop the policemen and policewomen before they left. He'd always say, "Hey, and let's be careful out there." I always liked that part. Maybe because a lot of fellow teachers liked that show as well, and when many would leave the Teachers' Lounge at MTV High before, well sometimes even after the first bell rang, on a lot of occasions, someone would parrot that line from Hill St. Blues. And, of course, some days we needed the reminder and assurance that somebody cared for our safety.