The Paper Chase

I can say this, I am so glad that I never had John Houseman for a professor when I was in college. Whew! the old guy was really intimidating. It was still an enjoyable "thinking mans" show. Houseman was the one who really made it work. He always stood out like a lion in a roomful of kittens. What is so shocking is that before he won his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the movie, he had never really acted before. For those of you who are trivia buffs, Houseman was very instrumental in the writing of Citizen Kane. Orson Welles liked to steal all of the credit though. The fact there were different series with different Mister Harts makes it confusing, but still a good show.

This was such a great show it was continued as a SHOWTIME cable series. An improvement on the film of the same name, the continuity was seamless and was done expertly and lovingly. The adventures of Mr. Hart and his co-horts was a pleasure to watch. The small screen version so defined the Paper Chase and Harvard Law School that I find the big screen, Timothy Bottoms, version very unsatisfying and dated.

Timothy bottoms is not missed as Mr. Hart, due to the great performance of James Stephens. John Houseman reprising his role of the scholarly, curmudgeon, Professor Kingsfield, provides the link to the original movie that makes the series work. He was exceptional in the role. First feared and hated (by some), he gradually wins you over becoming admired and even loved by those that understand him best (like Hart), providing a near father figure.

An intelligent series for the masses, try to see it in chronological order. ENJOY.........

The television show "The Paper Chase" is one of the greatest television shows of all time. That seems like an incredible statement to say about a show that lasted about 2 seconds on commercial television but it was that good. It unfortunately never had a chance to continue because it was placed at the same time spot as one of the hottest shows on television at the time.

Amazingly enough, it got a second chance on the cable network Showtime years after it was cancelled! Because cable allowed the show greater freedom, I actually found the show to be superior to the commercial network version! The show centers around the great actor, John Houseman and James Stephens as the law professor Charles W. Kingsfield and his student James T. Hart but the ensemble cast was also excellent. Tom Fitzsimmons and James Keane were the main supporting characters but it also had major contributions in later years from excellent actors like Jane Kaszmarek, (Malcolm in the Middle) Penny Johnson (24 and The Larry Sanders Show)and Michael Tucci.

The show eventually ran its course on cable and ended with the graduation of the students, 8 years after the show started on commercial television! A show that should be rated with the greatest shows of all time but is largely forgotten today. Just superbly acted with great writing.

This was a most enjoyable series. It was designed for the more intelligent viewer. With rare exception, the characters were sensitive, intelligent and sometimes foolish enough to be totally believable. I taped most of the episodes and enjoy them even today.

Sadly, with John Houseman's passing, there will never be another Prof. Charles Kingsfield, though George C. Scott may have made an interesting one also. This is one I would like to see re-run.

The movie was good, but the series was better. Most can relate better to the real people of the series over the movie.

It has been 20 years since broadcast, and it remains a favorite of mine.

The Paper Chase was then called "too good for television", assumedly due to its highly intellectual, fast moving content. The characters were well chosen right from the start. Running from 1983 to 1986 it was to follow a group of students through law school, from the very first day to graduation.

The show was extremely well written. Social interaction, challenge, struggle, and eventual triumph (in most cases) formed the plots. I recall describing this series as "making more points than a rose bush". It would be great to re-air the series, as every topic is just as valid today. John Houseman will be forever irreplaceable.