21 Jump Street - The Complete First Season (1987)

CAST: Johnny Depp as Tom Hanson Holly Robinson as Judith "Judy" Hoffs David Nguyen as Harry Truman Ioki Peter Deluise as Douglas 'Doug" Penhall Frederic Forrest as Captain Jenko Steve Williams as Captain Adam Fuller Sal Jenco as Sal 'Blowfish' Banducci (Vinny in episode 3) Reginald T. Dorsey as Tyrell 'Waxer' Thompson{Pilot Only} Brandon Douglas as Kenny Weckerle{Pilot Only} Kurtwood Smith as FBI Agent Spencer Phillips Back in the 80's and 90's, there was one program that most guys I knew, including myself, would go to the TV at a certain time and be ready for some great action. This was 21 Jump Street, a series that mixed the fantasy of Cops & Robbers in little boys, while presenting some much needed moral advice(without having to smack you in the face for it). In the first 6 episodes of the series Frederick Forrest portrayed Captain Jenko, a great hippie Captain, who maintains his free spirit nature, while still showing great leadership in his precinct. Steve Williams would take over midway through this season as Captain Fuller, a hard edged Captain who gets right to business, but is always there for his officers. The DVD set I own is the Anchor Bay release, which features a documentary on the making of the series and a commentary by Peter Deluise. EPISODE I & II: 21 Jump Street {Pilot} An over the top episode that shows you the basics of 80's television. The acting in this episode shows how the writers were still unsure of the nature of the series, we have several over acting in some of the actors(none of the main cast). We also have several scenes with dubbing, unfortunately the DVD set has not decided to remove the dubbing and bring back the original audio track. So in this episode, words like "Ass" and "Sucks" are replaced with 'Tails" & "Stinks. " The moral of the episode is strictly cliche now, mainly about drugs and the effects it can have. Still despite its flaws it welcomes in the series nicely. This episode is followed by S2's "You Oughta Be In Prison" & " I'm OK, You Need Work" 4 out of 5 stars EPISODE III: America, What A Town After a successful pilot episode, the writers managed to get the groove on the type of series they were writing for. No more dubbing and no more overacting. This episode deals with a auto motors racketeering ring. A subplot involves a foreign exchange student(played by Traci Lind), who isn't as shy as everyone thinks she is. Great episode, fun to watch, we get many more screen shots that the credits will show for a little while. 4 out of 5 stars. EPISODE IV: Don't Pet the Teacher Great episode, this really has a lot of fun going on, while still being a serious story. Hanson goes undercover at a school where a teacher Ms. Chadwick(Leah Ayres)is being sent gifts by a mysterious admirer, while at the same time many thefts have been occurring. Hanson begins to suspect a student named Jeffrey Stone(Geoffrey Blake), who has a knack for acquiring expensive merchandise. Also Hanson is surprised when the teacher being harassed turns out to be someone he has recently flirted with. 4 out of 5 stars EPISODE V: My Futures So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades Well I'm not too into this episode, basically Hanson and Penhall must work undercover at a prep school to investigate the death of a teenage woman. What they discover is a whole drug ring going on. The performances are good, but the episode lacks interest for me. 2 out of 5 stars EPISODE VI: The Worst Night of Your Life Hoffs is sent into a Catholic school when a vast amount of arsons have been committed. She becomes determined to stop the arsonist when the Catholic teachers decide to hold their annual prom regardless of the dangers. Meanwhile, a student named Jane Kinney is the prime suspect, Hoffs however doesn't think so. This episode is great, I always enjoyed Lezlie Deane's performances and this is great. 4 out of 5 stars EPISODE VII: Gotta Finish the Riff Captain Jenko has past on after a drunk driver has caused a fatal accident, now the Jump Street program must go through a change as Captain Fuller takes over. The first assignment after this new change has Hanson and Hoffs being taken hostage at a local school by a gang leader named Reggie Brooks(Blair Underwood). This episode really shifts the styles between the Jenko days and the rest of the series. The episode appears to have a much more adult style to it and it works. Robert Picardo guest stars. 5 out of 5 stars {Commentary by Peter Deluise} EPISODE VIII: Bad Influence Hanson and Penhall are put on a juvenile case, when a couple of kids (Byron Thomas & Scott Schwartz)are caught ripping off an ATM after it was broken into by another set of thieves. Meanwhile Hoffs and Ioki are put on a case where prostitution and home burglaries may turn out to be connected. This episode features some great writing, it manages to hold multiple stories and still give each one a good amount of time to evolve. Liane Alexandra Curtis guest stars 4 out of 5 stars EPISODE IX: Blindsided Sherilyn Fenn guest stars as Diane, a teen who ask Hanson to murder her father, a police captain. Hanson decides to look into the possibility of rape, while deciding whether he should report this claim. Meanwhile Hanson and Penhall become the McQuaid Brothers for the first time to break up drug dealing at another local school. Great episode, it really focuses on a subject that at the time was very hush hush. Sherilyn Fenn is a great in her role, she would become a great actress later on. 5 out of 5 stars EPISODE X: Next Generation Hanson is sent into a school to flush out a loan shark, who may be connected to a bigger loan shark. Menwhile Hanson is in danger of his identity being uncovered when he is bought into an academic trivia show that will be televised. This is an interesting episode. It features a very common story the series has gone to show, but the interaction between Fuller and the main loan shark tells me this was meant to start a story line, but it was never touched upon again. Great story telling, it really shows how one mistake can get even a good person in trouble. 4 out of 5 stars EPISODE XI: Low and Away When a mob figures agrees to testify in court, the life of his son Johnny(Patrick Breen) becomes a danger, so Hoffs and Penhall are sent in to watch over him. Meanwhile, another undercover cop Danny Jacobson (Tom O'Brien)comes in to help Jump Street out, but may have his own agenda. This is another fine episode, it shows that the law isn't always on the right side. 4 out of 5 stars EPISODE XII: 16 Blown to 35 This is a very sensitive episode, involving underage modeling and pornography. Hoffs is bought into a modeling ring when it turns out most of the models that start off there end up in underage porn. David Paymer guest stars as Mike Ferris, head of the modeling agency. Sarah Buxton also guest stars as one of the young models. This episode features a great emotional finale, involving Hoffs and a move that could get her fired. 4 out of 5 stars EPISODE XIII: Mean Streets and Pastel Houses Penhall and Hanson are sent in the punk scene to help settle a dispute between rival gangs and the cops. Meanwhile Hanson befriends Brian(Steve Marshall), one of the gangs leader, who isn't too happy with the way things have been. Jason Priestley, Ian Black and David Sherrill guest stars. Music done by Agent Orange. This is another great one, it features many first for actors that would go on to bigger things. 4 out of 5 stars. TRIVIA: An unaired pilot was shot featuring a different actor as Tom Hanson, when the studio didn't like the performance they gave the role to Johnny Depp. This pilot still as yet to be seen as it has not been featured on any of the DVD releases. Holly Robinson(Judy Hoffs) sings the theme song, while Depp, Deluise and Nguyen scream JUMP. Josh Brolin(My Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades)was originally meant to play Tom Hanson, but didn't get the role. Lezlie Deane(Worst Night of Your Life)has somewhat co-starred with Johnny Depp (who was in cameo)in Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare and has also appeared the TV Series Freddy's Nightmares. Robert Picardo is most famous for his role on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Liane Alexandra Curtis(Bad Influence)co-starred with Johnny Depp in the film Benny & Joon. Byron Thomas also guest starred in Freddy's Nightmares, a TV series based off of A Nightmare on Elm Street films(part 1 and 6 had Johnny Depp). Scott Schwartz is most remembered for his role in the Jackie Gleason/Richard Pryor comedy The Toy. Sherilyn Fenn has appeared in the Charlie Sheen film The Wraith as well as the unaired pilot for Birds of Prey as Harleen 'Harley Quinn' Quinzel Sarah Buxton(16 Blown to 35)has also guest starred on an episode if Freddy's Nightmares. Bradley Gregg(Mean Streets and Pastel Houses)also starred in A Nightmare on Elm Street III: The Dream Warriors. David Sherrill(Mean Streets and Pastel Houses)has co-starred with another 21 Jump Street guest star Sherilyn Fenn(Blindsided) in The Wraith.