#78 "How I Saved The Senator" (Season 4 #23)

#78 "How I Saved The Senator" (Season 4 #23)

Original Air Date: May 7, 1990

Writer: Gary Rosen

Director: James Whitmore, Jr.

Production Code: 16423

Things To Note: Filmed as genre spoofs.

Opening Theme:

Closing Theme:

LOD:

Regulars:

Friends, Family & Guests: Elena Stiteler [ Unknown ], Christian Hoff [ Unknown ], Jim Ishida [ Unknown ], Ray Parker Jr. [ Unknown ]

Episode Summary from The 21 Jump Street Episode Guide:

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

The Jump Street cops each relate a different version (with the teller as the hero of a film from their favorite genre), to a reporter investigating the foiled attempt to kill a senator.

Detailed Episode Review (contains spoilers!):

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

Commentary:

Cyndi Glass: What an absolute blast. This is definitely an episode where the actors themselves were given full rein to show their influences and inspirations. The situation is simple enough - the reporter is there to interview each of them and get their version of events - and everyone, of course, puts their own unique spin on it, each taking the credit for saving the senator’s life. This is something that would never happen in a realistic episode, but that’s not the point here. This is the kind of treat that fans of any show just love. Seeing Ioki/Nguyen as a kung fu fighter, Hoffs/Robinson as a singer in her own little romantic movie, Penhall/DeLuise as a spy in a James Bond spoof, and Hanson/Depp in a brilliantly done black and white silent film - this is an entertaining and amazing episode that any 21JS fan needs to have in their collection. If I am remembering correctly, "How I Saved The Senator" was the last 21JS filmed that Depp participated in, but they had already filmed #81 "Blackout" and decided to use it as the Season 4 closer.

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