Head of the Class (1986–1991) User Reviews

Excellent with Howard Hesseman, not-so-excellent with Billy Connolly

[safenoe · 7/10 · 11 March 2016]

I was captivated by Head of the Class and the cast chemistry was amazing, the nerd, the tough one, the insecure ones, etc.

I think Howard Hesseman was the glue that kept the cast together, and he displayed a sense of maturity which was evident in the show. It was a shame though that he was unhappy with the direction of the series. In a 1989 interview with the Chigago Tribune he said:

''We're not doing the show that I was led to believe I'd do, and it's difficult for me to get off that,'' he says.

''I don't want to air dirty laundry in public, but I do feel that the educational arena is one that offers a variety of story ideas as a means of investigating our lives-what we mean to one another and what's important.''

I guess Mr Hesseman had lofty ambitions for Head of the Class.

Unfortunately, I never warmed to Mr Billy Connolly, who replaced Mr Hesseman as the teacher. Why? I felt the Connolly episodes were focused too much on him and his stand-up performances. He would launch into a comedy routine, and cut to the class laughing on cue. Maybe the show should have been retitled "Connolly's Head of the Class".

Hot House Plants

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 5 August 2012]

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.

Better than average

[sm-47979 · 8/10 · 18 July 2021]

I found this to be an above average sitcom. I liked the idea of a group of gifted kids in an inner city school. Howard Hesseman was superb as Charlie Moore, a rather unconventional teacher taking on a class of kids who were all smarter than him, and he knew it. He knew he couldn't tell them anything they hadn't already heard, so he knew he had to find different ways to engage them and get them to think rather than spout off facts they learned from textbooks. The Principal was a natural rival to Charlie because he didn't want anyone messing with his advanced class, so the friction there was always a plus. The kids always brought in problems that other teens face and Charlie was always there to lend a sympathetic ear, dispensing wise advice. The show lost quite a bit when Howard Hesseman left and it never recovered. Besides, these smart advanced kids needed to graduate anyway. Good show.

Charming for 3 seasons, mediocre for 2

[severe_td · 27 April 2006]

"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.

solid network sitcom

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 26 May 2017]

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.

Good

[manitobaman81 · 7/10 · 30 August 2014]

I wish it was still on the air because I would still be watching. But seriously, how was this show on so long? Anyway, it's not the thing to see if you're in the mood for something uplifting, or something with tons of thrills. But it is a sort of gem in its own right. Even if you are not a sitcom fan, you will likely be entertained by all this 1980s-1990s series has to offer. I suggest you enjoy the first six or so episodes for what they are and let your mind play around with the opportunities there can be to make something interesting. The plots were not as well thought out as Saved by the Bell, but it still worked for the ensemble cast.

Currently rewatching ...

[robinjames-27925 · 10/10 · 11 September 2021]

It's absolutely better than I remembered, the lead actor is stellar and the student actors are all great with very distinct character traits . Love this show I highly recommend it on hbo max.

A show with its moments, but no real staying power.

[Aaron1375 · 5/10 · 10 December 2011]

I remember seeing this one from time to time and it had its moments. Then they got rid of Howard Hesseman and a few other cast members and added Billy Connolly as the teacher of this show and it just was not the same show anymore. The show was just about tailored around Hesseman's character so I am not sure why they got rid of him, most likely because this is the type of show that never really grabs a mainstream audience and instead only has a select group which is why it can hang around, but can not last beyond a few seasons. Though it did make it over 100 episodes so it most certainly can not be considered a failure by any means. News Radio lasted only 98 or 99 episodes and it was a much funnier show in my opinion so while this one is not really a super success story it can be considered one of those shows that found limited success. This one revolves around a group of super intelligent kids in their class with their quirky teacher. He would teach them things beyond the classroom, which once again makes it seem beyond bizarre that they got rid of Hesseman, though he may be the one that opted out of the show. Some good jokes here and there, but there were some episodes that were just full of jokes that make one groan and make the live audience laugh nervously. Mild success and mildly funny at times, however, not as gifted as the kids portrayed.

It was a good little show

[makonrad · 10/10 · 12 June 2006]

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.

A class for gifted students, none of whom ever graduate...

[tadaniel-88437 · 3/10 · 3 November 2019]

Think about that for a minute. The show was on for years on you see the same so-called kids from year to year. Aside from the fact that this show belongs to that crop of non-threatening Reagan era, family-safe, say-nothing, push no envelope, challenge- nothing entertainment, I will say that while Howard Hesseman was on the show they did seem to try to present a theme every week, a message of some kind.

This show is a classic!

[Retrodude · 29 December 2005]

This show was definitely entertaining and anyone who says that its lost its humor through time or hasn't aged well is wrong because i am only 15 and i think this show was well written, witty and had good morals. Although I did not see the real point of Billy Connelly starring on the show, it seems it was more a way of showing off Billy's humor to a wider audience. The originals were better but i still find the billy Connelly episodes entertaining. The episode which sticks in my memory the most is the one where they perform their own stage version of 'The Age Of Aquarius'.

This show deserves to be recognized as a truly entertaining sitcom and not as 'second rate'. It deals with issues in hilariously lighthearted ways and is still funny even after 14 years of it finishing.

Entertaining high school sitcom

[stevenackerman69 · 8/10 · 21 January 2010]

I was in high school when this show started. I didn't get into it right away, but caught on after a year or so. I was familiar with Howard Hesseman from WKRP in Cincinatti as Dr. Johnny Fever, the spaced out DJ. He was very different here. What I liked about the show was the fact that these kids were smart kids and the opposite of Welcome Back, Kotter, which had class clowns. These kids had brains, as I did, and like me, weren't very social. Mr. Moore tried to not only teach them history, but also tried to help them with their social skills and problems. He was like a dad to them and I think they learned a lot from him. And the show would revolve around the students. You'd have an episode about Arvid, like with his dad and the opportunity to lose his virginity, Maria dating someone she doesn't want to reveal her brain too, etc. This was a problem when Billy Connolly took over in season 5. He was more a stand-up comic, as noted in the first episode. Some of his stuff seems more like a stage performance. Maybe that was why the series only lasted one more year. Too bad when the kids graduated they couldn't have Hesseman come back for a cameo and have him say, "Well, I knew you were graduating this year and I didn't want to miss it." And I had no problem with the new students who took over. In a way, Viki was the beauty like Maria was. I wish they'd air this show again. I have a few episodes on tape but I would love to see more of them.

depressing with no value

[drystyx · 1/10 · 20 November 2010]

Hesseman usually landed good roles, but he landed in a misfire here.

This is probably the only TV series as poor as "Welcome Back Kotter". Both are really the same show. It tries to make the dorks of the world feel good because they aren't nerds.

Like "Kotter" it's based on dehumanizing weak little kids. Nazi Germany would've loved to have this in their arsenal.

The show is supposed to be a comedy, but honestly there just isn't anything funny here. It fails miserably.

There isn't a single saving grace to this pathetic pile of trash. If the actors are good, who cares? It's so horribly written that we don't care. It falls into the "mindless boggle" group of TV series, like the one with the four girls at a boarding school, that makes you wonder why anyone would even bother putting this together.

Good show until ABC ruined it.....

[pjc93 · 10/10 · 16 February 2023]

In the last season, TPTB at the network decided that it needed a change and fired Howard Hessman, SMH.

I like Billy Connelly, he was a great stand up comedian. I always thought he was funny, but replacing Charlie was a bad decision. The show turned into a weekly showcase of Billy's comedy act, with very little school stuff left.

I never really watched it back in the 80s, but now that is on TV and s couple of streaming platforms I've been watching it.

The person who said the students never graduated is wrong. At the end of season five they finish high school and are off to college.

Compared to some other sit-coms of the era, this show stands out as one of the best.

Underrated and overlooked

[foster_316 · 5 February 2004]

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.

Johnny Caravella Becomes a High School Teacher

[nugatoryunknown · 10/10 · 24 March 2019]

The premise of this show is that Johnny Caravella had to enter the witness protection program and moved from Cincinnati to New York to assume the identity of Charlie Moore, an inspirational high school teacher who imparts his practical life wisdom and unique insights to his class of honor students. His pedagogic prowess is so impeccable that many of his high achieving students only need five years to graduate high school, and the class math genius almost managed to graduate before his 30th birthday. Oh yeah, and Simone's a hottie-she's like the Bailey Quarters of Head of the Class.

Sheldon Cooper Would've Thrived in This Class

[view_and_review · 8/10 · 21 March 2024]

"Head of the Class" was essentially a teacher's dream sitcom. We're talking about a classroom full of geniuses who were self-motivated and didn't need hand-holding. They were the high school version of "The Big Bang Theory."

The main students were Arvid Engen (Dan Frischman), Dennis Blunden (Dan Schneider), Alan Pinkard (Tony O'Dell), Darlene Merriman (Robin Givens), and Sarah Nevins (Kimberly Russell). A couple of notable late comers to the class were T. J. Jones, played by Rain Pryor, Richard Pryor's daughter, and Alex Torres, played by Michael DeLorenzo who'd go on to star in "New York Undercover."

Not The Same Without Hesseman

[wolf008 · 11 February 2002]

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.

excelent show

[Nullness · 29 April 2003]

I learned something new everyday from this show. I wish mr. moore was my teacher in high school. It's just a dynamic classroom situation comedy with all the stereotypes there, like an 80's movie only in small doses. I'm sorry it's no "friends" or "er", but I think it got messages about growing up across simply enough, and it a really fun, friendly show.

My teachers were easier, but...

[Jasoco · 22 May 2003]

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.

Hesseman rules!!!

[Bluebell-8 · 21 August 1999]

What can I Say? No matter where you see Howard Hesseman, whether it be "WKRP", "Police Academy 3", or "Head of the Class", he is always funny and entertaining. Head of the Class was a show that was not only funny, but one of the most original shows ever. This show had a great cast, and very entertaining episodes, that kept me laughing for hours. But, one thing I noticed about the show was Hesseman's departure in 1990, and the arrival of new teacher, Brit comedian Billy Connolly. One season later, the show folded, which proved that the show was built around Hesseman and audiences really took to his character, maybe even more than his alter ego Johnny Fever!!!

This is the best!!

[Dangirl · 1 November 2002]

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!!!

Misunderstood Genius

[ToshNMac · 28 January 2002]

My problem with this show was that some of the students, save Arvid, were too good looking to be consider "nerds". So they didn't "look" like social outcasts, but as those IHP students will tell you, Appearances are deceiving.

When it first aired, my interest in the show was Dr. Johnny Fever aka Howard Hesseman. Johnny Fever teaching kids brighter than himself, now that's hilarious. But it worked, not as Dr. Johnny Fever of course. Hesseman portrayed sub then permanent teacher Charlie Moore and gives the students lessons you can't learn from textbooks. And those are often, the most difficult ones to learn. For me, one of the best sitcoms of the 1980's.

good show

[ericbilli · 3 September 2005]

head of the class was one of the better teen shows around at the time i forget the name of the school in the show but in the opening credits when Howard hessman runs into the school that school is actually Washington Irving high school in NYC address is 40 Irving place it was my school at the time and the only reason why i started watching the show is because my cousin mentioned it to me and i didn't believe him until i saw for myself and it turned out to be a good show also but did you know the guy that played Eric is like the producer of kids shows like Keenan and kel, all that, the Amanda show, and i think he directed the perfect score

A nice rediscovery

[really4rob · 25 August 2003]

Well, I missed most of this show in the 80s, having graduated high school (their enemy, Bronx Science) the June before it premeried. (Ironically most of the cast is five years older than me, even though they finally graduated 5 years later). I have been avidly (Arvidly?) following it on Nick at Nite, though I hear it's days are numbered there too. (There should be a rule then when a new show (like Roseanne) comes in, at some point they make 80s Nick and 90s Nick, because soon shows on Nick at Nite will have jokes in them about Nick at Nite. But I digress ...)

Anyhow almost two decades after my high school years and their show is a nostalgia trip. I am surprised how tight it is, even ideas that carried from one show to the next. Since it will never be on DVD or VHS, I guess we'll just have to enjoy Nick at Nite's last view while we can. (Hey maybe they can do a Back to School Head of the Class marathon? Dare to dream...)