Hill Street Blues was a serial police rama that was first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987. It received high critical acclaim and its innovations proved highly influential on serious dramatic television series produced in North America. Its debut season was honored with eight Emmy awards, a debut season record surpassed only by The West Wing (also on NBC), and the show received a total of 98 Emmy Award nominations during its run.