COSBY: THE VESEY METHOD (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about Hilton Lucas, who finds himself retired after his job at the airport is eliminated.
Griffin hosts a party for his teacher mentoring group to celebrate Loretta transferring to another school. However, Loretta reveals that she plans to take Griffin along with her to her new school, much to his surprise. They arrive at the new school, which proves to have severe maintenance and sanitation issues. It is stated that most new teachers at the school do not last long, and Griffin meets the gruff Mr. Fleming, his department head. He enters his classroom and quickly finds that his students are rude and uncooperative. A fight breaks out among two students and Griffin unsuccessfully rushes in to break it up. He gets home later, and everyone gives him advice on how to deal with his unruly students. Griffin indicates that he spoke to a parent about their child’s behavior, but was met with similar rudeness. The next day, Griffin attempts to reason with his students and convince them that his only intention is to help them succeed in life. However, the students point out many of the deficiencies with their school, including the lack of suitable textbooks, the presence of armed security guards in the halls, and the severe lack of educational funding. Griffin concedes that they have good points and vows to alleviate some of their woes by getting them new textbooks, although the students are convinced that he will not succeed.
He speaks to Mr. Fleming, who says that the school is a pariah and that the only thing they can do for the students is “age them out” without providing a proper education. Griffin becomes despondent over the situation and cannot sleep that night. He speaks to Hilton about it, venting his frustrations about the inadequacies of the school. He arrives the next day in class, explaining that while he was unable to procure new textbooks, he was able to make photocopies of their current lesson for them to read. He then passes out toy cars in an attempt to provide a practical demonstration for a lesson about potential and kinetic energy. He proves to be remarkably effective at teaching the lesson, much to Mr. Fleming’s surprise. At the end of the day, Mr. Fleming congratulates Griffin but says that he does not possess the “youthful enthusiasm” that Griffin exudes, but Griffin convinces him to redouble his efforts at providing meaningful education to his students. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: May 3, 1999 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:22:37
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:83376
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; TV - Comedy
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1996-2000
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Tom Straw … Executive Producer
- Tom Werner … Executive Producer
- Caryn Mandabach … Executive Producer
- Marcy Casey … Executive Producer
- Vanessa Middleton … Co-Executive Producer
- J.J. Paulsen … Co-Executive Producer
- Dan Wilcox … Co-Executive Producer
- Adam Belanoff … Co-Executive Producer
- John Rogers … Producer
- Joanne Curley Kerner … Producer
- Pat Nugent … Associate Producer
- Tom Reeder … Consulting Producer
- Don Scardino … Director
- Dennis Klein … Developed by
- Bill Boulware … Writer
- David Renwick … Based on the BBC Series “One Foot in the Grave” created by
- William H. Cosby Jr. … Music by, Theme Music by
- Benny Golson … Theme Music by
- Bill Cosby … Cast, Hilton Lucas
- Phylicia Rashad … Cast, Ruth Lucas
- Doug E. Doug … Cast, Griffin Vesey
- T'Keyah Crystal Keymah … Cast, Erica Lucas
- Jurnee Smollett … Cast, Jurnee
- Madeline Kahn … Cast, Pauline Fox
- Robin Givens … Cast, Ms. Malone
- Mary Alice … Cast, Loretta
- Wallace Shawn … Cast, Mr. Fleming
- Darien Sills-Evans … Cast, Darien
- Michael B. Jordan … Cast, Michael
- Christopher Lopez … Cast, Luis
- Terrell Tilford … Cast, Mr. Lee
- Kevin Rahsaan Grant … Cast
- Kajuana Shuford … Cast
- Keisha Trim … Cast