21 Jump Street: S1E13: "Mean Streets and Pastel Houses"

Written by Jonathan Lemkin

Directed by James Whitmore Jr.

Airdate: June 28, 1987

Guest Stars: Bradley Gregg (Steve Marshall); David Sherill (Lancer); Jason Priestley (Tober)

A group of gangs are wreaking havoc in a suburban neighborhood, engaging in vandalism and street racing. All the mayhem is tied to a "punk music" club frequented by alienated middle-class white kids. 

Hanson is assigned to go undercover as a punk, much to Penhall's chagrin who believes Hanson is too straightlaced for the job. But Penhall gets to act as Hanson's preppy stepbrother.

Depp himself was a figure in the L.A. music scene of the 1980s, a member of the Punk band The Kids, later Six Gun Method, so the script was art imitating life. Hanson makes connections with some guys at the club, discovering "Lancer" is the ringleader. He befriends Steve, a good kid getting caught up in criminal activity.

Penhall chides Hanson for becoming a sociologist of Punk culture, when he argues most of the kids are simply alienated and looking for an outlet. Meanwhile, Fuller gets angry with Hanson after he fails to report in, saying "I lose sleep" when he's worried about his unit. 

Lancer continues to escalate his violence, even mouthing off to cops, he pays his bail with a credit card. He's also responsible for the death of a teen who's arm he broke causing a fatal blood clot, allowing the cops to close in just before he planned to hit the local police precinct. Steve confesses he was driving the car when Lancer broke the kid's arm, forcing Hanson to arrest him.

A strong episode to end the first season, opening the way for more adventurous storytelling, Hanson's come a long way from the clean-cut rookie he was at the start of the season. Representations of Punk culture on TV were usually silly, but at least the episode made some gestures that the music did provide an outlet for 1980s teenagers, even though it connected the music with crime. 

Final Report: A-

21 Jump Street: S1E12: "16 Blown to 35"

Written by Clifton Campbell

Directed by James Whitmore Jr.

Airdate: June 21, 1987

Guest Stars: Sarah Buxton (Trina); David Paymer (Mike Ferris); David Raynr (Kip Fuller)

The Jump Street crew are assigned to investigate a teen modeling agency that might be fronting for a company that makes pornographic films. Meanwhile, Fuller's teenage song "Kip" has adopted a Rastafarian persona. 

In an early David Paymer performance, he plays the sleazy producer who recruits teens under the guise of a model agency, but who's grooming them for adult films. Hoffs is selected and manages to entrap Mike, but not after he's exploited many young girls along the way, especially Trina who is featured in the episode as being under Mike's control. Hoffs becomes an advocate for Trina and gets her freed. Mike is arrested at the end of the episode. 

We also learn Fuller once worked undercover in the adult film world for 18 months and he's still shaken by the assignment.  Scenes with his son Kip, who is undergoing an identity crisis, never really goes anywhere dramatically, except that Fuller comes to accept him after being reluctant at first. 

The subject matter was mature for network TV for 1987, and the story never sanitizes the exploitation of underage girls in the industry. It was also one of the few stories not set at a High School during the first season.  

Final Report: B

21 Jump Street: S1E11: "Low and Away"

Written by Bill Nuss and Paul Bernbaum

Directed by Bill Corcoran

Airdate: June 14, 1987

Guest Stars: Kurtwood Smith (Spencer Phillips); Michael Fairman (Frank Hoffman); Tom O'Brien (Jake); Patrick Breen (Johnny)

Penhall and Hoffs are assigned to keep tabs on a High School student, Johnny, star pitcher of the baseball team. The directive came from the FBI, who will not specify the bureau's interest in surveilling students. Kurtwood Smith plays Agent Phillips, the same year he starred in Robocop. 

Penhall joins the baseball team and lives out his athlete fantasy, while Hoffs befriends Johnny, who instantly marks her as a cop, adding to the intrigue. As it turns out, Johnny's father Frank was a mob informant, now in the Witness Protection. The FBI fears Johnny will be kidnapped on the eve of a mob trial in New York. Jake, another player on the team, also claims to be an undercover agent. 

A plot driven episode that includes shootouts and car chases, the story seemed like it belonged in another TV series. Perhaps not coincidentally, the mobster's name is Terranova, the same last name of the lead character in Wiseguy, another Stephen J. Cannel series. As a silver lining, everyone in the cast got involved in the action, and one can sense the series stretching its ambition. 

Final Report: B

21 Jump Street: S1E10: "Next Generation"

Written by Paul Bernbaum

Directed by David Nutter

Airdate: June 7, 1987

Guest Stars: David Gregory (Hoagy Deleplant); Andy Romano (Tony Delaplant); Jason Lively (Davey Miller); Jane Windsor (Julie Bradley)

Hanson is assigned to a High School where a popular senior known as "Hoagie" is running a loan shark operation, the kid orders a beatdown on a teacher who owes him gambling debts. As it turns out, Hoagy's old man Tony is a respected business owner in the community, a regular Ward Clever states Hanson, but also runs rackets on the side. The son wants to be just like Dad.

Hanson goes full All-American in his assumed identity, earning a respected spot on the academic team and quickly finds a fanboy in Davey who nominates him for class president, which turns out to be another half-baked scheme. Things get complicated when the Academic Team is poised for a TV appearance, which would blow Hanson's cover. 

Fuller decides to up the stakes by staging of scene at the school when Hanson's expensive car gets repossessed, impelling Hoagy to set up an illegal loan to buy back the car (Hanson donned makeup to make it look like he was roughed up). At the bust, Fuller takes on an Isaac Hayes persona in his undercover guise. Hoagy's father refuses to cut a deal for his son, hoping he will learn his lesson and not follow in his footsteps.

There's also a comedic subplot with Penhall babysitting his neighbor Julie's infant. Julie's an attractive flight attendant with a posh English accent. Recently separated, Penhall sees babysitting as a way to impress Julie, but alas her husband returns at the end. 

Penhall is trapped in a sitcom.

"Next Generation" is an amusing but uneven entry in the series. The High School plot is convoluted, from the ridiculous loan shark schemes to Hanson's meteoric rise to popularity as a "quiz kid," at one point he's told "you sure know a lot about the law." 

Final Report: B-

21 Jump Street: S1E9: "Blindsided"

Written by Jonathan Lemkin

Directed by David Jackson

Airdate: May 31, 1987

Guest Star: Sherilyn Fenn (Diane Nelson); Sal Jenco (Sal Banducci AKA Blowfish)

"Blindsided" introduced the "McQuaid Brothers", personas Hanson and Penhall would use throughout the series. The brothers are a couple of knuckleheads, known for raising hell and spending lots of time at Juvenile Hall. 

Hanson and Penhall have spent a few weeks undercover investigating a High School drug ring. They set up a sting operation at a Burger Joint, allowing Fuller and Ioki to make the arrest. To maintain their cover, they continue attending the High School until the drug case is closed. Meanwhile, Hanson is approached by a shy student, Diane Johnson, believing him to be a dangerous criminal, and offers payment for killing her father.

Uncertain of how to respond, Hanson confides in Penhall who says they must take it to Fuller, or they could be implicated, since Diane committed a felony by making the request. Things get more when they learn Diane's father is a high-ranking cop on the force. When Hanson goes to Fuller, he's chastised for not going to him right away and arresting Diane when she made the initial offer. The noir lighting of the scene is used to great effect. 

Captain Fuller faces a dilemma.

Fuller discovers Diane's made many complaints about her father, but nothing's been done, and he suspects sexual abuse might be involved. He believes the only way to help Diane is to arrest her and then get her off due to mitigating circumstances. But Hanson's attempt to make the arrest goes wildly wrong; he accidentally shoots her dad in the stomach during a struggle. 

Internal Affairs takes away Hanson's badge, they suspect he was actually trying to kill a police officer. But Hanson is absolved of any wrongdoing after further investigation, and Diane will be freed from her father. Another drug bust is made at the school, in the restroom, where apparently all the deals go down. Hanson makes follow-up visits with Diane, which I'll interpret as a protective older brother instinct kicking in.  

Sherilyn Fenn as Diane Nelson

"Blindsided" is a solid dramatic episode with some comic relief, showing how undercover work can get messy and lead to bad outcomes. As Fuller says after the botched arrest, "we screwed up." Hanson also made mistakes by not going to Fuller sooner - and dodged a public relations disaster for the program. Ultimately justice was achieved, but through haphazard means. The episode also marked the first appearance of precinct maintenance man Sal Balducci, AKA "Blowfish," who will make become a recurring character on the series. 

Final Report: A-

21 Jump Street: S1E8: "Bad Influence"

Written by Paul Bernbaum

Directed by Kim Manners

Airdate: May 24, 1987

Guest Stars: Liane Curtis (Lauren Carlson); Scott Schwartz (Jordan); Byron Thames (Dylan)

"Bad Influence" splits the difference between a hard-edged storyline about a High School student engaged in sex work, while the other story follows two teens who steal $12,000 from a broken ATM and go on a spending spree. 

Hoffs and Ioki are assigned to the High School with the suspected prostitution ring. Boys at the school are gossiping about one Lauren Carlson, a girl who will allegedly provide sex for money. Hoffs befriends Lauren who seems focused on her studies. Meanwhile, Ioki revisits the humiliations of gym class and hears more rumors about Lauren in the locker room.

Hanson and Penhall are assigned to track down two missing teens Jordan and Dylan. Both latchkey kids, their negligent parents fear the worse. The episode follows them as they run up hotel bills, buy motorcycles, and attempt to enter a strip club. Eventually, they are located at an arcade impressing girls and are arrested for grand larceny (making them to even cooler to the girls). Back at home, a Hollywood screenwriter wants to tell their story. 

Busted at the arcade

Ioki confirms Lauren is involved in prostitution when he sets her up for a sting, while Hoffs connects her activities as a front for a burglary ring, she provides security codes to her stepfather who rob the houses, while enabling her mom's drug habit. Hoffs reveals to Lauren she's a cop and wants to help her out of her situation. They break up the burglary ring, but Lauren has left town. Hoffs reflects how Lauren was used by everyone, including her. 

Fuller and Hoffs discuss undercover ethics

The parallel story approach made for a fast-paced episode. Few of the stories so far have explored the ethics of undercover work. While the operation stopped the crimes, it also failed to help Lauren, an innocent teen forced into an awful situation. As Fuller tells Hoffs, "we're police officers, not social workers." Depp and DeLuise have comedic chemistry by this point, which would become one of the endearing hallmarks of the series. 

Final Report: B+

21 Jump Street: S1E7: "Gotta Finish the Riff"

Written by Patrick Harsburgh & Bill Nuss

Directed by Kim Manners

Airdate: May 17, 1987

New Main Cast Member: Steven Williams (Captain Adam Fuller)

Guest Star: Blair Underwood (Reginald Brooks)

"Gotta Finish the Riff" begins with the tragic news that Captain Jenko was killed by a drunk driver. The Jump Street Unit is heartbroken as they gather to pay their final respects. For the following month the unit was temporarily disbanded and assigned to other departments. Called back to the chapel, they're informed the mayor wants to keep the program going. Captain Adam Fuller is assigned to take over the unit, a transfer from New York with 11 years of undercover experience.

Captain Fuller makes it known he'll be running a tighter ship, expecting professionalism from everyone. Everyone's taken aback at Fuller's stern demeanor. The chapel will also become a fully staffed precinct, no longer a private clubhouse. Hobbs and Hanson are assigned to a High School where the new principal is receiving death threats. 

Audition for Revenge of the Nerds

Hanson amusingly acts like a computer nerd, while Hoffs assumes an identity as a student with major attitude. Just hours into their first day, "bloods" gang leader Reginald Brooks and his crew are taking over the school. They have locked all the entrances and are making demands, an eerie foreshadowing of school shootings. Hanson blows his cover in an attempt to stop the hostage takers, while Hoffs attempts to charm Reginald to lower his defenses.

Hoffs maintains composure

Fuller leads the hostage negotiations, while sending in Ioki and Penhall (playing a clueless pizza delivery guy). Reginald holds a mock assembly to antagonize the school administration, but his motives are unclear. He eventually demands a Trans Am (very 1987) to make his escape while leaving his buddies out to dry. With Reginald heading off with Hoffs, a brawl breaks out, and the Jump Street Crew subdue the gang. Meanwhile, Reginald discovers he was duped into driving a car with a bad engine, Hoffs, cool as a cucumber, makes the arrest. Fuller invites everyone out for pizza.

Like in the pilot, the villains are stereotypical young black men. Blair Underwood would go on to have a great career in film and television; he even befriended a young Barack Obama at Harvard to research playing a young lawyer on L.A. Law. Neither did Reginald have objectives at all, except to, in his words, escape to Indiana. The idea of students taking a school felt a bit overblown, playing into cultural anxieties about violent High Schools. 

An episode of shifting tones, from the loss of Jenko, the introduction of Fuller, and a hostage situation that went from super intense to ridiculous, "Gotta Finish the Riff" was entertaining.

Final Report: B+

21 Jump Street: S1E6: "The Worst Night of Your Life"

Written by Patrick Harsburgh

Directed by Rob Bowman

Airdate: May 10, 1987

Guest Stars: Lezlie Dean (Jane Kinney); Winifred Freedman (Margie)

Hoffs goes undercover at a Catholic Girls School to investigate a recent string of arsons. The episode culminates with the Prom, allowing the entire Jump Street Unit to take part in the festivities. 

The episode begins during Sex Ed class at the school; rebel student Jane Kinney slipped in a porno VHS instead of the educational video getting her into trouble. Jane gets disciplined for the prank and is also a suspect for the arsons, meanwhile her friend Margie struggles socially. 

Classroom Prank

In the secondary story, Penhall has struggles with his dating life. He picks up a woman, who leads him outside and he gets mugged by her boyfriend. Meanwhile, we learn Hanson loves to go bowling!  

There's a few more fire incidents at the school, all leading to the prom night when the entire crew is assigned to attend to snag the culprit. Jenko is amused at everyone's prom wear - Ioki is the Japanese Elvis, Penhall looks liked a pimp, and Hanson the butler. It's hard to tell if they are dressed for a prom or Halloween. 

The episode ends on a WTF moment, with Margie being revealed as the arsonist when, in a meltdown, she sets the gym on fire. We never ger a motive - other than socially awkward people are prone to such things? Everyone eventually snaps at Catholic school?  Alas, all is well, the entire crew heads to the bowling alley after the dreary prom night. After all, who gets to relive their prom? Well, teachers who chaperone I suppose.

Jenko's Final Appearance 

Sadly, this episode would be the final appearance by Frederic Forrest as Jenko, who left the show to continue his film career. His roles in Francis Ford Coppola films like The Conversation, Apocalypse Now, and One from the Heart are all legendary. It's tempting to imagine how the show might've evolved if Forrest had stayed (his casting was a major reason Depp joined the cast). I liked the vibe of Jenko, especially his irreverent attitude, but his informal approach could sometimes work against the more serious tone the series would take. 

Final Report: B+

21 Jump Street: S1E5: "My Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades"

Written by Gary Winter

Directed by Bill Nuss

Airdate: May 3, 1987

Guest Stars: Josh Brolin (Taylor Rolator); John D'Aquino (Vinnie Moragan)

Hanson and Penhall go undercover at an exclusive Prep School after a young woman (Kim Morgan) was raped and murdered after a weekend parry. The episode dealt with class privileges and the ways the wealthy take advantage of those they consider beneath them. A young Josh Brolin guest stars as the ringleader of drug ring at the school, desperate to cover-up their crimes. 

"The Fun Club"

At the Prep School, Penhall and Hanson befriend the suspects (the fun club), who drink and do cocaine in their off hours. In a literature class, the sense of elitism and entitlement at the school come out in the competitive discussion on the novel All the King's Men. Hoffs interviews the victim's family who speak of their concerns about Kim attending the wild weekend parties, while her brother Vinny appears ready to take his own revenge. 

Meeting with Jenko, the unit express their doubts about whether Kim was murdered or simply overdosed, Jenko encourages them to continue the drug investigation. Penhall is used as a "mule" as he's told to take kilos of cocaine on a commercial flight, fearing he would blow his cover he went through with it. Meanwhile, Niles, a drug dealer working with the boys, comes to the unit's attention, believing he knows what really happened. Niles gets arrested for smuggling but is offered a plea bargain since they suspect he knows who committed the murder. 

Smuggler's Blues

Realizing Niles will get a soft sentence for drug smuggling and a cash reward from "fun club" afterwards - the interrogation goes nowhere, Hanson and Penhall visits Brolin and company as police officers, but the boys brazenly do cocaine right in front of them certain they're getting off. Hanson warns them Niles might confess in exchange for a lighter sentence. Taylor seems nervous after they leave and rats out his buddies for the murder, but then Vinny is found standing by his car after school, the episode ends with a gunshot. 

Justice Awaits

A tightly written episode that's mostly on point with its themes. A young Brolin (post-Goonies) shows off his acting chops as a villainous character. There was enough material for a longer episode, exploring more of the prep school's toxic culture or more scenes with Kim's family to provide more depth. Hanson and Penhall are still competitive with each other at this point, while Jenko shows he will go to bat for his unit. It should also be noted the cast appeared in an "Anti-Drug" PSA after the episode in a prototypical '80s moment. 

Final Report: B+

21 Jump Street: S1E4: "Don't Pet the Teacher"

Written by Clifton Campbell

Directed by Lee Sheldon

Airdate: April 26, 1987

Guest Stars: Leah Ayres (Susan Chadwick); Geoffery Blake (Jeffrey Stone); Mark (Albert Janowitz)

What if you're working undercover as a High School student and want to date your teacher? The 2012 21 Jump Street film got a lot of mileage out of the awkward situation, for its fourth episode the series also took on the time-honored subject of crushing on your teacher. 

Jenko assigns Hanson to investigate a series of robberies and vandalism at a local High School. On his first day he has a flat tire but no jack to put on the spare. Susan, an English teacher at the High School, helps him out and they have a flirtation. Things get awkward when Susan is greeted by Hanson as a new student in her literature class. Hanson takes a seat next to Jeffrey, because Jenko named him as a potential suspect. Hanson befriends Jeffrey, who sells him Van Halen tickets.

Tickets to Van Halen

Jeffrey's a loner and has a reputation for mischief. He's in grief over losing his brother, a basketball star who died "in Cambodia." Jeffrey spends his nights selling discount concert tickets and doing graffiti. Hanson is weirded out when he thinks Jeffrey is also stalking Miss Chadwick at night and always leaving her roses. But the burglaries continue, Jenko chastises Hanson for failing to find the culprit and getting distracted by his crush on Miss Chadwick. 

"I'm not who you think"

I also neglected to mention the school janitor Albert, who is always acting shady. Hanson has Jeffrey arrested after the stolen goods are found in his locker, but later realizes circumstantial evidence points to someone else. Back at school Jeffrey finds Albert the janitor removing his brother's trophy from its case (he blamed for getting benched when they played together), and they have a confrontation, then Hanson arrives to make the arrest. It was the janitor all along. 

The ending is "Scooby Doo" all the way, I was expecting the janitor blame the "meddling kids" for messing up his plans. Apart from The Breakfast Club, school janitors often get a bad rap in pop culture for some reason (class bias?). Depp was able to show off his charm in the episode, while a subplot with Ioki studying for his police exam was all filler. Perhaps if the script had explored Jeffrey a bit more as a misunderstood loner at a huge High School, the story might've carried more weight. Otherwise, the episode is mostly mediocre. 

Final Report: B-

21 Jump Street: S1E3: "America, What a Town"

Written by Bill Nuss

Directed by Larry Shaw

Airdate: April 19, 1987

Guest Stars: Billy Jayne (Mark Dorian); Steve Antin (Stevie); Traci Lind (Nadia); Ray Abruzzo (Mario); Robert Miranda (Mr. Landers)

"America, What a Town" follows two storylines: Hoffs is assigned to supervise Polish exchange student Nadia who is enthralled with American culture, while Hanson and Penhall investigate a High School car theft ring. The light tone of the episode combines social commentary on late Cold War culture, while the car theft plot allows Hanson and Penhall to display their skills. Ioki plays a peripheral role in both stories, romancing Nadia and getting his rental car blown up (it's a long story). 

When Jenko assigns Hanson and Penhall to the car theft case they balk at first, but he points out the millions of dollars of losses to insurance companies, eliciting no sympathy from Hanson who complains of the high premiums on his Mustang. Enrolled in a large car repair class with "garage philosopher" Mr. Landers, Hanson establishes a rapport with talented students Mark and Stevie who rebuild cars with ease. These scenes charmingly evoke Christine and Grease. 

Welcome to the Garage

Upon investigation of the car theft, it's discovered Mark and Stevie are stealing cars, stripping them for parts, giving them to used car dealer Mario, buying them at an auction, then rebuild and sell the luxury cars making a huge profit. Mark and Stevie have ambitious ideas of starting their own garage business after High School, using their scheme to finance the venture. 

The scheme is revealed

Meanwhile, Hoffs realizes supervising Nadia is presenting challenges. Nadia is aggressively flirting with every guy she meets, including a sports car dealer and a movie producer. When Ioki is brought in to help out Hoffs, he falls for Nadia's wiles. Nadia seems to have a genuine love of American culture, jousting with a history teacher on Cold War politics and being enthralled with the utopia of '80s capitalism - the Mall. Later, she confesses to Hoffs she wanted to meet an American man willing to marry her so she could stay in the country.  

Current Events Discussion

The glasnost nature of the Nadia's story captures a snapshot in time as the Cold War was showing signs of thawing by the late 1980s, coding American consumerism as the ultimate secret weapon. The auto shop class scheme storyline was clever, you almost feel bad when Penhall and Hanson had to make the arrest. Clearly those guys had skills, their knowledge of cars and astute business acumen portended a bright future, but indulging in car theft took it too far. If there is a link between stories, one a sort of triumphal view of Reagan era America, the other somewhat counters it with the entrepreneurial spirit running amok. 

Final Report: B-