Head of the Class
Charlie Moore (Howard Hesseman) is a struggling New York City actor and director who works as a substitute teacher while awaiting his big break. His current assignment is to "watch over" a class of student prodigies. When he sees them, he sees that Principal Dr. Harold Samuels (William G. Schilling) has more or less shut them out from the rest of the world, so he tries to show them that there's more to life than just studying and winning academic competitions. Samuels doesn't exactly think that he is a positive influence on the students, but when one of the students' parents, who is also on the school board, sees how he got his son to get out of his shell, that he "asked" Samuels to make Moore the permanent teacher. So every week he helps the students with their personal problems, in addition to their academic ones.
- 1986-1991
- 5 seasons
- ABC
- Comedy
- TV-G
Charlie Moore (Howard Hesseman) is a struggling New York City actor and director who works as a substitute teacher while awaiting his big break. His current assignment is to "watch over" a class of student prodigies. When he sees them, he sees that Principal Dr. Harold Samuels (William G. Schilling) has more or less shut them out from the rest of the world, so he tries to show them that there's more to life than just studying and winning academic competitions. Samuels doesn't exactly think that he is a positive influence on the students, but when one of the students' parents, who is also on the school board, sees how he got his son to get out of his shell, that he "asked" Samuels to make Moore the permanent teacher. So every week he helps the students with their personal problems, in addition to their academic ones.
Season 5 Episode Guide
22 Episodes 1990 - 1991
Episode 1
Where's Charlie
Tue, Sep 11, 1990
When Mr. Moore gets a job in a touring company, he leaves the school and the IHP gets a new teacher, Billy MacGregor. Dennis chooses not to welcome him. While Arvid thinks he's the man.
Episode 2
Twelve Angry Nerds
Tue, Sep 18, 1990
Alan cheats in order to become valedictorian.
Episode 3
The Heartbreak Nerd
Tue, Sep 25, 1990 23 mins
Viki discovers she's attracted to Arvid Engen.
Episode 4
And Then There Were None
Tue, Oct 2, 1990
Arvid tries to infect his classmates in order to protect his perfect attendance record.
Episode 5
Getting Personal
Tue, Oct 9, 1990
Billy decides to try finding a date in the personal ads.
Episode 6
Napoleon Blown Apart
Tue, Oct 16, 1990
Billy tries to teach French while Eric finds himself stranded in Paris.
Episode 7
Billy's Big One
Tue, Oct 23, 1990 30 mins
As a protest over health insurance, Billy fakes a heart attack.
Episode 8
Dead Men Don't Wear Pocket Protectors: Part 1
Tue, Oct 30, 1990
After he is bullied at school, Arvid buys a gun.
Episode 9
Dead Men Don't Wear Pocket Protectors: Part 2
Tue, Nov 6, 1990 20 mins
After Arvid scares a bully away with a gun, the bully turns the tide by stealing the gun from Arvid's locker and threatening him.
Episode 10
Fillmore vs. Billy Jeans
Tue, Nov 13, 1990 23 mins
The IHP get lost driving back from an academic bowl and stop at a truck stop. After the students insult everything from a festival to the character and intelligence of the locals, Billy pits the two sides in game show-style competition.
Episode 11
Be My Baby... Sitter
Tue, Nov 20, 1990 23 mins
Jasper's parents thinking of him as a child won't let him alone so they get a babysitter. And the person who shows up is Sarah. And he pretends that he has a sibling. And that's when they get close.
Episode 12
Dancing Fools
Tue, Nov 27, 1990
Billy and Bernadette take dance lessons.
Episode 13
My Son the Primate
Tue, Dec 4, 1990
When Arvid "rescues" a chimp from a pet store, the IHP stages a mock court room hearing to aggressively plead with the store owner not to sell the chimp. The only problem is they confuse the store owner with an evaluator from the Board of Education.
Episode 14
The Importance of Being Alex
Tue, Dec 11, 1990
Alex lies to his friends about his relationship with Simone.
Episode 15
Viki's Torn Genes
Tue, Dec 18, 1990
Viki finds her birth-mother with Billy's help but her happiness doesn't last long.
Episode 16
The Last Waltz
Tue, Jan 8, 1991
It's prom time. Billy catches TJ cheating for her ex-boyfriend.
Episode 17
Most Likely to Be Forgotten
Tue, Jan 15, 1991 23 mins
Simone tries to get the right caption for Eric in the yearbook. Billy is concerned that Eric would rather be forgotten when Dr. Samuels leaves out Eric's name on the trophy.
Episode 18
The Strange Case of Randy McNally
Tue, May 28, 1991 30 mins
In order to save Dennis from punishment, Billy creates a fictional student that ends up winning a college scholarship.
Episode 19
My Dinner with Darlene
Tue, Jun 4, 1991 23 mins
Darlene invites the class to a fancy dinner. Her credit card gets declined. In reality, her family is falling apart.
Episode 20
The Phantom of the Glee Club
Tue, Jun 11, 1991 23 mins
Billy is put in charge of the school musical. Monica quits when Billy allows everybody to sing. An operatic voice comes out of the air duct. Billy proclaims it to be the Phantom of Fillmore High and later discovers that it's T.J.
Episode 21
It Couldn't Last Forever: Part 1
Tue, Jun 18, 1991 22 mins
Dr. Samuels is facing early retirement. Fillmore High is closing. The classmates have to deal with their impending departures. Billy plans to propose to Miss Meara. Sarah makes T.J. the valedictorian.
Episode 22
It Couldn't Last Forever: Part 2
Tue, Jun 25, 1991 25 mins
As graduation approaches, Eric proposes to Simone and a typo sends a demolition crew to the school. An angry T.J. plans to tank the valedictorian speech. Janice returns to join the graduating class.