21 Jump Street: S5E4: "Poison"

Written by Ann Donahue

Directed by Don McBearty

Airdate: November 3, 1990

Guest Star: Perrey Reeves (Tracy Hill); Richard Leacock (Jam)

Undercover Officer Tracy Hill from narcotics is temporarily assigned to Jump Street to help take down High School drug dealer "Jam." Penhall becomes smitten with Tracy, but soon discovers her risky methods hide a deeper problem.

DeLuise does a good job in the episode, still raising Clavo, he decides to take a chance on Tracy. But as we find out, she became a user at some point in her undercover work. The plot never rises above typical TV cop show tropes, but the acting was above average.

Perrey Reeves still works today, and she brought a lot to her role as Tracy, her charisma and edge would've made her an excellent member of the cast. Penhall even says at the end, "I hope she comes back."

21 Jump Street: S5E3: "Buddy System"

Written by Jonathan Glassner & David Levinson

Directed by Jorge Montesi

Airdate: October 27, 1990

New Cast member: Michael Bendetti (Officer McCann); Guest Star: Scott Grimes (Christopher)

New Jump Street recruit Officer McCann is assigned by Fuller to investigate the murder of a High School student. The school in question employs a buddy system to pair mentally challenged students with underprivileged students.

The focus of the episode is on McCann learning to work with Hoffs and Penhall. At first, he's secretive and not too friendly. Later it's revealed McCann once worked in Newark and got entangled with a corrupt unit. Apparently, the Chapel is back to the clubhouse concept of the first season, as no one seems to be around (budget reasons?).

Michael Bendetti, the actor playing McCann, seemed like an attempt to replace Hanson, he even vaguely resembles Depp. He gets in a good jab at Penhall about being too old to work High Schools. The story focuses on McCann trying to bond with a student who witnessed the murder, played by future ER cast member Scott Grimes. 

I can see how fans of 21 Jump Street were frustrated and confused when these shows aired. Two new cast members were quickly discarded. Stories are already being recycled. The novelty of the concept was part of what made the early seasons work, along the cast chemistry and smart writing. Other TV series, ER being the best example, successfully balanced legacy characters with new cast members. But the brief syndication era of Jump Street is like trying to enjoy your favorite band after the core members had left. 

 

21 Jump Street: S5E2: "Back to School"

Written by Glen Morgan & James Wong

Directed by Steve Beers

Airdate: October 20, 1990

Guest Star: David Barry Gray (Officer Dean Garrett); Alexandra Powers (Kati Rocky); Austin Pendelton (Mr. Trysia)

Another holdover episode from the fourth season, "Back to School" was intended as a story to bring Garrett and Rocky into the main fold. 

Fuller assigns them to a High School to break up a drug ring, he mentions Hanson and Penhall worked a case there a few months ago. Garrett seems excited to get another shot at High School, while Rocky was apparently a dropout. She establishes a rapport with the English teacher Mr. Trysia, mistaking his interest in her as inappropriate. The arrival of Garrett's brother also complicates the case. Meanwhile, Hoffs buys a house!

Once again, a sense of exhaustion repeating old tropes makes for a mediocre episode at best. 

For some reason we never saw Garrett or Rocky again. What happened? This episode also featured the final appearance of Sal Jenco aka "Blowfish." Sal was always a welcome comic relief character and would even get the occasional storyline. Sensitive about being a mere maintenance specialist in the midst of all the hot shot detectives, he was always treated as a peer by everyone in the unit. 

21 Jump Street: S5E1: "Tunnel of Love"

Written by Michelle Ashford

Directed by Jorge Montesi

Airdate: October 13, 1990

Guest Star: David Barry Gray (Officer Dean Garrett); Alexandra Powers (Kati Rocky)

The first episode to air on syndication, "Tunnel of Love" was intended to air during the previous season. David Barry Gray returns as Dean Garrett (debuted in "Everyday is Christmas) and is now part of Jump Street, while DEA officer Kati Rocky also made her debut during a brief stint on the series.

Hoffs and Garrett are investigating a prostitution ring that's also dealing drugs. Garrett develops a soft spot for one of the girls (Kati) only to find she's working undercover for the DEA. Together the three of them work together and arrest the local kingpin. The episode ends with Kati joining the Jump Street program.

A lackluster episode, notable for its lack of suspense and laborious attempt to integrate new characters into the cast. The absence of Hanson, Penhall (he will make a few appearances this season), and Ioki already leaves an empty feeling. The future of the series really hinged on introducing vibrant new characters, a struggle throughout its final season. 

21 Jump Street: S4E26: "Blackout"

Written by Larry Barber & Paul Berber

Directed by Tucker Gates

Airdate: July 16, 1990

Guest Star: Peter Zapp (Mr. Gebbert)

"Wildling" was a term used during the 1980s and 1990s to describe violent youth crime, often fueled by media hype. "Blackout" was the closing episode of season 4, finding Hanson, Hoffs, and Penhall undercover at a geographically isolated high School where a group of students are suspected of engaging in gang rapes. 

Hoffs and Hanson are posing as students, and Penhall as the substitute gym teacher. When a powerful storm knocks out the power, all hell breaks loose at the school. Throngs of teenage boys start roaming the halls terrorizing teachers and other students. Order is restored just before Hoffs and Hanson are about to be attacked.

There's a real thriller/horror vibe to the episode, and an even eerier element is the students running for their lives in the hallways. One cannot think of the real-life terrors brought upon High Schools in the coming decades. 

I suspect this episode was kept on the shelf for some reason. It's a bit odd Fox waited until July to air it, a time when most shows were on hiatus. Perhaps the episode was considered too bleak. It's as if the Jump Street world is collapsing in on itself. 

"Blackout" was Depp's final appearance on the series, and it was an anti-climactic farewell. Depp haunts this episode like a ghost, barely present. He gets a scene pulling a prank in shop class and has a few interactions with Hoffs but that's about it. Modern TV would give the character a big send-off, but Hanson's character, once the central focus of 21 Jump Street, just slowly faded away.

21 Jump Street: S4E25: "Everyday is Christmas"

Written by Glen Morgan and James Wong

Directed by Ken Wiederhorn

Airdate: May 21, 1990

Guest Star: David Barry Gray (Officer Dean Garrett)

Penhall flees a stakeout after learning Clavo's been injured, leaving Ioki without backup. As a reprimand, Penhall is removed from Jump Street and sent to the 43rd precinct as a beat cop. 

The 43rd precinct is full of corrupt cops taking kickbacks, considering themselves "lone wolves." Penhall is partnered with a rookie Dean Garrett, who some suspect is from internal affairs. Meanwhile, Jump Street is running its own investigation of the crooked precinct. 

The episode resembles Serpico, and there's cinematic flare later episodes lacked. It's a bit of a downer to see Penhall diminished, but he returns to Jump Street by the end. Officer Garrett was clearly being set up a new series regular, probably to replace Depp, but it never worked out. This was also final appearance of Dustin Nguyen as Ioki, a steady presence through four seasons. 

21 Jump Street: S4E24: "Rounding Third"

Written by Gary Rosen

Directed by Jefferson Kibbee

Airdate: May 14, 1990

Guest Star: Sam Bottoms (Robert Johnson)

Sal drafts Penhall to coach his son's struggling Little League team, which opens up a kidnapping case. In a ready for TV coincidence, Penhall recognizes one of the kids on the team is on a milk carton. Back in the '80s during the "stranger danger" it was a common practice. Penhall also struggles to find care for Clavio. 

Most of the episode consists of baseball action, so it plays like a kid friendly TV movie. At least Sal gets a few weighty scenes. He tells his kid he works at a rocket lab because he's embarrassed being a janitor, he and Fuller have a heart to heart, but what a bummer.