21JS006

#6 "The Worst Night Of Your Life (Season 1 #6)

Photo Gallery 1 (scroll to find correct episode once you get there)

Original Air Date: May 10, 1987

Writer: Patrick Hasburgh

Director: Rob Bowman

Production Code: 16108

Things To Note: This is Frederic Forrest’s (Capt. Jenko) last episode.

Opening Theme:

Closing Theme:

LOD:

Regulars:

Friends, Family & Guests: Lezlie Deane [ Jane Kinney ], Winifred Freedman [ Margaret Saunters ], Mary Gregory [ Mother Salonus ], Kerry Remson [ Unknown ]

Episode Summary from The 21 Jump Street Episode Guide:

NOTE: Stop with this one if you don’t want spoilers.

Hoffs is not convinced that the captured suspect in an arson case at a Catholic girls school is the guilty party and believes that the real culprit will strike again at the school's prom.

Detailed Episode Review (contains spoilers!):

(NOTE: I am doing these from the FX repeats. Email me with missing scenes & I’ll add them).

Commentary:

John DeCarli: I think it's pretty significant that this one was written by creator Patrick Hasburgh. Hasburgh episodes always seem to spend some time allowing the characters to talk to each other. I particularly like the scene in Jenko's van where Hoffs and Jenko discuss their prom experiences. I get the feeling that Hoffs and Jenko have a real friendship-not just a work relationship. And I think this is really the only time that we ever learn anything about Jenko's past. We also learn that Hanson likes to bowl and I think it's significant that this is Hasburgh's idea, too. The bowling "motif" runs through all four Hanson seasons and gives the character some depth, as well as continuity. It's a nice touch.

Otherwise, it's hard not to notice that Penhall here is pretty blustery and that Ioki's hormones are in overdrive. When Hoffs says to Ioki "anything interesting?" and Ioki says "yeah, you" at the prom, I get a little nervous. But Hanson looks appropriately uncomfortable here and Jenko gets a good scene earlier when he has to talk to the Mother Superior.

I have trouble, however, following the time line of the plot. The first fire goes off and Hanson goes bowling that night, Friday night. Then Penhall shows up at work with a bowling shirt and Hoffs meets with "the head jockey." Penhall then goes out by himself at night and gets robbed, while Jane breaks into the school to retrieve the porno tape. When Hoffs confronts Jane at the county jail, Jane says that she was trying to get back "the porno tape that we saw in health class YESTERDAY." Well, this is just impossible since at least two nights have gone by, and maybe more unless we're working weekends at Jump Street and holding classes at the Catholic school, too.

Overall not bad, but with some significant weaknesses.

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