21FAQ

21 Jump Street FAQ

Photo courtesy of "A Fan's Page For Johnny Depp": Johnny Depp, Frederic Forrest, Dustin Nguyen, Holly Robinson & Peter DeLuise.

This FAQ has 7 sections: General Info, FX Repeats, The Episodes, The Characters, The Actors, The Theme Song and Miscellaneous Fan Info. Info may contain spoilers. Please also see the 21 Jump Street Episode Guide.

21 Jump Street - General Info

1. What is 21 Jump Street about?

21 Jump Street is a show about undercover cops who are assigned to high schools, colleges and elsewhere. Their primary qualifications are that they have been trained in undercover police work and look young enough to pass for teenagers and young adults. Early on tagged as a "Mod Squad" copy or a "Miami Vice" for teenagers, it's more than that - these are adults, not teenagers. It's a fast-paced show with popular late 80's music, multi-faceted characters and well-written storylines.

2. How did they explain putting cops in high schools?

The purpose of this work was to try to arrest and rehabilitate kids on the brink of a criminal career rather than arresting them later when they have committed more serious crimes at an older age and have less chance of rehabilitation. It was also, as it was explained to Officer Hanson in the premier episode, because teenagers commit real crimes such as drug dealing, murder and rape. The way they thought was best to solve these crimes was to use undercover officers who could pass as high school students and investigate with the skills and legal knowledge of the adult police officers they actually were.

3. Where did they get the idea for the show?

According to interviews done at the time the show premiered, the show was based on a real-life undercover unit in Los Angeles, California.

4. When is the show set?

The show takes place in the 1987-1991 time period (same time that it was broadcast). There are two exceptions: one episode (#67 "The Things We Said Today"), which takes place in January 1986. This one doesn't fit into the time continuity of the series because the episode shows Capt. Fuller being new, which supposedly didn't happen until May 1987. One other episode (#70 "Back From The Future") takes place 40 years in the future and consists of the characters talking about the past (a flashback clip show).

5. Where is the show set?

A fictional large US city. TPTB took great pains in making it geographically impossible to pinpoint. Consider the following dialogue clues: 1. Hoffs goes "back east" to Chicago to visit family. 2. In season 5, Philadelphia is said to be only a day's drive away. Just those two alone would be sufficiently contradictory to disguise it. But there' s more. In "Woolly Bullies," Penhall motorcycles to San Francisco, but Hanson flies there in one of the Russell Buckins episodes. Hanson is said to not be familiar with icy road conditions at a ski lodge - yet every winter they are wearing coats and gloves and driving around in the snow. The vegetation, weather and local landmarks are quite adeptly disguised but still mark it as being at least in the US Northwest. The "14 Hastings" bus in the opening theme is from Vancouver, BC, Canada, where the show was filmed. It can't be NYC, because Mac talks about his first assignment being in Newark NJ, after which he decided to move "out here." Also, Garrett grew up in the NYC area and moved "here," and Fuller had been working on the NYPD for 10 years prior to his Jump Street position. Ioki talks about growing up in St. Louis. Booker says he's from New York. In "Blinded By The 1000 Points Of Light," several large cities are named as being other cities on the runaway circuit, such as Miami, New York, Los Angeles and Seattle.

6. Where was the show filmed?

Vancouver, British Columbia, except for two episodes filmed on location in Florida (#73 "Awomp Bomb Aloobomb Aloop Bam Boom" and #74 "La Bizca"). The show was filmed in many locations in Vancouver and North Vancouver, including many real high schools with actual high school students as some of the extras.

7. If I go to Vancouver, can I see the set?

According to an excellent source, "Unfortunately, the Chapel is no more. The studio that was used for the first and second season is now used as a food warehouse. The studio used for the third season burned down and is now a parking lot. The studio used for the fourth and fifth season gave way to The X-Files. And the building that was used as the exterior of the Chapel was torn down to build a new condo building. You can't stop progress."

8. Do all of the episodes take place in high schools?

As I have watched the shows, I have been surprised to find that only about 60% of the shows actually took place in a high school. A few more take place in colleges. There were also many episodes where TPTB either wrote about teen criminals or victims in other locations (a juvenile reform center, a teen psychiatric ward, a religious cult, a teen reform camp, a military academy, a massage parlor, and on the streets). Beyond that, there were several episodes which broke format totally: instead of the formula of the officers going undercover to solve a crime, viewers saw them go on strike, go on the road to transport someone, deal with family problems, and do many other things that were the main focus of one or more episodes (instead of police work).

9. Why was this show so important to the Fox network?

The show had a great appeal to teenagers and delivered messages about staying out of a criminal lifestyle and living life in a way that would enable one to be a successful adult. Fox was a brand new network, and some people thought that the teenagers who made household names out of the show’s stars were the only ones watching. But 21 Jump Street became Fox’s first big hit, and success only made it better. Watching the show in reruns today, it’s amazing how fresh and timely most of the episodes are.

10. What should a new fan know to understand the show?

As the show progresses, the undercover investigations become less important than the interactions between the characters. The officers are portrayed as good cops who really believe in what they are doing and who went into police work to help people, to "protect and serve." The Jump Street unit is looked down on by the city government, which is usually threatening to pull funding, and the episodes sometimes contrast Jump Street’s good cops with other cops who are corrupt, including narcotics undercover officers. Another good thing to know is that Hanson and Penhall are best friends, and neither of them like Booker. In Season 5, Judy Hoffs and Doug Penhall are the ones with experience who train Dean, Kati, Mac and Joey.

11. When was it originally shown on Fox?

Season 1 was a short season, April-June 1987. Seasons 2, 3 and 4 were 1987/88, 1988/89 and 1989/90.

12. When was it cancelled?

The show was cancelled by Fox in May 1990, but the show continued with a fifth season anyway.

13. What is the deal with Season 5?

There was enough interest in the show that the production company decided to continue it even though Fox had cancelled it. They produced an extra season worth of shows, which was Season 5, running during the 1990/91 season in syndication on local affiliates, usually inconsistently or inconveniently scheduled. Though Johnny Depp and Dustin Nguyen had quit, Peter DeLuise, Holly Robinson and Steven Williams were still on the show, along with newcomers Michael Bendetti and Michael DeLuise. Peter DeLuise quit the show halfway through the season, and Michael DeLuise quit near the end of the season. Williams, Robinson and Bendetti stayed to the end. It's an excellent season, not to be missed.

14. What connections are there to other shows?

Several well-known writers and directors worked on 21 Jump Street, including Glen Morgan & James Wong, Kim Manners, Bill Nuss, Paul & Larry Barber, Eric Blakeney, and Patrick Hasburgh. You can see their names in the credits of many shows, including the "X-Files," "SeaQuest," and "Renegade"...and prior to Jump Street, many of them worked on "The A-Team."

15. Were there any spin-offs?

There was an idea for a spinoff called "City Court," which was to follow Jump Street-type cases through the court system. A proposed plotline was for a police officer to shoot another police officer and go to prison for it. The spinoff never happened, and the plotline may have been integrated into 21 Jump Street (episodes 54-56, "Loc'd Out" parts 1 & 2 and "Draw The Line"), becoming the Season 3 to Season 4 cliffhanger. There was also a spinoff that DID happen - "Booker," in which the popular character of Dennis Booker, played by Richard Grieco, became a private detective. It ran concurrently with Season 4 of 21 Jump Street during the 1989/90 season. You can read more about Booker at my Booker page.

16. Were these all filmed in order?

Of course not - hardly any show actually is. Check out the 21 Jump Street Episode Guide and my Production Numbers page to analyze this in detail, but to be brief, many shows were filmed out of order or even held back to be shown in a different season.

21 Jump Street - FX repeats

1. When and where can I watch 21 Jump Street?

21 Jump Street is currently airing on KDOC in Anaheim, California and METV (Middle East Television at 3 PM on weekdays). It also airs in the Netherlands and Australia. If you know of any other stations airing it, please email me at mdbfan@yahoo.com and let me know. There is much fan interest in getting another U.S. cable network to run the show. During 1996-98, the FX Network ran episodes of 21 Jump Street daily.

2. Did FX show the uncut original episodes?

No. Fox prepared these for syndication, and they cut a minute or so from each episode. FX was not allowed to alter them. If you are looking for a collection, know this before you begin. If you really want all the original scenes, you will have to look for the episodes as originally broadcast on Fox (and syndication, for Season 5).

3. How can I tape the complete run?

Whenever it gets added to a network, print out a copy of the 21 Jump Street Xnet Episode Guide guide and check them off as you tape them. To do them in order will take a lot of planning and work, but it's possible.

4. Why didn't FX show the PSA's (public service announcements)?

Fox edited these and the PSA's are no longer there, except for a couple of Season 5 episodes. The PSA's were on separate tapes that were sent to Fox stations. Also, many of the phone numbers and addresses had probably changed.

5. Did FX show all of the episodes?

Yes. For a while they were not showing the episodes from Season 5, but my fan-based campaign changed their minds, and they decided to show ALL of the episodes, not just the ones with Johnny Depp in them. They also showed Episode 8 of "Booker," which has been integrated into the 21JS episode listing, between episodes 64 and 65 (because it is part one of the two-part set that #65 concludes. Due to their schedule changes, at which time they would always start over again at #1, it was hard to get a complete run, but they did manage it once.

6. Why didn't your episode numbers match with FX's schedule's numbers?

Because I use the original numbering, as does the 21 Jump Street Episode Guide, which was around a long time before I was. My numbers match from episodes 1-64. The reason why FX's episodes were one number higher than mine after #64 is that they have made the Booker episode #8 be 21JS episode #65. Therefore, "Wheels & Deals," which was originally #65, is now #66 according to their list. That is why when you look at the 21 Jump Street Episode Guide, there are only 103 episodes, when in the FX repeats, there were actually 104 episodes.

7. Why are some Season 5 episodes edited so sloppily (scenes accidentally shown twice, etc).

Since the show was no longer airing on Fox, my guess is that the budget dropped considerably, but still, I think this type of error is too avoidable to be excusable. There is one episode where they run the wrong opening credits (#88 "This Ain't No Summer Camp," where they run the credits from the Joey-less #84-86). FX has told me that they were not legally allowed to alter the episodes in any way, even to fix this, and the Screen Actors Guild assures me that credits or not, Michael is paid whenever he is shown.

Specific Episodes

1. What happens in <episode>?

Check the 21 Jump Street Episode Guide for a brief summary. If you want a much more detailed review (with spoilers), each episode has its own page on this web site and I am eventually going to have all of them reviewed at length (this takes a lot of time, so please be patient). My pages do have the brief summaries that are in the Episode Guide. To find them, go to the main page, then click on the correct season, then click on the episode titles.

2. How do you know the episode titles?

Each episode runs a short introductory scene, then the theme song, then some ads, and then the next scene begins – it is at that point that the episode title is put on the screen.

3. Why are there alternate titles for some episodes?

During production of some episodes, they were called one thing, and then when the title was put on, TPTB changed the name. Some broadcasts in other countries might use the other name as well. I use the episode titles that are shown on the screen.

4. Which episode did <event> happen in?

Do a keyword search at the 21 Jump Street Episode Guide or email me, and I'll try to help... but I'll grant you guys the following two that I get asked constantly...

5. Which episode is it where Penhall shoots Hanson in the butt? And the one where Penhall wakes up in the gay man's apartment?

#42 "The Dragon and the Angel" and #50 "Fathers & Sons"

6. Are there any two part episodes?

Yes. Episodes #1 and #2 are the 2-hour pilot, called "21 Jump Street" or "Jump Street Chapel." Episodes #15 and #16 are the "Besieged" part 1 and 2 episodes, which were sometimes run together by FX as a two-hour movie.

7. What about three-parters?

Episodes #54 and #55 are the "Loc'd Out" part 1 and 2 episodes, where Ioki is shot and Hanson is put in prison, ending Season 3 with a cliffhanger. #56 "Draw The Line" is the Season 4 premiere and concludes the story, with Hanson free and Booker quitting the Jump Street Unit. Another three parter is the El Salvador storyline, in which Penhall falls in love with Marta (#59 "Come From The Shadows"), Hanson and Penhall go to Florida (#73 "Awomp Bomp Aloobomb Aloop Bam Boom"), and Hanson and Penhall go to El Salvador to try to find Marta (#74 "La Bizca"). #73 actually has little to do with the El Salvador plotline until the end, when Penhall decides to go to El Salvador, and it says "To Be Continued."

8. Didn't 21 Jump Street and Booker have a crossover two-parter?

Yes. To wrap up the Raymond Crane storyline begun with the three parter of #54-56, TPTB wrote another two-part episode to tie together both shows. "Deals and Wheels" was Episode #8 of Booker, where Booker tries, unsuccessfully, to bring Crane down on his own and at the end goes to Jump Street for help. "Wheels and Deals" was Episode 65 of 21 Jump Street, where the Jump Street Unit helps Booker catch Crane and put him away. The episodes ran over two consecutive nights.

9. Were there ever any other crossovers between the two shows?

Captain Fuller, Judy Hoffs and Doug Penhall all made appearances in one or more Booker episodes.

10. Is there more than one version of the pilot?

Yes. The original pilot was filmed with Jeff Yagher in the part of Tom Hanson. He was replaced by Johnny Depp, and the episode had to be re-shot. The original TV Guide listing for April 12, 1987 lists Yagher in the part, though I have been told that it was the Depp version that was broadcast. Also, when FX ran episode 1 and 2 as a 2 hour movie, some of the footage was different, or so I have been told.

11. Are #82 "Tunnel of Love" and #83"Back To School" part of Season 4 or Season 5?

They were filmed during Season 4 and held back to be used in Season 5, introducing new characters Dean Garrett and Kati Rocky. They were never shown on Fox. Near the end of Season 4, TPTB aired #80 "Everyday Is Christmas," which introduces Dean Garrett, and this one was the second-last Season 4 episode. When Season 5 started, #82 and #83, from the unused episodes, were the first two, and then the actual Season 5 began with #84 "The Buddy System," in which Anthony "Mac" McCann is introduced. In syndication, the last Season 4 episode is #81, these two are #82 and #83, and then #84 starts the real Season 5. We fans are very lucky that these two were included in the syndication package and not shelved.

12. What is the deal with "How I Saved The Senator?"

#78 "How I Saved The Senator" has the four officers (Hanson, Penhall, Hoffs & Ioki) talking to a reporter about an incident that has already taken place, and each person gives the reporter their own very distinctive (and self-flattering) version of the same story. Hoffs casts herself as a jazz singer in hers, Ioki as a martial-arts hero, Penhall as a somewhat inept James Bond, and Hanson as a Chaplinesque silent film character. This has much more to do with the actors than the characters and was one of the last Season 4 episodes shot (it is also the last episode Johnny Depp ever filmed).

13. What is the song in "Swallowed Alive"?

The song at the end of the episode where Hanson waits outside for the kid is "Can't Find My Way Home" by Steve Winwood. The song in the tunnel scene is "Are You Sure?" by the Staple Singers.

The Characters

1. Who are the regular characters on the show?

Go to my 21 Jump Street Cast Page to read more about who is who - I have done a complete page for each of the eleven regulars that includes more details.

1. Captain Richard Jenko - Laid back police captain with a 60's mentality and street smarts, killed by a drunk driver. Played by Frederic Forrest (12-23-36, Waxahatchie, TX): Falling Down, Apocalypse Now, Tucker, etc. Episodes 1-6 only.

2. Captain Adam Fuller - Assertive, by-the-book, compassionate police captain from NYC. One son (Kip), divorced. Played by Steven Williams (1-7-49,Memphis, TN): The X Files, Blues Brothers, etc. Episodes 7-103.

3. Officer Tom Hanson (Thomas) - Idealistic, intelligent, passionate and introverted rookie who becomes increasingly outspoken, disillusioned and cynical about police work and life. Father was a cop killed on the job, mother lives in the local area. Played by Johnny Depp (6-9-63, Owensboro, KY): Edward Scissorhands, Benny & Joon, Don Juan De Marco, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, etc. Episodes 1-81.

4. Officer/Detective Judy Hoffs (Judith Marie or Judith Esther) - College educated and street smart, with optimism and innocence that gradually become cynicism and hard-won loyalty and trust, though she never loses her compassion. Has parents in Chicago. Played by Holly Robinson (9-18-64, Philadelphia, PA): Howard The Duck, Hangin' With Mr. Cooper, For Your Love, etc. Episodes 1-103.

5. Officer "Harry Ioki" (real name Vinh Van Tran) - Vietnamese refugee raised in the US. Intelligent and soft-spoken officer with a conservative outlook. Assumed Japanese identity until episode #24 to protect himself from discrimination from Vietnam veterans on the job (such as Fuller). Has a grandmother in Vietnam. Played by Dustin Nguyen (9-17-62, Saigon, Vietnam): Virtuosity, 3 Ninjas Kick Back, Highlander, SeaQuest, etc. Episodes 1-80.

6. Officer Doug Penhall - (Douglas James) Funny, warm-hearted, physically strong and idealistic officer who matures into an intelligent, thoughtful man. Current fan favorite. Mother killed herself when Doug was 6; father drank heavily until his death when Doug was 17. Has one younger (2 years) brother, Joey; married briefly to Marta, adopted Marta's nephew, 5/6 year old Clavo. Played by Peter DeLuise (11-6-66, New York, NY): SeaQuest, Children of the Night, Solarbabies, Rescue Me, etc. Episodes 1-91.

7. Officer Dennis Booker - Rebellious loner who dislikes rules. Alienates Hanson & Penhall immediately and pursues his cases his own way, then works hard to save Hanson's career before quitting to become a private detective. Played by Richard Grieco (3-23-65, Watertown, NY): Booker, Marker, Suspicious Agenda, Sin & Redemption, Circuit Breaker, etc. Episodes 36-56 & 65.

8. Officer Dean Garrett - Young-looking, idealistic rookie from NJ, hates corruption. Taken under Doug Penhall's wing and brought from a corrupt city police squad to Jump Street. Played by David Barry Gray (birthdate & place unknown): Nixon, The Client, etc. Episodes 80, 82 and 83.

9. Officer Kati Rocky - Outspoken, cynical and defiant loner with damaging past, likes kittens, doesn't trust anyone, former FBI agent. Brought to Jump Street by Hoffs and Garrett after a massage parlor case. Played by Alexandra Powers (birthdate and place unknown): LA Law, Tonya & Nancy, etc. Episodes 82 and 83.

10. Officer Anthony "Mac" McCann - Soft-spoken, idealistic NJ cop who left NJ under threat of murder by corrupt cops, covers feelings with cocky attitude. Distrust gradually replaced by dependability and friendship. Learns from Penhall and Hoffs, eventually partnered with Joey and later Hoffs. Played by Michael Bendetti (8-21-67, Long Beach, CA): Netherworld, Amanda & The Alien, Baywatch, etc). Episodes 84-103.

11. Officer Joey Penhall - Passionate, lonely, warm-hearted and street-smart officer who joins Jump Street and moves to town out of desperation for a relationship with his estranged older brother (Doug). Has been on his own since age 15 (5 years). Learns from Penhall and Hoffs, eventually partnered with Mac before his abrupt departure. Played by Michael DeLuise (8-4-70, Los Angeles, CA): Wayne's World (behind Wayne in car scene), Encino Man, Midnight Edition, NYPD Blue, SeaQuest, Brooklyn South, etc. Episodes 87-98.

2. What was Harry Ioki's real name?

Vinh Van Tran (see above). All of this is explained in depth in #24 "Christmas in Saigon."

3. What were the officers' police rankings?

Richard Jenko and Adam Fuller were captains. All of the others were officers. Hoffs was promoted to detective in Season 4. Booker quit to become a private investigator at the beginning of Season 4. Rocky quit her job as an FBI agent to become a Jump Street officer - her rank after doing so was never told.

4. Who are the recurring characters on the show?

Sal Banducci, or "Blowfish," was the Jump Street janitor; Amy Pearson was Hanson's Season 2 girlfriend; Jackie Garrett (no relation to Dean) was Hanson's Season 3 girlfriend; Russell Buckins appeared in two episodes as Hanson's wild friend who got him in trouble; Raymond Crane was a corrupt businessman in the Raymond Crane storyline (five episodes in Seasons 3 and 4); Dorothy Pezzino was Doug's fiancee, Marta was an El Salvadorean woman whom Doug Penhall married, but she was deported anyway; Clavo was Marta's sister's son, whom Doug adopted and took back with him to the USA; Kip was Capt. Fuller's teenage son; and Mrs. Hanson was Hanson's mother. You can read more about most of them at my 21 Jump Street Friends and Family page.

5. What kind of cars do the officers drive?

Hanson drives a 1968 Mustang, which had been his father's car. Penhall drives a motorcycle and later a yellow classic truck; Hoffs drives a cute little green roadster and later a red Suzuki or Tracker and once a Volkswagon Rabbit convertible; Ioki drives a huge junk car and later a more modern car, and once a Dodge Shadow; Booker drives a muscle car of some kind; Mac drives Hanson's Mustang for a few of his episodes, and then a grey Jeep; Joey doesn't seem to ever drive. If any of you know about cars (I don't) and can identify any of these cars more precisely by make, model or year, please let me know and I'll update this answer.

6. What happened to Captain Jenko?

Capt. Jenko was killed in a drunk driving accident. In Episode 7, after Capt. Jenko's funeral at the beginning of the episode, Capt. Fuller assumes control of the Jump Street unit.

7. Why did Booker quit?

Booker was an individualist who disliked playing by what he saw as pointless rules. When he found out he had helped put an innocent man (Hanson) in prison, he broke rules to get him out. The police force re-assigned him to the library as punishment, and he quit. He became a private detective on the show "Booker" (spinoff).

8. Why did Hanson and Ioki quit?

This was never explained. They just were not there after a while. Hanson had been disillusioned with police work for some time and complained openly about it during much of Season 4. (In reality, it is because Depp and Nguyen had quit the show after Season 4).

9. Why did Doug Penhall quit?

After Doug adopted Clavo, his priorities changed, and he felt that police work was too dangerous. After he was shot (#91 "Number One With A Bullet"), he decided that willingly staying in police work where he might get killed was too much like his mother choosing to kill herself. Doug quit and moved to Philadelphia to open a bowling alley with an ex-classmate from the police academy. Some fans speculate that he opened it with Hanson, who had already quit, because they were best friends and Hanson was shown to love bowling.

10. Why did Dean and Kati quit?

They were both hired by the Jump Street unit but then never shown again after #83 "Back To School." (in reality, it is because David Barry Gray and Alexandra Powers were not hired for Season 5).

11. Why did Joey quit?

We see Joey asking for vacation time to visit Doug in Philadelphia, and then a few episodes later he is gone and doesn't return. Joey came to Jump Street to fix his relationship with his estranged older brother, not to be a cop, and he is very impulsive and spontaneous, so it makes sense that he would quit suddenly to move to Philadelphia, where Doug had moved to.

12. Why is Judy often called "Judy" and not "Hoffs"? Is it because she's a woman?

13. And why do you sometimes say "Penhall" and other times say "Doug"?

The use of first names in Seasons 1-4 had to do with rank (Captain Fuller frequently uses their first names) or to personalize a conversation (they often used first names as emphasis, to get someone's attention). For the most part, last names were used. Hoffs is often called "Judy," but for the sake of consistency (not to mention equality) I have tried to refer to her as "Hoffs." Doug is nearly always referred to as "Penhall." In season 5 there are two officers named "Penhall," so everyone began using first names more frequently as a matter of course. TV Guide was the worst offender in the feminist department - in their listing for the pilot, the four officers are referred to as "Hanson," "Penhall," "Ioki" and "Judy."

The Actors

1. Why did Johnny Depp quit the show?

Depp joined the show wanting to work with Frederic Forrest (Capt. Jenko) and thinking that it would not succeed, and he needed the income. He signed a six-year contract. According to most of his interviews, he despised the show and his "Hanson" character and tried to get fired. Let's hear from John DeCarli on this one: "The April 4, 1970 LA Times states, 'his four year commitment to the show has ended.' A magazine interview done in March 1990 says 'two more seasons, contractually.' There's also a translated interview on the Fan's Page for Johnny Depp which says that his 'Lawyers freed me from the contract with the TV people.' I don't think Fox announced the show's cancellation until the end of May, 1990 -- two months or so later. Did the fact that Depp had gotten out of his contract contribute to the decision to cancel the show? I don't know. He had definitely signed a six-year contract."

2. Why did Dustin Nguyen quit the show?

My guess is that he was unhappy with his ever-decreasing airtime. John DeCarli says, "The only info I have on this is that he didn't want to work with a new team of producers/directors. Lack of screen time could definitely have been a factor."

3. Why did Frederic Forrest quit after only six episodes?

I can only speculate that TPTB wanted a younger and more forceful captain who would have conflict with the officers from time to time. Also, on TV it is very common to have an African-American male as a police captain.

4. Is it true that Holly Robinson is related to Sesame Street's "Gordon"?

Yes. There have been three Gordons, and the first one, who played Gordon from 1969-1973, is Holly's father. He also provided the voice for the Muppet "Roosevelt Franklin" and was involved in several production aspects of the show.

5. What films/TV series has <actor> been in?

Go to http://us.imdb.com to search them by name.

6. Are Michael and Peter DeLuise really brothers?

Yes. Their father is comedian Dom DeLuise, who has a guest appearance in #46 "Woolly Bullies?"

7. Did Michael DeLuise ever appear on the show (besides being Joey Penhall in Season 5)?

Yes. He played a high-school-aged Doug Penhall in flashbacks in #46 "Woolly Bullies."

8. Did their younger brother, David DeLuise, ever appear on the show?

Yes. He played "Stevenson" (the DJ that Doug Penhall is protecting in the introductory scene of the episode) in #91 "Number One With A Bullet," which Peter directed.

9. Is it true that Sal Jenco was Johnny Depp's best friend?

Yes. Sal Jenco, who plays Sal "Blowfish" Banducci, was Johnny Depp's best friend as a child and teenager in Florida, and they remain friends today. Sal is part owner of Johnny's club, the Viper Room, and he appeared in "Donnie Brasco" with Johnny (his name also appears in the credits of "Arizona Dream"). There is also a character in Johnny's movie, "Dead Man," called Sally Jenco, played by Iggy Pop.

10. Did the 21 Jump Street actors get along in real life?

Johnny Depp has said in interviews that Peter DeLuise was his best friend during the filming of 21 Jump Street, and Richard Grieco has also said in a book about himself that he was Peter's friend as well. A lot of magazines played up a rivalry between Johnny Depp and Richard Grieco that may only have existed between Hanson and Booker on the screen.

11. Which episode was my favorite actor a guest in?

Do a keyword search of the 21 Jump Street Episode Guide. Here are the six most frequently asked about actors: Brad Pitt (#33 "The Best Years Of Your Life"), Shannen Doherty (#67 "The Things We Said Today"), Christina Applegate (#28 "I'm OK, You Need Work"), Christine Elise (#62 "Out of Control"), Pauly Shore (#17 "Two For The Road"), Jada Pinkett (#102 "Homegirls").

Photo: David Barry Gray as Dean Garrett, #83 "Back To School," Season 5

The Theme Song

1. What was the 21 Jump Street theme song?

It is called "21 Jump Street," written by Liam Sternberg, who wrote "Walk Like An Egyptian." It is sung by Holly Robinson, who plays Judy Hoffs.

2. Where can I hear the theme song?

You can hear it at my 21 Jump Street Theme Song Page. The revised theme is in .au and .wav format, and the original theme is in RealAudio. I did not scan these in myself - I found them on TV theme sites.

3. Where can I find the theme song on CD?

You can find it on the TV Themes Vol. 7 "Cable Ready" CD. This is the revised theme song.

4. Isn't there a soundtrack CD?

There was. It is currently out of print. It has the theme song and some other songs that were used on the show.

5. How many versions of the theme song are there?

There are two. The original version was used only for the 13 week Season 1. The revised version was used in Seasons 2-5 and is the one on the CD and soundtrack. As the series progressed and the opening theme's visuals were updated and edited, someone kept adding sound effects until by Season 5, it's quite amusing.

6. What are the lyrics to the 21 Jump Street theme song?

See the 21 Jump Street Theme Page.

7. What was the Booker theme song?

"Hot In The City," by Billy Idol, which was recorded in 1982.

8. Where can I hear the Booker theme song?

My Booker Page has a partial clip, or you can try some Billy Idol sites. It is on the album "Billy Idol" or any compilation greatest hits.

9. What are the lyrics to the Booker theme song?

See the Booker Page.

Fan Clubs, Mailing Lists & Web Sites

1. Does 21 Jump Street have a fan club?

No. The show has been out of production since the spring of 1991.

2. Where can I find 21JS books/merchandise?

There are several biographies of Johnny Depp, two biographies of Richard Grieco, and one German book about the show. I would check eBay or any fan communities.

3. Is there a Usenet newsgroup for 21 Jump Street?

No. You can discuss the show on rec.arts.tv.

4. What is your favorite season and who are your favorite characters on 21JS?

I enjoy Seasons 1 and 2, I have a soft spot for Season 5, and some of my favorite episodes are in Season 4, I'd have to say that I think Season 3 is the most consistently excellent season. Although I like all of the characters on 21JS, my two favorites are Doug and Joey Penhall (Peter and Michael DeLuise).

Main 21 Jump Street Page *