HILL STREET LAWYERS

NBC, riding high and feeling well-stocked with mid-season replacement shows, has told Steven Bochco, the co-creator of “Hill Steet Blues” who was replaced as producer, that his new series won’t be needed until next fall.

Bochco is developing a series called “L.A. Law”: “It won’t be a case-of-the-week show,” he promised. “Like ‘Hill Street,’ it will be as much about the lawyers as the law.”

Meantime, “Blues” hasn’t rebounded even with its new production team and streamlined cast. It ranks 34th among the 72 shows this season and consistently runs second in its time period to “Knots Landing,” which ranks 16th.

What does Bochco think of the new “Blues”? “I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t watch it.”