Head of the Class
Head of the Class
TV-G | 17 September 1986 (USA)

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  • Reviews
    Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.
    Marva-nova Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.
    Nicole I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.
    Aspen Orson There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.
    bkoganbing 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.
    makonrad Head of the Class was a classic show, and as most sitcoms, somewhat unrealistic. Charlie Moore was like a Johnny Feaver out of detox. It was really hard to separate the two characters. We were always waiting for him to drop into that stoned Dee Jay thing and then hit on Loni Anderson. I do, however,think it was a real inspiration to all high school students who didn't fit in with there peer groups. Apparently, Hesseman left the show after his contract was filled because he didn't like the character he played. Sorry folks. I kept watching just to see what it would be like without him and what Billy would bring to the party. Much to my surprise, I found him funny, although, it was a completely different show. The musicals where just plain entertaining! How many high school productions sound like that? I think we have all been subject to listen to those out of tune orchestras, and students who pretend that they can sing. These guys sound like they were just off Broadway, which some were.
    Dangirl This show is a classic! It's funny and original with plenty of laughs!! Both Mr. Moore and Billy were great. It included the best cast ever to be assembled on tv!! It's a shame this wonderful show is not in syndication anywhere. Long live Dennis Blunden!!!
    wolf008 One of the ABC's best at the time. It provided an enjoyable half hour, with plenty of laugh's. Howard Hesseman guided the shows overachievers through 4 seasons of well written comedy. Many of the episodes had a moral to them that is missing from most sitcoms of today, even the so called "family" sitcom's.The fifth season however did not fair well after Hesseman's departure, However, he was there to give us four solid seasons. It's sort of relevant to Phil Hartmans almost four year's on NewsRadio, before his death, and consequently the show folded without him.