Depp starred in a lead role on the Fox television series, 21 Jump Street, which premiered in 1987.[14] He accepted this role to work with actor Frederic Forrest, who inspired him. Depp's long-time friend Sal Jenco joined the cast as a semi-co-star as the janitor named Blowfish. The series' success turned Depp into a popular teen idol during the late 1980s.[14] Despite this success, Depp felt "forced into the role of product."[21] He subsequently decided to appear only in films that he felt were right for him.[21] Depp and his co-stars, Peter DeLuise and Holly Robinson, briefly reprised their roles in cameo appearances in the series' 2012 feature film adaptation, which featured a much more comedic tone than the series.[22]