| 413 Hope St. | |
|---|---|
| Created by | |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 mins. |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | Fox |
| Release | September 11, 1997 (1997-09-11) – January 1, 1998 (1998-01-01) |
413 Hope St. is an American drama television series which aired on the Fox network from September 11, 1997 to January 1, 1998. The series was co-created by actor/comedian Damon Wayans, who made a stark departure from his usual comedic work.
The ensemble cast—headed by Richard Roundtree—included Jesse L. Martin, Shari Headley, and Kelly Coffield.
Premise
413 Hope St. was named for the address of a New York City crisis center. Its founder, a successful corporate executive named Phil Thomas (Roundtree), started the center in the building at the site where his teenage son was gunned down after refusing to relinquish his sneakers to a street thug.1
The topics addressed by the series included drug addiction and recovery, HIV and AIDS, foster care, re-integration into society after incarceration, and homelessness.2
Cast
- Shari Headley as Juanita Harris
- Jesse L. Martin as Antonio Collins
- Kelly Coffield as Sylvia Jennings
- Michael Easton as Nick Carrington
- Stephen Berra as Quentin Jefferson
- Dawn Stern as Angelica Collins
- Vincent Laresca as Carlos Martinez
- Karim Prince as Melvin Todd
- Richard Roundtree as Phil Thomas
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | Eric Laneuville | Damon Wayans & Dean Lorey & Janine Sherman | September 11, 1997 (1997-09-11) | 5W79 |
| 2 | "Fatherhood" | Eric Laneuville | Dean Lorey | September 18, 1997 (1997-09-18) | 5W01 |
| 3 | "A Better Place" | Tucker Gates | Takashi Bufford | September 25, 1997 (1997-09-25) | 5W02 |
| 4 | "Redemption" | Oscar L. Costo | Trish Soodik & Remi Aubuchon & Takashi Bufford | October 16, 1997 (1997-10-16) | 5W04 |
| 5 | "Heartbeat" | Arvin Brown | Kathleen McGhee-Anderson | October 23, 1997 (1997-10-23) | 5W03 |
| 6 | "Hate Crimes" | Helaine Head | Remi Aubuchon | December 4, 1997 (1997-12-04) | 5W05 |
| 7 | "Quentin Goes Home" | Eric Laneuville | Dean Lorey | December 11, 1997 (1997-12-11) | 5W06 |
| 8 | "Lost Boys and Gothic Girls" | Ellen S. Pressman | Kathleen McGhee-Anderson & Takashi Bufford | December 18, 1997 (1997-12-18) | 5W07 |
| 9 | "Thanksgiving" | Steven Shaw | Judy McCreary | December 25, 1997 (1997-12-25) | 5W08 |
| 10 | "Falling" | Helaine Head | Trish Soodik & Remi Aubuchon | January 1, 1998 (1998-01-01) | 5W09 |
Production
Development
Wayans first wrote a draft for the show three years prior to its release, but was unsatisfied with the result, describing the draft as "too melodramatic".3 After fleshing out the concept to include more comedic elements and complex characters, he pitched the drama to Fox alongside a half-hour sitcom,3 which later became the show Damon.4 413 Hope St. was officially announced as part of Fox’s fall schedule in May 1997.5
Cancellation
The series was cancelled due to low ratings after 10 episodes, with its final broadcast airing on New Year's Day 1998.6 Its time slot was credited as a contributing factor to the show's low ratings, airing at the same time as Seinfeld on NBC.47 Following the cancellation, Wayans expressed frustration with Fox's lack of support and limited marketing for the show.4
Broadcast
413 Hope St. premiered on Thursdays on Fox, starting on September 11, 1997.2 The series was temporarily taken off the schedule from October 30 through November 7.89
Reception
The show was recognized for its diversity, including its primarily African-American cast10 as well as its gay characters.11 According to an annual survey conducted by the New York advertising agency BBDO, 413 Hope St. was the top-rated drama in African-American households.10
Critical response
Julio Martinez of Variety described the show as "gritty but formulaic", and suggested that future episodes be "less predictable and a lot more character-driven".12 For The New York Times, John Martin wrote that the show "sports a likable cast but could use a more imaginative script".13 Frazier Moore of Associated Press described the show more negatively, calling it "hopelessly predictable and contrived".14
References
References
- "Wayans has high 'Hope' for '413': his New York upbringing plays role in new FOX series". New York Daily News. July 28, 1997. Archived from the original on March 9, 2026. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
- Braxton, Greg (September 10, 1997). "Wayans Takes a Detour to the Gritty Side With '413 Hope St.'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 24, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
- "Wayans' World". New York Daily News. October 5, 1997. Archived from the original on December 7, 2025. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
- "'DAMON' IS DEVILISHLY IRREVERENT". Sun Sentinel. March 21, 1998. Archived from the original on March 19, 2026. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- Bark, Ed (May 22, 1997). "Fox Announces Fall Lineup Nine Returning Series Schedules Won't Change". The Spokesman-Review. The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
- Pierce, Scott (December 17, 1997). "Fox pulls plug on `413 Hope St.'". Deseret News. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
- Martin, John (December 4, 1997). "Abc Looks At New Allegations About Jfk". The Spokesman-Review. New York Times Syndicate. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
- Bark, Ed (October 24, 1997). "Networks Prepare For Sweeps". The Spokesman Review. The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on March 9, 2026. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
- "`413 HOPE ST.' MAY BE BACK ON FOX IN DEC". Daily Press. November 25, 1997. Archived from the original on April 5, 2026. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
- "Reversed Integration?". Chicago Tribune. September 30, 1998. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
- "Gay Characters On TV Increase". The Spokesman-Review. New York Daily News. August 18, 1997. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
- Martinez, Julio (September 15, 1997). "413 Hope Street". Variety. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
- Martin, John (September 11, 1997). "'Mike Wallace' Recalls On-The-Air Career". The Spokesman-Review. New York Times Syndicate. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
- Moore, Frazier (September 14, 1997). "Who's On For Fall? Lineup Of New Shows For Prime Time Has Some Don't-Miss Hits, Some Don't-Bother Misses". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. Retrieved April 5, 2026.