21 Jump Street (1987–1991) User Reviews (46)

Mod Squad Of The Eighties

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 31 May 2007]

It took another 20 years, another generation, before we were ready for another cop show with young people as undercover cops dealing with crime and other social issues, but where Mod Squad left off in the Sixties, 21 Jump Street took the ball and ran with it in the Eighties.

Personally I think 21 Jump Street was a much better show. It certainly had at least one cast member who became a mega star in Johnny Depp. When Depp left the show, it sputtered on for a while, but ultimately died when other regulars left as well.

I might not agree with all of Johnny Depp's opinions, but I certainly have enormous respect for his artistic vision. He was good, he was very good as Officer Tom Hanson in 21 Jump Street, but he left at what turned out the right time for him before he was trapped as a juvenile teen idol forever and created one fantastic body of work as one of the best players around. He knew what he was capable of back in the day and the rest of us know it now too.

I was surprised that Dustin Nguyen didn't break out from 21 Jump Street as well as a big star. He should have had a great career as an oriental leading man, he had the looks, talent and definitely the martial arts skill.

In a way the Sixties handed off to the Eighties in the person of original captain of the Jump Street program, Frederic Forrest. He was one weird dude as the hippie type captain, a real refugee of the tune in, turn on, drop out generation. The character didn't work, so he was quickly dispatched and Steven Williams came on board as the new captain and a more traditional police authority figure.

You can see a lot of future stars in 21 Jump Street, Jason Priestley and Brad Pitt did episodes back in the day. I liked the stories very much, the series regulars were as human and as flawed as some of the kids they were dealing with.

I wish it had lasted longer, but maybe if Johnny Depp had stuck with it longer we might never have seen Captain Jack Sparrow.

Jump for Jump Street

[Sylviastel · 8/10 · 1 July 2002]

This was Fox's first serious drama. It was aimed at a young audience. 21 Jump Street had a great cast including a young Johnny Depp, Peter DeLuise, and Holly Robinson among the cast members, good writing, and innovative plot about young cops posing as high school students to capture a wide variety of criminals in the school system. The show lasted a few seasons on Fox without network infiltration like other major networks. It lasted long enough to leave its mark on the baby network. Now there are a dozen shows like 21 Jump Street without the cleverness and the strive to be better than just the average shows on TV. In fact, the show was probably the first American drama on Fox to be filmed on location in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to cut costs. In the beginning of the Fox network lineup, 21 Jump Street launched a unique way of looking at secondary schools with a great cast. It was never awarded an Emmy which it should have been even nominated for Best Drama.

Show that Launched Johnny Depp Into Stardom

[shelbythuylinh · 8/10 · 28 November 2021]

The show really was the Mod Squad of the 1980's. Kids that could not be taken seriously as cops but the good Captain there decided to put them undercover as HS students though they were in their early to mid twenties there.

Depp was the show but that it suffered indeed when it left and when the other regulars leaving, it would lead to the cancellation.

Show was one of the very first shows to land at the fledging Fox in 1987 launch there. Did not shy away fron subjects of the day like drugs, race, crime, etc.

Launching pad for teen stars; one of the better early Fox shows.

[StudentDriver · 10 October 1999]

This was one of the first Fox hour-long dramas, and Fox definitely wore its heart on its sleeve. Like WB now, Fox wanted to lure in a teenage audience with its good-looking young stars. Luckily for those stars, 21 Jump Street was a rather good vehicle, and stood on its own merits.

Kind of like a Mod Squad for the 80s, the "teens" in 21 Jump Street were cops. Hip cops. They would infiltrate schools, drug rings, gangs, wherever teenagers were in trouble... unlike the Mod Squad, though, the storylines were always passable, and quite often excellent. Almost every episode touched upon subjects that were taboo for the big 3 networks (and still are)- AIDS, statutory rape, drug use, abortion, child abuse- and presented it in a moralistic way, but without being maudlin.

The show kind of faltered in its last few seasons; Johnny Depp was becoming a star, and execs started pushing other "stars" into the spotlight, hoping for cash rewards and spin-offs. Richard Greico was most heavily promoted, to an audience that didn't really care. He became a teen-age heartthrob for a while, but never achieved the momentum to carry his career skyward. With this pushing of the stars, the storylines took a back seat to character preening. The end result was faltering ratings, and cancellation.

Until it became an actors' showcase, though, 21 Jump Street was probably the best drama on TV.

Miami Vice For Generation X

[spencemat · 6/10 · 17 August 2022]

A briefly cool show that helped make Johnny Depp a star, it was moralistic but not preachy. Unlike most other cop shows of the time kids weren't treated as the enemy by these younger cops. The show dealt with sensitive topics such as AIDS and minor abuse. It lost steam in its later years after Depp and Peter DeLuise left the show.

Excellent series

[mattkratz · 9/10 · 7 June 2021]

This was a top notch series that featured youthful looking police officers who would infiltrate high schools to investigate crimes like.drugs and prostitution. The episodes were top notch and well written and timely to watch. I always enjoy watching them. It was a good concept, and if you get the chance, definitely watch some episodes It did wonders for the FOX network and Johnny Depp's career!

*** out of ****

An Entertaining Cop Drama That Plays Like an After-School Special!!!

[Pumpkin_Man · 7/10 · 28 July 2014]

After seeing the 2012 movie adaptation with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, I wanted to go back and watch the series it was based on. During the middle of season 2, I lost interest and set it aside until the 2014 sequel, 22 Jump Street came out, so I decided to pick up where I left off. I'd say the first 3 seasons are the best. Season 5 is almost unwatchable. It really goes downhill after Johnny Depp leaves. (I understand Depp hated being on the show and tried like crazy to get kicked off. It was cool that he, Peter DeLuise, and Holly Robinson returned to the movie for cameos. In my eyes, the movie is a sequel to this series)

25 years before Schmidt and Jenko entered Jump Street, there was Tom Hanson, Doug Penhall, Judy Hoffs, H.T. Ioki, and Booker. For the majority of the series, they go undercover in high school, posing as students and bust drug dealers, rapists and murderers. Other times, they go undercover in different places trying to infiltrate a gang or just trying to protect themselves from vengeful mobsters. If you loved the 2012 movie or early cop dramas, you might enjoy 21 JUMP STREET: THE COMPLETE SERIES!!!

terrific

[mattkratz · 9/10 · 27 August 2012]

The movie that came out was good, but it couldn't hold a candle to this classic show that jump-started Johnny Depp's career. I remember watching this, and it along with Married With Children jump-started the Fox network, as it featured youthful-looking police officers infiltrating high schools in order to investigate crimes there (drug dealing, rape, etc.) as well as other serious issues such as AIDS. It was a really good show. Anyone interested in 80s TV ought to give it a look. Holly Robinson Peete reprised her role from it in the Channing Tatum movie. It involved good, serious police work and excellent ensemble performances. Check it out if you get the chance.

*** out of ****

Both out of date and timeless

[Nightmarelogic · 7/10 · 10 July 2023]

If a show can be both out of date and timeless at the same time then that show would be 21 Jumpstreet. Begun in the late 80s it was the jumping block for alot of young actors most notably Johnny Depp who plays the lead in what was supposed to be an ensemble show but then most ensemble shows (police producedurals and others) do eventually have a lead character. This was an interesting idea for a police show and one that might even work in today's market. A bunch of cops fresh out of the academy who look too young to be believable on the mean streets are sent to a new undercover program to go back to high school and stop crime there before it begins. It sounds silly but drug abuse, bullying, underage drinking, gang activity are high in highschools and so is racial tension. So some of the episodes get rather deeper then you would expect from a late 80s/early 90s tv show. Of course a lot of it is out of date being so old and the black female lead and the male asian lead are relegated to supporting characters while the white male actors are given the main rolls even bringing in a new white male in season 3. It is a fun show to watch and if you like police procedurals this is a good one. Much better then the dumb and disappointing movies that came out. Some of the episodes actually do get quite deep and try to tell a real point.

Worth watching.

Great TV show

[melissaeveringham · 10/10 · 27 November 2020]

The cast and storyline was amazing. Johnny Depp stole the show and his chemistry with the other cast was amazing to watch. The Mcquaid brothers and when Johnny went uncover with that gang was great. Once Johnny left the show did go downhill.

It's something to pass the time

[ashleynwaldron · 6/10 · 17 February 2012]

While not a bad show, 21 Jump Street has several flaws. They push a clear political agenda of the time, they sugar coat everything, it's highly unrealistic, and they throw in random changes, and never explain them.

That being said... It's not a terrible show. It's got some good actors in it (although I have to say, Holly Robinson was not one of them), and it's a cute show to watch if there's nothing better on. It was made to target a younger audience, while pushing the social and political agendas of the time, but it's still got that wholesome sort of image. Something you could sit down and watch with your teenage children.

After Johnny Depp and Dustin Nguyen left, it wasn't the same

[safenoe · 9/10 · 13 September 2016]

What a groundbreaking show! Credit to the producers for casting Dustin Nguyen in a mainstream role in a mainstream and incredibly popular police drama. I commend the producers for not making an attempt to whitewash Harry Ioki's role (looking at you, the people behind the American series Kung Fu, which should have featured Bruce Lee).

The first three seasons were solid, and there was a wonderful rapport amongst the unit, and they looked out for each other. Unfortunately the direction got a bit languid when Dustin Nguyen and Johnny Depp no longer featured. The chemistry was missing and something was lacking - the x factor I guess.

I was impressed with Richard Greico's appearance, and his spin-off series Booker was very underrated sadly.

It was a shame Officer Dean Garrett (David Barry Gray) and Officer Kati Rocky (Alexandra Powers) only appeared in a handful of episodes, as they had real potential.

21 jump street

[dazzler_1969 · 3/10 · 12 October 2006]

As a fan of the series back in the 80's I was so excited to find that it had come out on DVD. Much to my disappointment I realised very quickly they had changed the soundtrack and replaced it with some budget music which totally detracted me from the enjoyment of watching this show again. Obviously the music of the time helped make this show, and I find the release of the DVD has disappointed me in the fact that it does not have the original soundtrack....and I don't know why. Maybe the contract to allow the music from the old artists (like Steve Winwood), expired 15 years ago...still wrong though and I want my money back.

The Mod Squad of the 80's

[Sargebri · 14 April 2003]

This was definitely a quality show. This show was a far cry from what the Fox network eventually became. Many of the scripts dealt with what young people go through on a day to day basis and used a cop show to show it. Issues like date rape, drugs, teen suicide, school violence and incest were all covered in the first two years of this show. When Jump Street premiered, it was the shot heard round the world due to the fact that it was the very first show to air on the Fox network, which at the time was only being broadcast on Sunday nights and it ushered in a whole new era in television. Also, Johnny Depp wasn't the only good thing about this show. Peter DeLuise, Holly Robinson (Peete) and Dustin Nguyen all made this show one of the cult classics of the 1980's.

21 Jump Street

[JensOgVovhunden · 9/10 · 23 January 2020]

This is the best non-Danish television series I've seen (you know, most people prefer their native tongue ...), but I think "they" should have killed it when Hanson/Depp left.

In 1989, at the age of 11, I started learning English from watching The Simpsons, Married With Children and 21 Jump Street on Sky One. After all these years Homer Simpson, Al Bundy and of course Doug Penhall are still my favorite TV personalities :-)

Best TV Show I've Ever Seen!

[smiley5671girl · 9/10 · 3 August 2006]

I actually bought the first DVD season for a friend when I was thirteen, about three years ago, because I knew she was a big fan of Johnny Depp. However, I became so curious about it, that I ended up keeping it and watching it. I loved it! Even though it was about 20 years since the show aired, I still found it relevant to what teens go through today, but a lot more clever and witting than any show I've seen from today. And even though it is clearly aimed at a younger audience, it didn't sugarcoat the issues like teen shows do today. However, I really did not like Richard Greico's character, Booker. He just seemed to be trying to hard to be the bad boy teen heartthrob. That is the only reason I did not rate 21 Jump Street 10 out of 10. I also found that the show didn't decline after the first season, like a lot of shows do. I loved every season, and now three years after I bought the first season and 20 years after it first aired, I still love the show and have seen every episode from the first four seasons.

21 Jump Street is one of the best show that was ever made in television history.

[ivo-cobra8 · 10/10 · 2 May 2007]

21 jump street is the best TV series ever madeed.21 jump street tells the story of undercover cops who go inti high schools as students.This is one of the best series ever made.Best soundtrack and best actors.I really love this show and i still do.I follow this show when i was twelve years old and i steel best show.I know that was more cop series made from creator Stephen J. Cannell but this is the best cop show ever made.From the first 4 seasons were the best,except season 5 sucks,and ruined the show.Because Johnny Depp and Dustin Nguyen left the show and thats not all later in the show i founded that Peter Deluise left the show in less then 10 episodes.I can only say that the 4 season of 21 Jump Street are the best.From season 1 too season 4.My favorite episodes are: Season 1: The Pilot,America,What a Town,My future's so bright ,I gotta Wear Shades,The worst night of your life and gotta finish the riff is one of the best episodes in season 1 ,were gang of students take the high school and students as hostages is one of the best episodes ever made and is the first appearance from Steven Williams as Capt. Adam Fuller,Bad influence,Blindsided and 16 Blown to 35 this are the best and good episodes. Season 2: In The Coustody of a Clown,Besiged (1 & 2),Two for the Road,After School Special,Higher Education is one of the best episode were was Ioki accused of a pregnant teenage girl he didn't do,Hounor Bound,You ought to be in prison the return of waxer from the first episode,Christmas in Saigon were tels a life story of Ioki from were he come its all so the best episode Fear and Loathing with Russell Buckins,were Penhall and Hanson soupiest to go in to Academy back after Hanson scurried a Case. A big Disease with a little name,Chapel of love, I'm OK- You Need Work introducing Christina Applegate,Orpheus 3.3. were tels the story of Henson who can't not forget his girlfriend after she was shoot is one of best episode,Best years of your life tels the story of Penhall with a suicide problem and a student who did suicide and School's out. Season 3: Fun with animals,were Hanson get his new partner,Slippin'into darkness,The Currency we trade in,were Penhal made a mistake and try to fix his problem were he was not by the Jump Street anymore,Coach of the year,The Dragon and The Angel,Swallowed Alive,What About Love?,Woolly Bullies,The Dread Ruturn of Russell Buckins,Nemesis,Blinded By Thousand Points of Light,were the team go In the street's as homeless is one of the best episode in the third season and Loc'd Out (1 & 2).Were is Hanson accused of a murder of another Police Officer he did not do and Ioki is shoot. Season 4: Draw the Line,Say It Ain't so,Pete is on of the best episode in season 4 of story of a problem student with gamble problems,Eternal Flame,God is A Bullet,Old Haunts in A New Age,Out of Control,Stand By Your Man,Mike s P.O.W. is one of the best episode,Wheels and Deals(2) return of Booker,Thing We said Today is one of the best episode were Ioki has to face his past 3 years early were were some kid turn his parents to police and drop out of high school and run away and later hi face with Ioki ,i rely like this episode is one of the best episode,Research and Destroy,Back From the Future were the episode show what happened in last 3 years,2245 it's on good episode but i don't know for what it is this title,Awomp-Bomp-Aloobomb, Aloop Bamboom,La Bizca,How I Saved the Senator and Blackout.This are the best episode's of 21 Jump Street.When you don't liked this episodes than you are not really fan of 21 Jump Street.I'Got nothing too say about Season 5.Except that Season 5 ruined the show with out Johnny Depp,Dustin Nugyen,Peter Deluise,Sal Janco and Richard Grieco this show sucks because they were the stars of this show.Only Holly Robinson and Steven Williams are the only actors that they stay in the show.I just say one thing stay with the first 4 season's you liked.

Bring it Back "21 Jump Street "

[rp_watton · 10/10 · 25 October 2007]

There was a rumor a couple of years ago about a 21 Jump Street Movie,I think it was 2003, do we know what happened. Is this ever going to happen, I love the show, I have all 5 seasons on DVD, and hundreds of pieces of memorabilia, maybe Doug's nephew can work in Jump Street, and Doug can be the new Captain,it could be called 21 Jump Street The new Chapel, come on Fans, lets petition, get it back! Maybe if we all write to the shows creators. I know Johnny wouldn't be up for it, but the rest of the cast might, and a few new faces from today put in, to catch the generation today, I have shown teenage girls this old show and they love it, it's a lot better than the cop shows of today

Instantly forgettable were it not for Johnny Depp. (spoilers)

[vertigo_14 · 2/10 · 16 July 2006]

'21 Jumpstreet' only escaped being totally forgotten by television viewers because it's early star, Johnny Depp, would go on to gain such widespread cinematic notoriety. Otherwise, the exaggerated after-school-special styled cop drama would be completely dismissed as incredibly cheesy and ridiculous. Granted, the series, which follows the "Jump Street" program managed by one police captain and four baby-faced detectives who occasionally go undercover at high schools and such to investigate the latest of teenagers gone wild, did bring attention to pressing issues of drug use, teen pregnancy, school violence, racism and other topics that don't even get an ounce of attention in today's television programs geared toward young viewers.

But, it did so in such a way that almost mirrored late 1970s and early 1980s dramas like Class of 1984 which featured completely out-of-control urban teens raising hell much to the confusion and chagrin of various adult authority who just assume wipe them out completely in order to avoid wasting time trying to get them to stop their craziness. It is hard to watch Jumpstreet reruns and take much of any of it seriously. The dialog was bad enough, but the situations themselves are written with such absurdity. In the second season episode, "After School Special," a student shoots a teacher, and Hoffs and the police captain both go undercover to investigate gun dealers at school. We find out that pretty much every student is packing heat and lots of teachers are or soon intend to be as well. As if this weren't stupid enough, the gang seems to take measures lightly considering the amount of arms floating around on campus.

The series became as dated and cheesy as a lot of the other cautionary television shows similar to it (Highway to Heaven is one that comes to mind), and especially at the beginning of the second season. Unfortunately, it was hard to take seriously any of the youth-centered issues it had hoped to address, leaving it only valuable as a source of nostalgia (there were a lot of familiar faces in guest starring roles, and almost as many mullets).

reminder

[ktorno · 8 June 2002]

This television series held its own. I remember waiting patiently for the next episode to air when I was 13 and loving every second of it. Call it contrived and superficial, but I grew up with Judy Hoffs, Tom Hansen, Doug Penhall, Harry Ioki, Adam Fuller, and Dennis Booker....and I loved every second of it! Johnny Depp might renounce the fact that he was ever connected with this show, but it provided hours of entertainment for many individuals. For me, it is a reminder of a time in my youth where I was completely innocent.

timeless

[flo116 · 10/10 · 18 June 2006]

I really enjoy watching 21 Jump Street. I never saw it in the 80's never even heard of it. But since becoming a Johnny fan at a late age I was delighted that it was out on DVD. I have the first 4 seasons and really like all of them some are better than others. I didn't buy season 5 as I heard Johnny is only in one episode Blackout and even though I would like to see it I will not buy it because they took this particular episode out of season 4 and put it in season 5 to sell the last season and I think that is underhanded. It really is timeless my grandson enjoys watching some of the episodes with me. They are funny and interesting I would recommend them to anyone especially Johnny Depp fans.

21 jump i loved it

[Threedares1 · 10/10 · 30 April 2007]

i bought myself season 1,2,3 for Xmas last year and i have finally sat and watched some episode's and i can get enough of them i half way though season 2 and yeah i loving it i really don't know why they don't show repeats of this show. i think they should for-sure as kids would love it i watched it was i was a young teen myself and loved the show. there are no shows like that now for the kids the same age as i was when i watched this there is nothing. i think i was pretty lucky i had shows on i really liked, like beverly hill 90210 and different strokes the facts of life loved them all as i said nothing the same now how sad for them.

I Said Jump.... Down On Jump Street.

[blackarachnia2 · 10/10 · 28 October 2005]

My absolute favorite show on the Fox Network was 21 Jump Street. Oh whoa was Johnny Depp ever cute. I would sit around on Mondays waiting for it to come on and when it did come on I was just contented to watch it because of Johnny Depp. When it did come on I would be like: "okay it's on. Don't talk to me when it's on, don't talk to me when Johnny is talking. Speak only when the commercials are on because if I miss out on one thing Johnny says I will slug you." Believe me when I get a new TV and DVD player this is what I want to have in my DVD collection just so I can watch Johnny Depp. I was absolutely heartbroken when Johnny Depp left the show to pursue movie roles. Quite frankly I think he was better off staying on 21 Jump Street but when you have to move on then you have to move on.

We never thought of finding a place where we belong Don't have to stand alone we'll never let you fall Don't need permission to decide what you believe

Oooh I said jump down on Jump Street I said jump down on Jump Street

Your friends will be there when your back is to the wall and when you finally meet us cause there's no one left to call and if it's hopeless a decision's what you need

You gotta be ready to... Be ready to Jump

21 Jump Street.

One of the best cop shows of the 80's

[IDitto · 10/10 · 2 December 2006]

Up until the end of season 4 the show was brilliant!!! But after awhile everyone started leaving I mean thanks for going guys! the only people that managed to stay was either the most boring or the most new and boring. But apart from that the first four seasons where great, and many faces if you think about it.Unfourtunatly hardly anybody remembered the show but I still love it! I Gave it 8 out of 10 it would of had been a 10 but the last season what messed up so its going to be an eight! Other than that I thought that sometimes they dragged things on a little, But as soon as something was settled boom something Else started. If you are looking for a good 80's cop gang show then this is it.

cringe-inducing

[grnhair2001 · 3/10 · 9 August 2010]

I remember liking this okay on first run, sitting around with straight and gay friends who variously lusted after one young cop or the other. Watching the first season recently, I was rather horrified that I had ever liked it and am trying to convince myself I only liked the socialization of watching it. I'm sure some have nostalgic feelings for it, but really, it's a bad, bad cop show. These are not cops, the dialog is laughable, the actors have a hard time convincing me they thought it was any better than I think it is, and the hairstyles and clothes that must have looked hip back then look quite silly today (as most "hip" fashion does a generation later). Oh sure, young Johnny Depp is pretty in that androgynous way that teen girls find appealing, but mostly it's typical crappy TV fare.