#2 "21 Jump Street (2)"

#2 "21 Jump Street" (part 2) (Season 1 #2)

"Pilot Stuff We Didn't See" by Claire (stuff edited out of finished show)

Original Air Date: April 12, 1987

Writer: Patrick Hasburgh

Director: Kim Manners

Production Code: 16000

Things To Note: Part two of the 2-part pilot.

Opening Theme:

Closing Theme:

LOD:

Regulars:

Friends, Family & Guests: Brandon Douglas [ Kenny Weckerly ], Reginald Dorsey [ Tyrell "Waxer" Thompson ], Charles Payne [ Unknown ]

Episode Summary from The 21 Jump Street Episode Guide:

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

Hanson gets assigned to the Jump Street unit, a special division of the police force which uses young cops to go undercover and stop juvenile crime, when his youthful appearance causes him to be underestimated while on patrol. His first case involves catching drug dealers.

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: This originally ran on FOX as a two hour TV movie. For the Memorial Day 1997 marathon, FX ran this version, which includes a four minute scene at the chapel right before Ioki drives to Kenny's house with Hanson. The two part "split" version which FX usually runs cuts this scene, but does include a one-minute scene featuring Hanson and Dunnigan leaving the Wechert house which the two hour version doesn't have. Go figure.

I like the way the characters are introduced. Hoffss seems to defend Hanson, while Penhall pretty much can't stand him (until the end). Ioki seems quite naive here. I also like the way the supporting characters are given some personality. Principal Schaffer must set some sort of record for the use of sports metaphors, while Officer Dunnigan displays a world-weary wit.

I think filming began in the fall of 1986. Originally, another actor was hired to play Hanson, but he didn't work out. Johnny Depp then agreed to take the role, and much of the episode had to be reshot at a later date. In spite of this, the continuity here is excellent.

A couple of quibbles: Why does Capt. Briody tell Hanson that "every year" the department trains officers to go undercover in high schools when Jump Street is only four weeks old? And why did Penhall break the door down at Waxer's garage and just start shooting? I hope Jenko talked to him about this.

An excellent first episode.

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