The Paper Chase

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 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.........

Please put this out on DVD or some odd cable channel in repeats. This is one of the few shows that outdoes the movie version and where even a with second broadcast chance on Showtime, there was no loss in quality either. I'm tired of HBO always getting the raves as having the best original series. This qualifies, as it received new castings each year and yet maintained quality throughout. I loved it so much I tried following the cast members who moved on to other TV shows, movies, etc.. The show even intermixed some humor and parody into basically a serious drama, for example; the episode "My Dinner with Kingsfield" or the "Moot Court" episode to name a few. I've had to keep my beta VCR working since I kept them on tape all this time. Easily the best thing ever put out on Showtime and probably in the top 10 on broadcast TV too.

I am Stephen Seretan, and I wrote all the music for the series from CBS to Showtime. John Houseman was a joy to work with and a good friend. I miss him.

He was an original. The series was great fun and a dream job for me.

Thanks for all the nice comments.

I would love to see it aired again.

The shows had very little music for each episode, so my job was easy. Does anyone remember the scores to any shows? I would like to know. Film music is supposed to be "not heard" by the audience, but in our show it was prominent. I had several themes going to bind the drama together.

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.