User Reviews

The station still isn't receiving pay, so Hill (a fine Michael Warren) and Renko (Charles Haid, very funny and animated) must resist temptation after finding a suitcase full of illegal money. Washington (an excellent Taureen Blacque) goes undercover to bust loan shark Rollie (a terrifically oily portrayal by Michael Lerner). LaRue (well played by Kiel Martin) tries to cash in on the body parts pool on a murder case. Unhinged Reggie (bravura work by Jonathan Banks) escapes from a mental institution.

Once again, this particular episode vividly captures the usual frantic pandemonium that occurs in Hill Street Station. A bomb scare adds to the tension while the presence of an experimental police robot provides a few good laughs. The money situation offers a neat examination of morale and character or the lack thereof. Moreover, the troubled character of Reggie is handled with surprising (and laudable) humanity. In addition, it's touching to see LaRue go to bat for Belker (Bruce Weitz, spot-on) against a cheapskate cemetery owner. Popping up in sturdy guest roles are Dennis Franz as the slick Benedetto, Marion Yue as forlorn Asian masseuse Colette, Marco Rodriguez as reformed junkie Rodriguez, and Zero Hubbard as tough-talking juvie Speedboat. And the ending with Washington getting shot on a bungled stakeout is a shocker.

With the good men & women of Hill Street Station still having to make do without paychecks, it's incredible temptation for Andy & Bobby when they retrieve a satchel full of illegally obtained cash. Neal & "Bad" Sal Benedetto continue to build their case against ruthless loan shark Rollie Simone (a coldly effective Michael Lerner), but Frank is aghast at the idea of Neal heading into a deadly situation without a wire. And Bobby tries to make a connection with a troubled youth (Zero Hubbard), who'd actually made off with Andy & Bobby's patrol car earlier!

This is another riveting segment in the ever-precarious lives of the cops & crooks in this precinct. Reggie (a tour-de-force performance by Jonathan Banks), the man with the multiple personality disorder, returns in this encore appearance that sees a sad end to his story. Howard is very taken with his masseuse (Marion Yue), and decides that he would like to get to know her even better. What was unexpected was seeing J. D., no stranger to doing sleazy things himself (like trying to con Sal in the matter of a pool on severed body parts), actually is incensed at the cemetery owner (Richard Roat) who tried to put one over on Mick. Rico has some good scenes as he tries to make the best of his second chance by fielding calls at the station. But what really gives 'Buddy, Can You Spare a Heart?' a potent, lasting impact is the violent conclusion, as the stakeout with Neal & Sal goes bad.

Adding some humor are the scenes with the robot, which people keep sending into the john in hopes of catching their fellow officers with their pants down.

And, once again, we are witness to real chaos on the Hill as a bomb goes off, and Frank & others must deal with the aftermath.

Eight out of 10.