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“21 Jump Street” was the first program to air on the brand new Fox Network in 1987. It would be a full six years until “The X-Files” premiered and over 15 years until Fox Network was able to snag the top berth from NBC. “21 Jump Street” isn’t forgotten; it’s just that most of the cast has gone on to bigger and better things. Johnny Depp became a movie star, Peter DeLuise turned to directing, Ferderic Forrest has largely disappeared from acting and Steven Williams became a semi-regular on “The X-Files” and other TV programs. Co-creator Stephen J. Cannell cannily mixed high school and police drama in this interesting series. With writing vets like Cannell and newcomers like Glen Morgan (who went on to write and co-produce “The X-Files”, “Millennium” and co-create/write/producer “Space: Above & Beyond”), “21 Jump Street” frequently transcended the limitations of the “teen” series. ***

Depp played Officer Tom Hanson who is recruited for a special unit designed to youth crime. The young age of the officers along with their unusually young looks made it possible for them to pass as both high school and college age students battling crime undercover at these institutions. Depp stayed with the show for three years before departing and the series briefly became a revolving door for most of the stars. ---

Although it’s missing the extras I’ve come to expect from Anchor Bay’s excellent “Hercules” and “Xena” series of DVDs, “21 Jump Street” doesn’t completely disappoint. We get new interviews with a large part of the cast (Depp is missing naturally) as is Frederic Forrest who only survived part of the season before Steven Williams brought his authoritative manner to the show.