Drexell's Class

{{Infobox television

|image =

|caption =

|genre = Sitcom

|creator = Andrew Nicholls
Darrell Vickers

|writer = {{Ubl

| Bill Boulware

| Eric Brand

| Ralph R. Farquhar

| Jim Herzfeld

| Phil Kellard

| Wayne Kline

| Robert Kurtz

| Tom Moore

| Andrew Nicholls

| Darrell Vickers

| George Zateslo

}}

|director = {{Ubl

| Matthew Diamond

| Dick Martin

| Gino Tanasescu

| John Tracy

}}

|starring = Dabney Coleman

|theme_music_composer = Kurt Farquhar

|composer = {{Ubl

| Rich Eames

| Scott Gale

}}

|country = United States

|language = English

|num_seasons = 1

|num_episodes = 18

|executive_producer = {{Ubl

| Phil Kellard

| Tom Moore

| David A. Neuman

}}

|producer = Marsha Posner-Williams

|runtime = 30 minutes

|company = {{Ubl

| Grantwood Productions

| 20th Century Fox Television

}}

|channel = Fox

|first_aired = {{Start date|1991|09|19}}

|last_aired = {{End date|1992|03|05}}

}}

Drexell's Class is an American sitcom that aired Thursday at 8:30 on Fox as part of its 1991–92 lineup. The show was created by Andrew Nicholls and Darrell Vickers.

Synopsis

Drexell's Class starred Dabney Coleman as Otis Drexell, a fifth-grade teacher at fictional Grantwood Elementary School in Cedar Bluffs, Iowa. Drexell's backstory revealed that he was a corporate raider who lost a large amount of money on a failed venture, dodged his taxes, and was arrested. At his sentencing, he was offered a suspended sentence if he worked as a teacher at the understaffed school to pay off his back taxes. Drexell was a divorced man whose two daughters lived with him. The cast also included two antagonists, rival teacher Roscoe Davis (Dakin Matthews) and Principal Francine Itkin (Randy Graff), who was later succeeded by Principal Marylin Ridge (Edie McClurg).

One of Drexell's few friends at the school was P.E. teacher George (Cleavant Derricks), who shared Drexell's love of sports and beer. Most episodes revolved around Drexell's unwillingness to teach his students lessons by the book, or trying to be a good father to his daughters. On one occasion, Drexell's ex-wife made an appearance; Drexell hoped she would remarry so he could stop paying alimony.

Cast

Dabney Coleman as Otis Drexell
Randy Graff as Principal Francine E. Itkin
Dakin Matthews as Roscoe Davis
Jason Biggs as Willie Trancas
Heidi Zeigler as Nicole Finnigan
Damian Cagnolatti as Kenny Sanders
Matthew Lawrence as Walker
A. J. Langer as Melissa Drexell
Brittany Murphy as Brenda Drexell
Edie McClurg as Principal Marilyn Ridge
Cleavant Derricks as George Foster
Phil Buckman as Slash
Jacqueline Donnelly as Bernadette
Matthew Slowik as Lionel

Episodes

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="background:#fff;"
style="background:#;"\| No. ! style="background:#;"\| Title ! style="background:#;"\| Directed by ! style="background:#;"\| Written by ! style="background:#;"\| Original air date ! style="background:#;"\| Prod. code {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=1 \|Title=Otis' Last Day \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=Andrew Nicholls & Darrell Vickers \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1991\|9\|19}} \|ProdCode = 8G03 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=2 \|Title=Air Drexell \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=Phil Kellard & Tom Moore \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1991\|9\|26}} \|ProdCode = 8G02 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=3 \|Title=Misery Loves Drexell \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=Andrew Nicholls & Darrell Vickers \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1991\|10\|3}} \|ProdCode = 8G04 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=4 \|Title=Love Walked Right In and Swept Mr. Drexell Away \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=Dennis Klein \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1991\|10\|10}} \|ProdCode = 8G05 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=5 \|Title=Convictions \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=Ralph Farquhar \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1991\|10\|17}} \|ProdCode = 8G01 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=6 \|Title=Viva Lost Wages \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=Phil Kellard & Tom Moore & Ralph Farquhar \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1991\|10\|24}} \|ProdCode = 8G07 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=7 \|Title=Best Halloween Ever \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=Wayne Kline \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1991\|10\|31}} \|ProdCode = 8G06 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=8 \|Title=Driving Drexell Crazy \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=Andrew Nicholls & Darrell Vickers \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1991\|11\|7}} \|ProdCode = 8G08 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=9 \|Title=Down and Out at the Out 'n In \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=Andrew Nicholls & Darrell Vickers \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1991\|11\|14}} \|ProdCode = 8G10 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=10 \|Title=The Best Thanksgiving Ever \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=Andrew Nicholls & Darrell Vickers \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1991\|11\|21}} \|ProdCode = 8G09 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=11 \|Title=Bully for Otis \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=Andrew Nicholls & Darrell Vickers \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1991\|12\|5}} \|ProdCode = 8G11 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=12 \|Title=Silent Night, Holy Smokes \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=Bill Boulware \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1991\|12\|12}} \|ProdCode = 8G12 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=13 \|Title=My Own Private Iowa \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=Eric Brand & Robert Kurtz \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1992\|1\|16}} \|ProdCode = 8G13 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=14 \|Title=Beauty and the Beast \|DirectedBy=Dick Martin \|WrittenBy=Bill Boulware \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1992\|1\|23}} \|ProdCode = 8G14 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=15 \|Title=Ashes to Ashes \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=George Zateslo \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1992\|2\|6}} \|ProdCode = 8G17 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=16 \|Title=Till Death Do You Part \|DirectedBy=Gino Tanasescu \|WrittenBy=George Zatelso \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1992\|2\|13}} \|ProdCode = 8G15 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=17 \|Title=Cruisin' \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=Bill Boulware \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1992\|2\|20}} \|ProdCode = 8G18 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }} {{Episode list \|EpisodeNumber=18 \|Title=The Resentments \|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond \|WrittenBy=Wayne Kline \|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1992\|3\|5}} \|ProdCode = 8G16 \|ShortSummary= \|LineColor= }}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="background:#fff;"

style="background:#;"| No.

! style="background:#;"| Title

! style="background:#;"| Directed by

! style="background:#;"| Written by

! style="background:#;"| Original air date

! style="background:#;"| Prod.
code

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=1

|Title=Otis' Last Day

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=Andrew Nicholls & Darrell Vickers

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1991|9|19}}

|ProdCode = 8G03

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=2

|Title=Air Drexell

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=Phil Kellard & Tom Moore

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1991|9|26}}

|ProdCode = 8G02

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=3

|Title=Misery Loves Drexell

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=Andrew Nicholls & Darrell Vickers

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1991|10|3}}

|ProdCode = 8G04

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=4

|Title=Love Walked Right In and Swept Mr. Drexell Away

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=Dennis Klein

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1991|10|10}}

|ProdCode = 8G05

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=5

|Title=Convictions

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=Ralph Farquhar

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1991|10|17}}

|ProdCode = 8G01

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=6

|Title=Viva Lost Wages

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=Phil Kellard & Tom Moore & Ralph Farquhar

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1991|10|24}}

|ProdCode = 8G07

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=7

|Title=Best Halloween Ever

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=Wayne Kline

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1991|10|31}}

|ProdCode = 8G06

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=8

|Title=Driving Drexell Crazy

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=Andrew Nicholls & Darrell Vickers

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1991|11|7}}

|ProdCode = 8G08

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=9

|Title=Down and Out at the Out 'n In

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=Andrew Nicholls & Darrell Vickers

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1991|11|14}}

|ProdCode = 8G10

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=10

|Title=The Best Thanksgiving Ever

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=Andrew Nicholls & Darrell Vickers

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1991|11|21}}

|ProdCode = 8G09

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=11

|Title=Bully for Otis

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=Andrew Nicholls & Darrell Vickers

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1991|12|5}}

|ProdCode = 8G11

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=12

|Title=Silent Night, Holy Smokes

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=Bill Boulware

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1991|12|12}}

|ProdCode = 8G12

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=13

|Title=My Own Private Iowa

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=Eric Brand & Robert Kurtz

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1992|1|16}}

|ProdCode = 8G13

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=14

|Title=Beauty and the Beast

|DirectedBy=Dick Martin

|WrittenBy=Bill Boulware

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1992|1|23}}

|ProdCode = 8G14

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=15

|Title=Ashes to Ashes

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=George Zateslo

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1992|2|6}}

|ProdCode = 8G17

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=16

|Title=Till Death Do You Part

|DirectedBy=Gino Tanasescu

|WrittenBy=George Zatelso

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1992|2|13}}

|ProdCode = 8G15

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=17

|Title=Cruisin'

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=Bill Boulware

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1992|2|20}}

|ProdCode = 8G18

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=18

|Title=The Resentments

|DirectedBy=Matthew Diamond

|WrittenBy=Wayne Kline

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1992|3|5}}

|ProdCode = 8G16

|ShortSummary=

|LineColor=

}}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Award ! Title of work ! Recipient
1991 \| Young Artist Awards \| Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Television Series \| {{center\|–}}
1991 \| Young Artist Awards \| Best Young Actor Guest Starring or Recurring Role in a TV Series	Michael Oliver
1991 \| Young Artist Awards \| Best Young Actor Guest Starring or Recurring Role in a TV Series \| Brandon Quintin Adams

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Award

! Title of work

! Recipient

1991

| Young Artist Awards

| Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Television Series

| {{center|–}}

1991

| Young Artist Awards

| Best Young Actor Guest Starring or Recurring Role in a TV Series

Michael Oliver

1991

| Young Artist Awards

| Best Young Actor Guest Starring or Recurring Role in a TV Series

| Brandon Quintin Adams

In popular culture

The Simpsons made light of the show's cancellation in their 1992 "Treehouse of Horror III" episode with a "graveyard of cancelled shows". A tombstone of Drexell's Class is featured alongside tombstones of Fish Police, Capitol Critters, and Family Dog.
An early episode of the show had a montage of historically accurate flags, from the Red Ensign of Colonial America and showing how the American flag changed, with the current 50-star flag marked "1991" followed by the flag of Japan marked "2000". This had been criticized by Asian-American groups and the Veterans of Foreign Wars who considered that to be a joke in poor taste.

References

Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows

External links

{{IMDb title|id=0101085}}
{{Epguides|id=DrexellsClass}}

Category:1990s American school television series

Category:1990s American sitcoms

Category:1990s American workplace comedy television series

Category:1991 American television series debuts

Category:1992 American television series endings

Category:Elementary school television series

Category:American English-language television shows

Category:Television series about educators

Category:Television series by 20th Century Fox Television

Category:Television shows set in Iowa

Category:Fox Broadcasting Company sitcoms