Head of the Class is an American sitcom television series that ran from 1986 to 1991 on the ABC television network.
The series follows a group of gifted students in the Individualized Honors Program (IHP) at the fictional Millard Fillmore High School in Manhattan, and their history teacher Charlie Moore (Howard Hesseman). The program was ostensibly a vehicle for Hesseman, best known for his role as radio DJ Dr. Johnny Fever on the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982). Hesseman left Head of the Class in 1990 and was replaced by Scottish comedian Billy Connolly as teacher Billy MacGregor for the final season.
The series was created and executive produced by Richard Eustis and Michael Elias. Elias had previously worked as a substitute teacher in New York City while hoping to become an actor.
A revival of the series was ordered and co-produced by Bill Lawrence's Doozer and Warner Horizon Scripted Television. It was released on HBO Max.
Synopsis Head of the Class is mainly set in the classroom of academically gifted high school students in the Individualized Honors Program (IHP) at Millard Fillmore High School in New York City. The IHP students comprised a diverse range of personalities, ethnicities and academic specialties.
For the first three years of the show, the IHP class had ten students. Arvid Engen (Dan Frischman) was a skinny, bespectacled nerd, mathematics expert, and budding scientist. Arvid's best friend was the overweight, wisecracking cynic Dennis Blunden (Dan Schneider), a computer whiz whose fields were chemistry and physics and who had a knack for getting the socially inept Arvid involved in various schemes. Both characters wanted to go to M.I.T. Alan Pinkard (Tony O'Dell) was an ultra-conservative preppy and egotist; his area of expertise was political science and he was a devout fan of Ronald Reagan. Alan competed for the highest grades in the class with Darlene Merriman (Robin Givens), a spoiled rich girl who was probably even more self-centered than Alan and whose specialties were speech and debate. Both Alan and Darlene held the ambition of being named class valedictorian. Sarah Nevins (Kimberly Russell) did not have any particular area of expertise; she was the most down-to-earth of the IHP class and was once cited as having the lowest G.P.A. Maria Borges (Leslie Bega) was the pretty girl, but intelligent, with some emotional and mental issues but was very passionate about getting A's (going as far as grounding herself in the pilot episode for getting a 'B'), and Jawaharlal Choudhury (Jory Husain aka Joher Coleman) was an exchange student from India whose expertise was natural science. Eleven-year-old Janice Lazarotto (Tannis Vallely), despite her young age, was in high school and the IHP class because of her advanced intellect. Arts student Simone Foster (Khrystyne Haje) was a quiet, sensitive redhead with a particular fondness for poetry. A notable development in the show was the relationship between Simone and Eric Mardian (Brian Robbins), an aspiring writer and, outwardly, the most unlikely member of the IHP. Eric wore black leather, rode a motorcycle, acted tough, and ostensibly disliked anything academic (to Dr. Samuels's delight, he was the only one in the class not on the academic team, although he would never leave the IHP). Eric constantly hit on Simone and the two eventually had an on-again-off-again romance.
There was some turnover in the cast in seasons four and five. Janice left for Harvard, Maria went to Performing Arts High School, and Jawaharlal moved to California with his family. New students included Aristotle McKenzie (De'voreaux White), described by Dennis as "this reject from Do the Right Thing" for his dreadlocks, Viki Amory (Lara Piper), a new-ager interested in quantum physics and skin-revealing clothing, and Alex Torres (Michael DeLorenzo), who had transferred from parochial school with a love for dance and an eye for the ladies (in particular, Simone and Viki). T.J. Jones (Rain Pryor), who had first appeared as a potential IHP member in season three, was eventually added to the program and the cast. Jasper Kwong (Ke Huy Quan) was introduced as a new transfer student late in season four.
Appearing as regulars throughout all five seasons were school administrators Dr. Harold Samuels (William G. Schilling) and Bernadette Meara (Jeannetta Arnette). Dr. Samuels was portrayed as the blustery, overweight principal of the school, who had an ambivalent view of the IHP students. While he distrusted them in general (exhibiting a particular antagonism toward Dennis and trying to avoid Eric as much as possible), he was proud of their achievements and the prestige they brought to the school. He also distrusted their teacher, Charlie Moore (Howard Hesseman), concerned that Charlie's methods – which often involved helping the IHP students branch out of their comfort zones and help them deal with the typical problems of kids their age, as well as using unorthodox methods of teaching the class subject at hand – might distract them too much from their studies. Ms. Meara was the level-headed assistant principal. There was some romantic tension between her and Mr. Moore, although this ultimately came to nothing.
The fifth and final season began with Mr. Moore no longer teaching at Fillmore High, having quit in order to pursue a career on Broadway. His successor was Billy MacGregor (Billy Connolly), a Scottish teacher who allowed his students to call him by his first name. Billy and Ms. Meara developed a romantic friendship over the course of the season, which covered the students' senior year; at its end, they graduated and the school was closed pending its demolition.
In the series, the students often faced off against the rival Bronx High School of Science. They also produced a series of musicals for the school, including Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, and Hair.
Cast Main Howard Hesseman – Charles P. "Charlie" Moore (seasons 1–4). A history and social studies teacher who teaches the honors program to intellectual geniuses and helps them aim for their dreams. William G. Schilling – Dr. Harold Samuels. The high school principal. He is Mr. Moore's boss, as well as a friend. Jeannetta Arnette – Bernadette Meara. The vice principal of the school who is friends with Charlie. Leslie Bega – Maria Borges (seasons 1–3) Dan Frischman – Arvid Engen Robin Givens – Darlene Merriman Khrystyne Haje – Simone Foster Joher Coleman (credited as Jory Husain) – Jawaharlal Choudhury (seasons 1–3) Tony O'Dell – Alan Pinkard Brian Robbins – Eric Mardian Kimberly Russell – Sarah Nevins Dan Schneider – Dennis Blunden Tannis Vallely – Janice Lazarotto (seasons 1–3; guest, season 5) Rain Pryor – Theola June "T.J." Jones (seasons 3–5) Michael DeLorenzo – Alex Torres (seasons 4–5) Lara Piper – Viki Amory (seasons 4–5) Ke Huy Quan (credited as Jonathan Ke Quan) – Jasper Kwong (seasons 4–5) De'voreaux White – Aristotle McKenzie (seasons 4–5) Billy Connolly – Billy MacGregor (season 5). Billy takes over Mr. Moore's class in season 5. He is from Scotland and, just like Mr. Moore, helps the students aim for their dreams.
Recurring Marcia Christie – Lori Applebaum. A pretty, bubbly student not in the IHP whom Arvid has a massive crush on. Seen in seasons 1 and 2, then reappears in the finale. Peter Vogt – Mr. Dorfman. A Fillmore High teacher who is somewhat self-centered and not especially respected. Appears occasionally in seasons 1-3, and reappears in the series finale.
Most of the students' parents were seen during the series, but usually in one episode apiece. Parents who appeared more than once included: Enid Kent – Maureen Foster (Simone's mother) (three episodes) J. Patrick McNamara – Mr. Foster (Simone's father) (two episodes) Bruce Gray – Dr. Enric Engen (Arvid's father) (two episodes)
Season synopses Season 1 (1986–1987) Out-of-work actor Charlie Moore began the first season as a substitute teacher, but warmed to the IHP class immediately, making it his mission to get them to think rather than merely to know. Although they are gifted academically, the IHP students had plenty of problems in their personal lives, and Mr. Moore not only is there to listen, he shows an ability to get the students to solve their own problems while making it seem like they came up with the answers on their own. By Episode 6 ("Teacher's Teacher"), the class's original teacher Mr. Thomas (Roscoe Lee Browne) had returned to Fillmore High, seemingly ready to return to the IHP class once Mr. Moore's tenure ended. After observing Mr. Moore's unorthodox teaching methods for most of the episode (much to Charlie's chagrin, as it also made apparent how much he would miss the IHP students), Mr. Thomas ultimately reveals he had no intention to return but came to observe Mr. Moore after hearing concerns about him from Dr. Samuels. Seeing Mr. Moore in action, Mr. Thomas gives him his blessing, leaving Mr. Moore to become their full-time teacher, knowing the IHP will be in good hands. Throughout the first season, Mr. Moore attempted to get the class involved in more than just their studies, encouraging them to play volleyball and make a music video for the school's time capsule (this marks the first foray into the fondness of Head of the Class for musical production numbers). At the same time, the class brought Mr. Moore into the present, acclimating him to the importance of personal computers. Near the end of the season, the IHP faces their Russian counterparts in an academic tournament, foreshadowing their famous trip to Moscow in season three.
Season 2 (1987–1988) Season 2 began involving the IHP in the school as a whole, with Mr. Moore involving the class in the school literary journal and encouraging a lampoon of the school newspaper. Mr. Moore also decides to put on a school production of the musical Grease, and encourages the IHP (who are initially reluctant) to participate, alongside other Fillmore students.
While first season had some episodes that showed Charlie's personal life outside school, these become increasingly rare as the series continues. In season 2 (and thereafter), episodes consistently focus on the lives of the IHP students, with only a very few focusing specifically on Charlie; this is the last season in which we see Charlie's apartment.
Season 3 (1988–1989) "Mission to Moscow" In 1988, Head of the Class broke new ground as it became the first American sitcom to be filmed in the Soviet Union with an episode filmed entirely in Moscow.
The IHP is invited to come to the country for a rematch of the academic meet that happened in season one, which ended in a tie. The class has a lot of experiences while in Moscow: Dennis and Arvid take an interest in two beautiful women, until they realise they might be KGB spies; Eric meets up with his relatives in what is a very positive experience for him; capitalist Alan has an argument with a die-hard socialist in a store (who is also on the opposing Russian academic team); Sarah and Darlene decide to record the sights and sounds of Moscow; Simone goes to put flowers on a poet's grave and meets up with a charming Russian musician; Dr. Samuels believes that his hotel room is bugged, but ends up making a fool of himself; and Charlie has a brief romance with a schoolteacher.
The IHP eventually wins the meet and the respect of the Russian team. The episode concludes with both teams attending a concert in Gorky Park swaying to the song "Far Away Lands" (written and performed by American David Pomeranz and Russian rock star Sasha Malinin).
Season 4 (1989–1990)