At the beginning of his performing profession, Johnny Depp minimize his enamel in films like A Nightmare on Elm Avenue, Non-public Resort, and the Vietnam Conflict epic, Platoon. Whereas producers took discover of the rising younger star, it wasn’t till his position within the iconic 1987 crime sequence 21 Bounce Avenue that followers hopped aboard the celebrity practice, and propelled him to teen idol standing. Nonetheless, whereas the present is most remembered for the looks of Depp, it should not be ignored that on the time it was a groundbreaking expertise that helped outline a era.
Starring Depp as Tom Hanson Jr., 21 Bounce Avenue focuses on a squad of youthful-looking undercover cops investigating crimes in faculties, gangs, and different teenage venues. The title is taken from the deal with of an outdated decommissioned church the unit bases their operations out of, which solely provides to the individuality of the sequence, as most cop exhibits on the time featured a dingy police station as the primary setting, or a beautiful locale that appeared too unique even for the 80s.
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Premiering on Fox on April 12, 1987, 21 Bounce Avenue was one of many first scripted drama sequence to seem on the newly minted community, which helped it achieve nationwide recognition and be positioned in the identical dialog as the large three: ABC, CBS, and NBC. Lasting for 5 seasons, Depp left the sequence after Season 4 as a result of he felt creatively stifled, and needed the chance to pursue a movie profession. It was clearly a transfer that labored out properly for him, as after his exit he would go on to seem shortly thereafter in such classics as What’s Consuming Gilbert Grape, Benny and Joon, and Edward Scissorhands.
What Made ’21 Bounce Avenue’ So Groundbreaking?
Whereas police procedurals akin to Hill Avenue Blues, Miami Vice, and Cagney & Lacey helped usher in a brand new wave of cop exhibits, 21 Bounce Avenue was actually the primary to look at in-depth points that affected teenagers. It was a sequence younger folks may relate to, not solely due to its youthful and various solid members, however as a result of it handled issues that they skilled of their on a regular basis lives.
Tackling topics akin to prostitution, AIDS, racism, suicide, and sexual assault, 21 Bounce Avenue wasn’t afraid to deliver these items entrance and heart when most different exhibits shied away from taboo matters. It was a components that labored, and oftentimes the circumstances Depp and firm handled did not have a cheerful ending, however moderately a decision that mirrored actual life, the place justice is not at all times served and persons are left traumatized by the horrors they endure. It helped separate the sequence from the remainder of the pact, and though critics weren’t at all times sort to it, viewers on the time cherished it for its gritty realism.
Today, 21 Bounce Avenue typically will get ignored for being nothing greater than a corny cop present with tacky dialogue that featured a number of fairly folks, however upon nearer examination, of us will understand that it was a lot greater than that. It was groundbreaking for the time, and helped encourage future hits akin to Veronica Mars. It is positively value a reexamination, and if you wish to be one of many ones to observe it once more, or maybe for the primary time, all 5 seasons are streaming now on Peacock.
21 Bounce Avenue
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Dustin Nguyen
Officer Harry Trumon Ioki
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Peter DeLuise
Officer Doug Penhall
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Holly Robinson Peete
Officer Judy Hoffs
Supply: Peacock