21 Jump Street

It is hard to believe that this show debuted on the FOX network.

Once upon a time the idea of a forth network was laughable mostly by the executives of ABC, NBC, and CBS, and did not thought FOX would make it.

This was a time when other ventures seeking more alternatives failed like the USFL, so FOX’s chances were slim.

Cable TV was now a staple in every household, as deregulation of television and radio were beginning to impact media outlets evolving into today’s fragmented demographics.

However, FOX pitch was simple and very effective aimed to the younger generation of the time by developing “edgy” content (still do) that pushed the line of what was “acceptable” or “decent” for network television.

FOX continued to struggle until their biggest gamble paid off, for they outbid and outspent CBS to get NFL football and a few years later did the same to get MLB baseball.

The gamble changed their fortunes as they became one of the premier networks in the US, and no longer the renegade 4^th network.

The sweet irony is that the same renegade network that brought us “The Simpsons” (1989- ), “Married with Children” (1987-1997), and “In Living Color” (1990-1994) are the same folks that brought us FOX News in another gamble that gave a voice and a home to conservative pundits that changed the format of cable and news forever for good or bad—time will tell as the others had followed their format to appeal to the fragmented tribal demographics of today.

21 Jump Street (1987-1991) was one of many shows produced in Vancouver and British Columbia, Canada.

Many shows produced there became very popular and some became iconic like one about some files that seems to be still looking for the “truth that is out there”(hint is you must). This show also was filmed in British Columbia before moving to Los Angeles to appease one of the stars’ threats to leave the show.

The show inspired a short-lived spinoff called “Booker” (1989-1990), named after a popular character in the show’s 2nd and 3rd seasons, and staring Richard Greco.

Unfortunately the show also was remade recently in not one, but two horrendous movies that completely changed the theme of the show for the sake of a few (more like yawns!) laughs. (I refused to add links to these celuloid waste).

The show’s cast was young and unknown at the time, and included Johnny Deep, Steven Williams (The Leftovers, 2014-2017; Stargate SG-1, 1997-2007; The X-Files, 1993-2018) , Holly Robinson-Peete (wife of former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete) (Howard the Duck, 1986) and the only cast member to appear in the entire show.

Rounding up the cast were Peter (Stargate Universe, 2009-2011; Stargate SG-1, 1997-2007; Solarbabies, 1986 ) and Michael DeLuise (Stargate SG-1, 1997-2007; NYPD Blue, 1993-2005) and sons of comedy legends Dom DeLuise and Carol Arthur. Peter later became a television director for other shows like Stargate Universe (7 episodes), Stargate: Atlantis (6 episodes), Stargate: SG-1 (56 episodes), and Silk Stalkings (2 episodes)

The show was about a special unit of the metropolitan police (Canada) who recruits young-looking police officers to work undercover in high schools.

It was the 80’s, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the death of Communism (sort of) and the birth of Perestroika, Cable TV’s ascendance as the dominant media platform, as MTV, CNN, and ESPN (to mention a few) became iconic brands and the standards of broadcasting. MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) and other interests groups against drugs, or teen smoking, or teen pregnancy were becoming political players by campaigning on media and influencing policy in Washington.

Suburbia was becoming influential in politics because they had wealth and numbers to influence politicians. They wanted results fast, and in some cases creative and extreme policies were approved with mixed results. Although these are still existing issues in the school system, positions had evolved and policies had shifted towards decriminalizing drug use. However the show takes place during the middle years of “The War on Drugs”, so every government resource was available to rid society of the “evils” drugs and alcohol addiction among teens. Law enforcement mandate was to investigate, prosecute and incarcerate youths and adults alike to curtail the social epidemic that was “destroying” America.

The show lasted 5 seasons, and the departure of Deep and most of the original cast probably contributed to the end of the show, a trend that affects other good shows when they outlive their relevance and popularity.

Still, watching the show after so many years (about 30 years) brought some memories of a place and a time long gone with usual good memories and bad memories but that is life…

Next: It was Time for a Big Decision.

Aquarius; and is there is something between Charles Mason and Richard Spencer?

In the 24-hour (or is it milliseconds) news cycle, Hurricane Irma was an afterthought, and Hurricane Maria who practically destroyed the territories of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands was not so important anymore.

No, the new “thing” was the scheduled visit of Richard Spencer, a.k.a, The Antichrist.

This provocateur (that is all he and his band of merry people are in my humble opinion) was scheduled to talk at the University of Florida on October 19. His rise to fame or his 5 miliseconds of attention came as he was also scheduled to appear in a “Unite the Right” rally in Clarksville, Virginia when the confrontations between sides turned tragic as one member of his band of merry people mowed down a crowd of merry people from the other side killing a young woman.

Yes, a similar statement got president Don Secundo in hot water, but to be clear (he missed that part on his utterance) there were two sides despite who was good or bad, or who was right or who was wrong. He failed to draw this conclusion by simplistically blaming both sides equally for the incident, and could had said that no matter which side, taking such a radical action is wrong and unacceptable in a free country.

It is no coincidence that Richard Spencer was headed to our city since Doña C won the city of Clarksville in 2016 despite losing the state to Don Secundo.

So, the circus arrived in town; from protesters, agitators, pretenders, and attention seekers to the cost of an additional $500,000 for the extra security, his appearance was cut short by the heckling from the opposing band of merry people. The local paper sided the hecklers as the “good” people even when some of them beat a single skinhead while the others cheered. With headlines like “UF crowd shouts down white nationalist speaker” they closed the chapter and everybody went home happy.

For us, in the school system, the day began with announcements by the school board administration cautioning of the dangers Mr. Spencer and his band of merry people represented, and announcing of extra safety measures put in place for the day.

It took me 20 minutes extra to get home, as there were some closed streets and it was better to stay away from the crowds as much as posible, as the insane circus took over the sanity and sense of people for an afternoon.

My theory is that when people wants attention, the best medicine is not giving them any.

I am not defending or support Richard Spencer and his band of merry people, but even when they are not in the same sentence (to be compared) it is sort of hypocritical and a double standard when Rutgers University was OK with having President Obama speak at their commencement in 2015, but seem to have issues (that prompted her withdrawal from it) with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2013. It is hypocritical, to claim we are for freedoms and then we turn into the gestapo and resort to mob behavior when the people speaking are from opposing political or moral views.

It is bullshit because we cannot have it both ways.

For me, I followed my conscience and ignored Richard Spencer and I ignored the people who were defending us (minorities), got home, and stayed there away from everything. Away from agitators, protesters (profesional or otherwise), pretenders (there were some), and overall seekers of attention (a lot of those).

It would had been a quiet day in town if more people would had done the same, and Richard Spencer and his band of merry people (the 100 or so) would had got a better message and probably would had crawled back to the internet and dwindled out of attention quietly.

I don’t know, it may had worked….

Although very different in intentions and results there were some similarities (mostly attention seeking) between Richard Spencer and the infamous character in the next show on my list. Charles Manson was a swindler and a mediocre wannabe artist with great manipulation skills (as many sociopaths have) that managed to create a flock of mostly confused people. He would have fade into oblivion like many other pretenders throughout our history, but he became infamous (never famous) for one of the most heinous crimes during the peace and love generation.

The show Aquarius takes place during the 60’s era of turmoil around the nation (similar to today) in Los Angeles, CA. A crusty, street-smart, and stereotypical detective, Sam Hodiak (David Duchovny), begins looking for the daughter of some friends (with benefits) who had disappeared and later found that she had joined Manson’s flock.

The show also highlights the racial tensions of the time (seems like nothing has changed much) as he crosses path with Black Panthers and other organizations of the time.

The show had a second season, but at the time of this post it was not easily available, but the first season was entertaining, different, and surprising that NBC even brought the show back for a second season since they do not have the patience with shows like they used too.

Although two different people and different agendas, their influence only shows how lonely and in need of belonging people are that defying logic and expectations become believers and do horrendous and tragic things in a misguided attempt of advancing a cause. However, human history is filled with many of such people that had defined humanity’s evolution to a mere survival of the fittest mentality where only extreme views are valid and believe trumps (pardon the pun) reason. I don’t think the world is awesome, and history seem to humble us since the images of Jonesville, Sarajevo, Iraq, Africa (several places in the unfriendly tourist guide), and others still showcase humanity’s best behaviors.

Richard Spencer just like Charles Manson are mere reflections of our society and despite all the denials, we are human and there cannot be good without bad.

Just as there cannot be a benevolent god without the wickedness of his counterpart–the devil.

Paraphrasing a quote from a famous Centauri “we kill some of them, they kill some of us, and in the end there we are– victims of mathematics”.

Next: The National Day of Gluttony, and some classic movies of my youth.