Powerful

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

How sad is this?

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

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.

"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.

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.

The show is currently running on Nick-At-Nite, back-to-back with Perfect Strangers. It is amazing how good the casts of both shows are. It is also equally appalling how bad the scripts are for both shows. These shows have not aged well. Also, has anybody noticed that the filter on the videotape looks very odd? Most of the second-rate (and I use that term not as an insult, but to say that they're not Cheers) sitcoms from the 80's have this peculiar look. Remember the "video white" look on a lot of early 80's MTV. Compare Toni Basil's Mickey with the video for Men Without Hats' Safety Dance. Both are weird, but the filmed one still looks like it has production values. This speaks volumes to the superiority of film over videotape. How many television shows lose a quality over time because modern video points out the glaring inadequacies of the medium's past?The cast of Head Of The Class were a perfect combination in chemistry. It is too bad that the show had to let that cast down in so many other areas.