Who do you think is the most underrated "Hill Street Blues" cast member? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

EccentricGenius · 11-01-2016, 05:46 PM

My guess would be the late Rene Enriquez. Enriquez was a capable character actor who, sadly, never achieved "A-list" status. Even his character on "Hill Street Blues" was relegated to nothing more than a right-hand man for Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti) and Esterhaus (Michael Conrad), though he did have a brief moment of glory in season three's "Officer Of The Year," when he accuses the department of institutional racism instead of accepting his award.

A very close second would be Taurean Blacque as Det. Neal Washington. Much like Enriquez, Blacque was a solid actor who never became a household name. He was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series in 1982 (along with his "Blues" co-stars Michael Conrad, Charles Haid, Michael Warren, and Bruce Weitz [Conrad won the award]; it was--and remains to this day--a rarity that all five actors in that category were co-stars from the same program).

EccentricGenius · 11-14-2016, 04:03 PM

Bruce Weitz was indeed fantastic as scruffy undercover detective Mick Belker, Alan Brady's Hair; Belker was definitely the breakout character on "Hill Street Blues." Weitz won an Emmy in 1984 for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series.

11-01-2016, 05:46 PM	#1
EccentricGenius Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2015 Posts: 766	Who do you think is the most underrated "Hill Street Blues" cast member? My guess would be the late Rene Enriquez. Enriquez was a capable character actor who, sadly, never achieved "A-list" status. Even his character on "Hill Street Blues" was relegated to nothing more than a right-hand man for Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti) and Esterhaus (Michael Conrad), though he did have a brief moment of glory in season three's "Officer Of The Year," when he accuses the department of institutional racism instead of accepting his award. A very close second would be Taurean Blacque as Det. Neal Washington. Much like Enriquez, Blacque was a solid actor who never became a household name. He was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series in 1982 (along with his "Blues" co-stars Michael Conrad, Charles Haid, Michael Warren, and Bruce Weitz [Conrad won the award]; it was--and remains to this day--a rarity that all five actors in that category were co-stars from the same program).

11-14-2016, 04:03 PM	#2
EccentricGenius Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2015 Posts: 766	Bruce Weitz was indeed fantastic as scruffy undercover detective Mick Belker, Alan Brady's Hair; Belker was definitely the breakout character on "Hill Street Blues." Weitz won an Emmy in 1984 for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series.