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Title: Santaclaustrophobia (16 Dec 1982)
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| Episode cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Daniel J. Travanti | ... | ||
| Michael Conrad | ... | ||
| Michael Warren | ... | ||
| Bruce Weitz | ... | ||
| James Sikking | ... |
Lt. Howard Hunter
(as James B. Sikking)
|
|
| Joe Spano | ... | ||
| Barbara Bosson | ... | ||
| Taurean Blacque | ... | ||
| Kiel Martin | ... | ||
| René Enríquez | ... |
Lt. Ray Calletano
(as René Enriquez)
|
|
| Betty Thomas | ... | ||
| Ed Marinaro | ... | ||
| Charles Haid | ... | ||
| Veronica Hamel | ... | ||
| James McEachin | ... |
Reggie Hill
|
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On Christmas Eve, Washington tries to make amends with the widow of a liquor store owner that he accidentally killed during a robbery three months ago. Hill's deadbeat father stops by the station to pay him a visit. Belker goes undercover as Santa Claus and has to deal with a fresh street kid who knows he is a cop. Written by Anonymous
Christmas Eve on the Hill. Washington (an excellent Taureen Blacque) tries to make amends with the widow (a stand-out angry turn by Micole Mercurio) of the store owner who he accidentally shot dead. Hill (a fine Michael Warren) gets a visit from his deadbeat dad Reggie (a lively and engaging performance by James McEachin). Belker (essayed with trademark growly gusto by Bruce Weitz) goes undercover as Santa and has his hands full dealing with an annoying kid (a delightfully incorrigible portrayal by Khalif Bobatoon) who knows that he's a cop.
The key plot line about Washington struggling to deal with his mounting guilt proves to be quite potent, with both LaRue (a spot-on Kiel Martin) and Goldblume (a fine Joe Spano) doing what they can to help Washington out. The scenes between Belker and the kid are simply priceless; Hunter (a nicely loopy James Sikking) likewise has a funny scene in which he asks for advice from Goldblume about his Jewish girlfriend. The sequence at the children's hospital is very sweet and uplifting while an action set piece involving a bunch of cops dressed up as Santa, elves, and reindeer busting several hoodlums rates as a wonderfully surreal highlight. Lee Weaver has a hilarious bit as rowdy drunken bum Buck Naked. Best of all, this episode neatly captures how things are always chaotic on the Hill even during the yuletide season.