Uma Turma Genial

In my opinion "Head of the Class" was one of the more overlooked and underrated primetime sitcoms of the mid to late 80's. The reason why I say this is, of course in the same era as "The Cosby Show", most shows like these get overlooked. Some of the cast members went on to act in motion pictures and other TV shows after the series ended in 1991. I guess the initial draw to the show was Howard Hesseman because like mamy of you, I remember his days on "WKRP in Cincinnati" as the popular "Johnny Fever". I wish it could come on syndication because they made the required 100 episodes for it to go in that format. They made history by being the first U.S. sitcom to film episodes in the Soviet Union. I would love to see a reunion show in the near future, but still, for this show to stay on network TV for five seasons with a relatively unknown cast of characters, even with the standards that "The Cosby Show" had set, that is saying something. To sum it all up "Head of the Class" was one of those overlooked shows that have become Cult Classics.

During the Seventies one of the most popular TV comedies was Welcome Back Kotter which in many ways was the mirror image of Head Of The Class in the Eighties. Kotter was about a teacher essentially babysitting some kids who were marked for life as losers and trying to tell them they necessarily didn't have to be. Head Of The Class was about the education system's cream of the crop, kids with high IQs and great potential. In a sense their home room teacher Howard Hesseman doubled as a guidance counselor.

High IQs and great potential doesn't immunize you from life's problems which are magnified in the teen years. Hessemann usually dealt in each episode with one of the kid's problems either academically or personal. Each kid had a specialty, Brian Robbins who did look like he could have been a James Dean wannabe was a writer. Dan Frischman was an overachieving math genius, son of a mathematics professor as well who never had a social life. His father's idea of fun was doing algorithms with his on. Tannis Vallely had a super IQ and just had trouble fitting in in high school as she was about 10.

Tony O'Dell had an interesting role, maybe the most interesting of the kids. He was a conservative thinking history enthusiast, but was never presented as a figure of ridicule. Hessemann who clearly didn't share his beliefs encouraged him to marshal his arguments and think objectively as the best of teachers do. O'Dell was also clearly looking too old for high school, but his performance was convincing.

William Schilling was the principal who treated these kids like hot house plants had his clashes every week with Hessemann. It was not unlike those that Gabe Kotter had with Mr. Woodman on Kotter. Except the roles were reversed as the principal scoffed at Kotter's concern for these losers and Schilling was concerned lest the egos of the geniuses be bruised. Both situations worked in their respective series.

Head Of The Class really died when Hessemann left. Still it was a wonderful show for the time we had it.

"Head of the Class" is very dated to the late 1980s. From the big hair to the clunky IBM terminals in the classroom, there's no doubt you're watching a show produced nearly 20 years ago. However, that actually adds to the program's charm -- especially for those of us who were in high school ourselves during that time period.

For 3 seasons, Head of the Class had a lot going for it. While lighthearted and often requiring a suspension of disbelief, the show was funny, entertaining, and charming. There was an excellent chemistry among cast members, and Howard Hesseman was perfect for the part of wise teacher Charlie Moore. Even the New York setting of the sitcom was well done, from the fascinating city imagery in the opening song to many different exterior shots shown between scenes. I saw the show at a taping in Burbank, California in 1986. Despite having actually been on the California set, I had to constantly remind myself that it wasn't actually shot in New York. That's unusual for a sitcom.

Unfortunately, things started to unravel in season 4. Too many of the original student cast members were lost, and the new ones replacing them were uninteresting and flat. How much do you really remember about Viki, Aristotle, Alex, T.J., and Jasper? You probably remember their faces, but they were simply cardboard replacements for the vibrant and quirky Janice, Jawaharalal, and Maria. This was already a sign that the show was slipping.

In Hesseman's final year, there were also a surprising number of "musicals" performed on the show. The first one was an interesting change, but this repeated theme made it clear that the writers were running of out ideas.

Finally, Hesseman left (probably sensing the end being near), and Billy Connolly replaced him. That was the truly the beginning of the end. Like the replacement students of the previous year, Connolly's character lacked the substance and depth that made Hesseman's so great. Between the boring new teacher and the tired-looking, modified class of students, this show ceased to hold many people's interest. It was mercifully put down at the end of the '90-91 season.

I would like to see Head of the Class back somewhere on television. Nick at Nite ran it for awhile in a horrible time slot (something like 4:30am), but eventually it vanished. It can't be found anywhere, which I think is a shame. This fun show deserves better than to rot in some syndication company's archive room.

Charlie Moore (Howard Hesseman) is the new substitute history teacher for the IHP (Individual Honors Program) in New York City's Fillmore High. He has faced the toughest kids but he has never had kids like these. Principal Dr. Samuels wants them to remain his winning academic machines but Charlie befriends them like regular kids. Bernadette Meara is the sympathetic assistant principal. Arvid Engen and Dennis Blunden are nerdy best friends. Alan Pinkard is the preppy conservative. Eric Mardian is the biker with brains forced into the class by his mother. He likes the poetry-loving Simone Foster. Darlene Merriman is the spoiled rich girl. Maria Borges is grades obsessed and grounds herself for getting a B. Janice Lazarotto is the ten year old. Sarah Nevins is a nice girl and Jawaharlal Choudhury is from India. When their regular history teacher Mr. Thomas retires, Charlie becomes their permanent teacher. T.J. Jones is a sassy remedial student who works her way into the class. The fourth season has Maria, Jawaharlal, and Janice leaving the class while Alex Torres, Viki Amory, T.J., and Aristotle McKenzie join the class. Later that year, Jasper Kwong joins the already overcrowded class. In the fifth and final season, Charlie Moore leaves the job to pursue his acting dreams. Billy MacGregor (Billy Connolly) is the new Scottish teacher.

I watched this middling network teacher/student sitcom back in the day. It follows the tradition of Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-1979) but these are "nerds". There are more kids which does limit their individual stories. They are big character tropes who are built up over time. I like Khrystyne Haje with her wild red hair and big heart. She presents a romantic possibility which this show never truly exploited. For the first three seasons, this show doesn't get too soapy. Only Eric and Simone really walk that path. This is old style network high school dramedy. For the fourth season, there is a large change over and not just the truncated opening credits. The changes in the cast signal the beginning of the end. Even if the missing three are not the stars of the show, they are part of the family. At least, T.J. has a good introduction and organically joins the group. The others are much less successful. Aristotle is nothing more than a throw-in boyfriend for T.J. Viki is the unattainable hot new girl and Alex is the hot-blooded Latino. I prefer Jasper and T.J.'s introduction although there are too many students to have continuous individual stories. In season five, Billy Connolly takes over for the departing Howard Hesseman. Billy is trying too hard to be wacky and funny. It's the wrong tone. The show never took off or fell off from its middling ratings. This show is limited by the high school time. There is a short-lived spin off with Billy Connolly but it goes nowhere. It's also noteworthy that Dan Schneider would become a highly successful teen show producer. The cast is a likable group and this is a solid 80's network show.

This show is very funny. Another show from 1986. I never saw it when it was actually on TV. Most of the 80's was spent watching The Cosby Show for me. I was a child. So I have to watch all the best shows of my time on Nick at Nite and TV Land 20+ years later.

Now that I'm watching it, I know what I've been missing.

Most shows today don't even begin to meet the standards shows like this have set.