This article is about the situation comedy. For the board bet on, see Go to the Head of the Class
Head of the Class is an american situation comedy television receiver serial that ran from 1986 to 1991 on the ABC television net. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] The serial follows a group of talented students in the personalize Honors Program ( IHP ) at the fictional Millard Fillmore High School in Manhattan, and their history teacher Charlie Moore ( Howard Hesseman ). The platform was apparently a fomite for Hesseman, best known for his role as radio receiver DJ Dr. Johnny Fever on the situation comedy WKRP in Cincinnati ( 1978–1982 ). Hesseman left Head of the Class in 1990 and was replaced by scots comedian Billy Connolly ( in his first major american english production ) as teacher Billy MacGregor for the final season. After the serial ended, Connolly appeared in a ephemeral by-product titled Billy.
Reading: Head of the Class – Wikipedia
The series was created and executive produced by Richard Eustis and Michael Elias. Elias had previously worked as a substitute teacher in New York City while hoping to become an actor. A revival of the series was ordered and was co-produced by Bill Lawrence ‘s Doozer and Warner Horizon Scripted Television, was released on HBO Max .
outline [edit ]
Head of the Class is chiefly set in the classroom of academically gifted high school students, all in the individualize Honors Program at Millard Fillmore High School in New York City. The IHP students comprised a divers stove of personalities, ethnicities, and academic specialties. For the first three years of the show, the IHP class had ten students. Arvid Engen ( Dan Frischman ) was a scraggy, bespectacled swot, mathematics expert, and budding scientist. Arvid ‘s best friend was the corpulence, wisecracking cynic Dennis Blunden ( Dan Schneider ), a calculator whizz whose fields were chemistry and physics and who had a bent for getting the socially inept Arvid involved in versatile schemes. Both of them wanted to go to M.I.T. Alan Pinkard ( Tony O’Dell ) was an ultra- conservative preppy and egotist ; his area of expertness was political science and he was a dear fan of Ronald Reagan. Alan competed for the highest grades in the class with Darlene Merriman ( Robin Givens ), a corrupt rich girl who was credibly evening more egoistic than Alan and whose specialties were actor’s line and debate. Both Alan and Darlene held the ambition of being named class valedictorian. Sarah Nevins ( Kimberly Russell ) did not have any one detail area of expertness ; she was the most down-to-earth of the IHP class and was once cited as having the lowest G.P.A. Maria Borges ( Leslie Bega ) was very passionate about getting A ‘s ( going deoxyadenosine monophosphate far as grounding herself in the original episode for getting a ‘B ‘ ), and Jawaharlal Choudhury ( Jory Husain aka Joher Coleman ) was an exchange scholar from India whose expertness was natural skill. Eleven-year-old Janice Lazarotto ( Tannis Vallely ), despite her new senesce, was in gamey school and the IHP class because of her boost intellectual. Arts scholar Simone Foster ( Khrystyne Haje ) was a lull, sensible redheaded woodpecker with a particular affectionateness for poetry. A celebrated development in the show was the relationship between Simone and Eric Mardian ( Brian Robbins ), an draw a bead on writer and, outwardly, the most unlikely member of the IHP – Eric wore black leather, drove a motorbike who is a greaser, acted ruffianly, and apparently disliked anything academician ( to Dr. Samuels ‘s enchant, he was the alone one in the class not on the academic team, although he would never leave the IHP ). Eric constantly hit on Simone ( on whom he had a crushed leather ) and the two finally had an on-again-off-again woo. There was some upset in the vomit in seasons four and five. Janice left for Harvard, Maria went to Performing Arts High School, and Jawaharlal moved to California with his family. New students included Aristotle McKenzie ( De’voreaux White ), described by Dennis as “ this refuse from Do the Right Thing “ for his dreadlocks, Vicky Amory ( Lara Piper ), a new-ager interest in quantum physics and skin-revealing dress, and Alex Torres ( Michael DeLorenzo ), who had transferred from parochial educate. T.J. Jones ( Rain Pryor ), who had first appeared as a potential IHP member in season three, was finally added to the platform and the casting. Jasper Kwong ( Jonathan Ke Quan ) was introduced as a new transfer student former in season four. Appearing as regulars throughout all five seasons were school administrators Dr. Harold Samuels ( William G. Schilling ) the principal of Filmore High and Bernadette Meara ( Jeannetta Arnette ). Dr. Samuels was the blustering, fleshy principal of the school. His attitude towards the IHP students was one of ambivalence : on the one hand, Dr. Samuels distrusted the kids ( and had a peculiarly antagonistic relationship with Dennis, and tried to avoid Eric ), but at the same clock time he was proud of their achievements and valued the prestige they brought to the school. He besides distrusted the teaching methods of the class ‘s teacher, Charlie Moore ( Howard Hesseman ), concerned that Charlie ‘s methods – which frequently involved helping the IHP students branch out of their comfort zones and help them deal with the typical problems of kids their long time, a well as using unorthodox methods of teaching the classify subject at hand – might distract them besides a lot from their studies. Ms. Meara was the healthy adjunct principal. There was some romantic latent hostility between her and Charlie, although this ultimately came to nothing, and she late had a romantic friendship with Billy. In season 5, Mr Moore got his adult open frame in Broadway and decided to quit. Billy Mcgregor, from Scotland, replaced Mr Moore. Unlike in the previous seasons, the students are allowed to call their new teacher Billy. Miss Meara has a beat on him in the final season. The students get to prepare for senior year and the close of Filmore High School. In the series, the students frequently faced off against the rival Bronx High School of Science. besides, in every season, the IHP students produced the school musical. Musicals staged by the students included Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, and Hair. A count of someday-famous actors made appearances on the testify, including Brad Pitt. [ 3 ]
Show open [edit ]
The opening of the express features respective New York landmark a well as Charlie Moore ‘s travel to work every day. Charlie lives in a construction in Hell ‘s Kitchen occupied by a implant allocator on the first floor, who gives him a ride to the underpass at 50th Street on the back of the hand truck before he makes his first manner of speaking of the sidereal day. After Charlie grabs a hot frank for breakfast, he begins running into fuss as the metro place is on fire and he can not hail any cab to take him to the school. Forced to walk out of frustration, Charlie arrives belated to class to the humiliate of Dr. Samuels but once he enters the classroom, his expression immediately brightens as he sees the students. It would n’t be until season two that the credits include adding the names of the characters portrayed by their respective actors/actresses. After three seasons with the like orifice, it was changed to a group photograph of the class for temper four. After Hesseman left the read, it was changed to notebook graphics for its concluding temper .
Characters [edit ]
main [edit ]
Recurring [edit ]
- Lori Applebaum – Marcia Christie; a pretty, bubbly student not in the IHP whom Arvid has a massive crush on … and everyone, including Lori, knows it. Seen in seasons 1 and 2, then reappears in the finale.
- Mr. Dorfman – Peter Vogt; another Fillmore High teacher, who is somewhat self-centered and not especially respected. Seen occasionally in seasons 1-3, and reappears in the finale.
Most of the students ‘ parents were seen over the run of the series, but normally in entirely one episode each. Parents who appeared more than once included :
- Maureen Foster (Simone’s mother) – Enid Kent (three episodes)
- Mr. Foster (Simone’s father) – J. Patrick McNamara (two episodes)
- Dr. Enric Engen (Arvid’s father) – Bruce Gray (two episodes)
Season synopses [edit ]
Season 1 ( 1986–1987 ) [edit ]
Out-of-work actor Charlie Moore began the first season as a substitute teacher, but warmed to the IHP class immediately, making it his mission to get them to think preferably than merely to know. Although they are gifted academically, the IHP students had batch of problems in their personal lives, and Mr. Moore not alone is there to listen, he shows an steadfast ability to get the students to solve their own problems while making it seem like they came up with the answers on their own. By Episode 6 ( “ Teacher ‘s Teacher ” ), the class ‘s original teacher Mr. Thomas ( Roscoe Lee Browne ) had returned to Fillmore High, apparently cook to return to the IHP class once Mr. Moore ‘s tenure ended. After observing Mr. Moore ‘s irregular teach methods for most of the episode ( a lot to Charlie ‘s humiliate, as it besides made apparent how a lot he would miss the IHP students ), Mr. Thomas ultimately reveals he had no intention to return but came to observe Mr. Moore after hearing concerns about him from Dr. Samuels. Seeing Mr. Moore in action, Mr. Thomas gives him his blessing, leaving Mr. Moore to become their full-time teacher, knowing the IHP will be in full hands. Throughout the first season, Mr. Moore attempted to get the class involved in more than just their studies, encouraging them to play volleyball and make a music video for the school ‘s time capsule ( this marks the first foray into the affection of Head of the Class for musical output numbers ). At the same time, the classify brought Mr. Moore into the present, acclimating him to the importance of personal computers. Near the end of the season, the IHP faces their russian counterparts in an academician tournament, foreshadowing their celebrated trip to Moscow in temper three .
Season 2 ( 1987–1988 ) [edit ]
Season 2 began involving the IHP in the school as a whole, with Mr. Moore involving the class in the school literary journal and encouraging a parody of the school newspaper. Mr. Moore besides decides to put on a school production of the melodious Grease, and encourages the IHP ( who are initially loath ) to participate, alongside other Fillmore students. While first gear temper had some episodes that showed Charlie ‘s personal animation outside school, these become increasingly rare as the series continues. In temper 2 ( and thereafter ), episodes systematically focus on the lives of the IHP students, with only a very few focusing specifically on Charlie ; this is the stopping point season in which we see Charlie ‘s apartment .
Season 3 ( 1988–1989 ) [edit ]
“ mission to Moscow ” [edit ]
In 1988, Head of the Class broke new ground as it became the foremost american situation comedy to be filmed in the Soviet Union with an episode filmed entirely in Moscow. [ 1 ] The IHP is invited to come to the country for a replay of the academic meet that happened in season one, which ended in a tie. The class has a bunch of experiences while in Moscow : Dennis and Arvid take an interest in two beautiful women, until they realize they might be KGB spies ; Eric meets up with his relatives in what is a very positive experience for him ; capitalistic Alan has an controversy with a die-hard socialist in a store ( who is besides on the opposing russian academician team ) ; Sarah and Darlene decide to record the sights and sounds of Moscow ; Simone goes to put flowers on a poet ‘s grave and meets up with a charming russian musician ; Dr. Samuels believes that his hotel room is bugged, but ends up making a horse around of himself ; and Charlie has a brief romance with a schoolteacher. The IHP finally wins the meet and the respect of the Russian team. The episode concludes with both teams attending a concert in Gorky Park swaying to the song “ Far Away Lands ” ( written and performed by American David Pomeranz and Russian rock asterisk Sasha Malinin ) .
Season 4 ( 1989–1990 ) [edit ]
The fourth temper saw some significant changes to the cast of characters – Maria, Jawaharlal and Janice left ( Maria went to a acting arts school, Jawaharlal moved to California, and Janice went to Harvard as a sophomore ). several new characters took their home : Alex Torres ( Michael DeLorenzo ) was a hispanic athletics scholar, slightly stereotypically portrayed as having an eye for the ladies. Although Alex seemed attracted to Darlene particularly, both he and Eric competed for the affections of another raw IHP student, the blond hippie Viki Amory ( Lara Piper ). Another new character was aspiring film maker Aristotle McKenzie ( De’voreaux White ). T.J. Jones ( Rain Pryor ), a recurring character since the third base season, joined the IHP in the fourthly temper ( a remedial scholar with a streetwise attitude, T.J. was found to be smart adequate to join the IHP ). besides, the quality of Jasper Kwong ( Jonathan Ke Quan ) was added to the IHP class former in the season. The season besides showed them movie a bipartite episode at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The students ‘ concluding year of high school was split over seasons four and five. Howard Hesseman left the testify after the fourth season. As Hesseman noted in a 1989 interview, “ We ‘re not doing the prove that I was led to believe I ‘d do, and it ‘s difficult for me to get off that. ” [ 4 ]
Season 5 ( 1990–1991 ) [edit ]
In the first sequence of season 5, Scottish teacher Billy MacGregor ( Billy Connolly ) arrived to replace the deviate Charlie Moore ( in the first episode of the season, it is explained to the dismay IHP students that Mr. Moore ‘s acting career last took off ). Despite initial uncertainty and some aggression from the students, Billy proved to be a successful replacement for Charlie. He normally comes into the classify bringing his bicycle. He insisted that the students refer to him by his first name, and although he was more awaken and less laid-back than his predecessor, he proved to be equitable as wise and wish ( Billy besides had a habit of rollickingly greeting his classify every dawn with the phrase, “ good morning, geniuses ”, and facetiously barking to his students to, “ get out of here ”, when the bell surround at the end of the class. He besides taught his class in a manner more akin to a stand-up comedian than a teacher ). many episodes from this season focused on Billy having to adapt to living in America, and his attempts to romance Ms. Meara. early aspects of Billy were his disfavor of an outdated french casebook, which actually prompted one scholar to take a spur-of-the-moment excursion to Paris, and his encouragement to the male students that the best way to get girls was to be themselves. The season ( and the program itself ) concluded with the IHP students graduating from high school. Janice Lazarotto ( from seasons one–three ) returned for a guest appearance in the finale, in which T.J. is named class valedictorian and the school is closed polish and demolished.
Episodes [edit ]
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | Rank | Rating | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | ||||||
| 1 | 22 | September 17, 1986 ( ) | May 6, 1987 (
1987-05-06 ) |
30 | 16.4 | ||
| 2 | 22 | September 23, 1987 ( ) | May 11, 1988 (
1988-05-11 ) |
23 | 16.7 (Tied with The NBC Sunday Night Movie) |
||
| 3 | 22 | October 19, 1988 ( ) | May 10, 1989 (
1989-05-10 ) |
20 | 17.1 | ||
| 4 | 26 | September 27, 1989 ( ) | May 2, 1990 (
1990-05-02 ) |
26 | 14.8 | ||
| 5 | 22 | September 11, 1990 ( ) | June 25, 1991 (
1991-06-25 ) |
26 | 14.5 | ||
Novel link [edit ]
One major novelization was released, with the plotlines based on six episodes of the show. [ citation needed ] The bible makes all the chapters flow together as one fib, even though they did n’t happen one good after the other on the appearance. It was written by Susan Beth Pfeffer and released in December 1989 by Bantam Books. The book is 120 pages long, with six chapters, each based on a different sequence. [ citation needed ]
- Chapter 1 – “First Day”, based on the 1986 episode “First Day”, written by Lisa Rosenthal (otherwise known as the pilot)
- Chapter 2 – “A Problem Like Maria” is based on the 1986 episode “A Problem Like Maria” written by Cynthia Thompson
- Chapter 3 – “Crimes of the Heart” is based on the 1987 episode “Crimes of the Heart” written by Valri Bromfield
- Chapter 4 – “Cello Fever” is based on the 1987 episode “Cello Fever” written by show creators Rich Eustis and Michael Elias
- Chapter 5 – “Trouble in Perfectville” is based on the 1987 episode “Trouble in Perfectville” written by George Beckerman
- Chapter 6 – “Parents Day” is based on the 1987 episode “Parents Day” written by Ellis Bufton and Scott Glaze
All copyrights belong to Warner Bros. The novelization mistakenly credits “ first Day ” as having been made in 1988 preferably than 1986 .
A year after Head of the Class left the air travel, Billy Connolly reprised the role of Billy MacGregor for a ephemeral by-product series, Billy .
revival [edit ]
In May 2020, a revival of the series was ordered, co-produced by Bill Lawrence ‘s Doozer and Warner Horizon Scripted Television. The order includes a fly sequence plus five extra scripts and will air on HBO Max. [ 5 ] In March 2021, it was announced that a 10-episode first season was officially greenlit. [ 6 ] In October 2021, a first expect clip was released, with a November 4, 2021 series premier date attached. [ 7 ]
Casting [edit ]
In November 2020, it was reported that Isabella Gomez was cast in the run role as teacher Alicia Adams. Coincidentally, Gomez and Howard Hesseman ( who played Charlie Moore in the master series ‘ first four seasons ), had both starred on the television receiver serial One Day at a Time, with Hesseman starring in the original series ‘ concluding two seasons as Barbara Cooper ‘s father-in-law Sam Royer, while Gomez starred in the 2017 boot as Elena Alvarez. [ 8 ] It was besides announced that Watchmen actress Jolie Hoang-Rappaport will join the mold as scholar Makayla Washington. [ 9 ] In December 2020, it was announced that Little Fires Everywhere actor Gavin Lewis will join the cast as student Luke Burrows. [ 10 ] In January 2021, Jorge Diaz, Dior Goodjohn, Brandon Severs, Adrian Matthew Escalona and Christa Miller joined the draw. [ 11 ] The October first look revealed that Givens would be reprising her function as Darlene from the original series. [ 12 ]
dwelling media and syndication [edit ]
Head of the Class has appeared infrequently in syndicate reruns, airing on local anesthetic stations and then briefly on TBS in September 1993 until November 1993 returning August 1996 until September 1996 weekday mornings, and on Nick at Nite in the early 2000s. Antenna television receiver began airing the series in January 2018. As of February 2020, the indicate was streaming on Roku Channel. The show is besides streaming on HBO Max, and Rewind television receiver. In 2020, it was announced that season 1 of Head of the Class would be released as a “ manufacture on demand “ ( MOD ) DVD by Warner Archive, starting on June 9, 2020. [ 13 ] The indicate had previously not seen any secrete on home media. [ 14 ] [ 15 ] The show had multiple musical episodes, thereby making music rights license difficult, a common problem when preparing series for home liberation. Another series, WKRP in Cincinnati ( besides starring Hesseman ), encountered similar issues. [ 16 ] [ 17 ] The Season 2 DVD set included season three episodes “ radio activity ” and “ I Am the King, ” because they were originally made during the irregular season. The Season 3 DVD set not merely have “ Radio Activity ” and “ I Am the King ” in their spill order, it besides included season four episodes “ Reel Problems ” and “ Recruitment Day, ” which were in the first place made during the third temper .
| DVD Season | Ep # | Release date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 22 | June 9, 2020 | |
| Season 2 | 24 | October 27, 2020 | |
| Season 3 | 24 | July 20, 2021 | |
| Season 4 | 24 | March 15, 2022 | |
| Season 5 | 22 | TBA |
International broadcasts [edit ]
- In Canada, the series was simulcast on the Global Television Network throughout its original run. In Atlantic Canada, the series aired on ATV and ASN as there was no Global station in Atlantic Canada at that time.
- In Australia, the series aired on the Nine Network.
- In the UK the show aired on BBC One
- In Ireland the series aired on RTÉ One.
- In Indonesia, it was aired by RCTI.
- In Italy, the series arrived in 1989 and first season was aired by Telemontecarlo. Then it was aired by Italia 1, from 1992 to 1993.
- In Mexico, the series aired on Televisa between 1994 and 1996, under the name Mi Profesor Favorito.
- In Latin America, the series aired on Warner Channel during mid-late 1990s.
- In Chile, the series aired on TVN.
- In New Zealand, the series aired on TVNZ 1.
References [edit ]
