For many, 21 Jump Street wasn’t just another TV series; it was a cultural touchstone. Growing up with this show, it was my gateway to a world of incredible music. I vividly remember first hearing The Rolling Stones’ “Monkey Man” thanks to this series. So, imagine my disappointment when I excitedly purchased the DVD series years later, only to find the soundtrack completely altered. The heart of the show, for me and many others, was missing. I was so taken aback that I ejected the disc in disgust.
Years later, I stumbled upon a revelation: a German DVD release of 21 Jump Street reportedly featured the original music. Hopeful, I didn’t hesitate to acquire the German import, and simultaneously ordered a region-free DVD player to ensure compatibility. My quest didn’t stop there. Knowing that the spin-off series Booker also suffered from soundtrack replacements, and with storylines intertwined with 21 Jump Street, I also invested in an Australian Region 4 DVD set of Booker. Adding to my collection, the US complete series of 21 Jump Street was also ordered, creating a comparative library to dissect.
Upon receiving the German imports, the rumors were confirmed. The German audio tracks indeed preserved the original music for the first four seasons. However, a frustrating caveat emerged: even on the English audio tracks of these German DVDs, some episodes from the first four seasons were missing the authentic soundtrack, and Season 5 was entirely devoid of it on the English track. Furthermore, I discovered that some scenes were cut in the German releases, presumably for violence. This realization solidified the necessity of the US versions for a complete, uncut viewing experience. My intention is also to archive any commentary tracks present on these various releases, adding another layer to this preservation project.
Booker, the spin-off starring Richard Grieco, is integral to the 21 Jump Street narrative universe. Despite its single-season run, Booker provides crucial conclusions to storylines and features character crossovers that enrich the 21 Jump Street saga. Sadly, Booker also fell victim to the widespread issue of substituted music on DVD releases, replacing original tracks with generic, uninspired filler. As part of this project, I plan to present Booker Season 1 Episode 8, “Wheels and Deals Part 1,” with its original opening credits. This is particularly significant as it was released on DVD as a 21 Jump Street episode with Jump Street opening credits, despite being the first part of a two-part story concluding in 21 Jump Street Season 4 Episode 10, “Wheels and Deals Part 2.”
Visually, the German imports of the first four seasons hold up surprisingly well, especially considering their age. However, Season 5 unfortunately exhibits a noticeable drop in quality, appearing closer to VHS resolution. A side-by-side comparison between the German and US DVDs is on the agenda to determine which offers superior picture quality. An interesting, albeit arguably negative, quirk of the German releases is the removal of the fade-to-black and fade-in transitions that originally denoted commercial breaks. Personally, I feel these brief pauses are part of the authentic viewing experience and their absence is somewhat jarring.
The most significant challenge ahead lies in the audio restoration. My goal is to seamlessly integrate the original music from the German audio tracks back into the English audio tracks, effectively creating the definitive 21 Jump Street DVD experience. To tackle this ambitious project, which may also involve video upscaling, a hardware upgrade might be necessary. My current ten-year-old iMac, while still capable, struggles with intensive tasks like video editing in Final Cut Pro and is certainly not equipped for upscaling endeavors.
This project is still in its initial phase, and any assistance or guidance from the community would be invaluable. Preserving the original 21 Jump Street as it was intended, music and all, is a passion project, and I’m eager to see it through.
