HEAD OF THE CLASS: PILOT {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about an offbeat teacher and his class of honor students.
Charlie Moore, a substitute teacher, arrives at Monroe High School as a substitute teacher for a class of honor students. He receives a cold greeting from the class. They have little interest in his lesson and are instead busy preparing for the upcoming Academic Olympics. The principal, Dr. Samuels, arrives to chide Charlie for his attempts to teach the class, demonstrating that each member of the honors program is an expert in their own particular field. Dr. Samuels has great pride in the program and advises Charlie merely to “babysit.”
However, Charlie is not content with his passive role and tries to teach the class more than simply facts; he begins a lesson that tries to get the class to look at the Cuban Missile Crisis in a different way, using a baseball as some sort of analogy. He discovers that no one in the class will be attending the upcoming school dance, feeling it would distract them from their academics. Charlie begs to differ and convinces Arvid, the team’s math expert, to ask out Lori, a popular girl in the school. While Arvid leaves, Dr. Samuels arrives to announce an extra practice session for the upcoming Academic Olympics; he “can’t conceive” of any of them attending the dance. He leaves just as Arvid returns to announce he has secured a date with Lori.
The following morning, Arvid still can’t decide whether to go to the dance or not, fearing Dr. Samuel’s wrath. Each member of the class has their own excuses for not attending. When Dr. Samuels returns to remind them of the practice session, Arvid stands up to him. Lori returns and takes Arvid out into the hall to tell him something. Meanwhile, Dr. Samuels is furious at Charlie, but he argues that the student’s self-esteem and emotional development is just as important as their academic growth. Arvid returns and dejectedly announces that Lori got back together with her boyfriend, leaving him without a date. Despite this, he still intends to go to the dance.
The period ends and Charlie says goodbye to the class. However, they are curious about Charlie’s lesson about the Cuban Missile Crisis. He claims that Fidel Castro tried out for major league baseball and was rejected, prompting his foray into politics and thus setting the Cuban Missile Crisis into motion. They seem receptive to the lesson and say farewell to him. Arvid thanks Charlie personally and tells him that he considers Charlie his friend. The following Monday, Charlie is back at school. Dr. Samuels called for him because Arvid’s father is on the board of education and pulled some strings. He returns to class and is greeted warmly. He asks about the dance; Arvid and Simone both attended, having slightly differing accounts of the night. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 17, 1986 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:24:18
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:12621
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1986-1991
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rich Eustis … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Michael Elias … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Tim Steele … Producer
- John Tracy … Director
- Ed Alton … Composer
- Howard Hesseman … Cast, Charlie Moore
- William G. Schilling … Cast, Dr. Harold Samuels
- Jeanetta Arnette … Cast, Bernadetta Meara
- Leslie Bega … Cast, Maria Borges
- Dan Frischman … Cast, Arvid Engen
- Robin Givens … Cast, Darlene Merriman
- Khrystyne Haje … Cast, Simone Foster
- Jory Husain (See also: Joher Coleman) … Cast, Jawaharlal Choudhury
- Tony O'Dell … Cast, Alan Pinkard
- Brian Robbins … Cast, Eric Mardian
- Kimberly Russell … Cast, Sarah Nevins
- Dan Schneider … Cast, Dennis Blunden
- Tannis Vallely … Cast, Janice Lazarotto
- Marcia Christie … Cast, Lori Applebaum