Homeroom (TV series)
{{short description|American sitcom}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| caption =
| genre = Sitcom
| creator = Andrew Scheinman
Gary Gilbert
| writer =
| director = Linda Day
Arlando Smith
| starring = Darryl Sivad
Penny Johnson
Bill Cobbs
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme = "Love Each Other (The Solution)"
performed by the Dimples
| composer =
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 13 (3 unaired)
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = Topper Carew
| producer =
| camera = Multi-camera
| runtime = 30 minutes
| company = Giggling Goose Productions
Castle Rock Entertainment
| channel = ABC
| first_aired = {{start date|1989|09|16}}
| last_aired = {{end date|1989|12|17}}
}}
Homeroom is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from September 16 to December 17, 1989. The series stars stand-up comedian Darryl Sivad as a fourth grade teacher at an inner-city school. ABC executives created the show as a vehicle for Sivad after seeing his routine on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SkdPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HwMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7203,1565888&dq=abc+homeroom+darryl+sivad&hl=en|title=Comedy goes to school in ABC's new 'Homeroom'|last=Ensign|first=Tom|date=September 4, 1989|work=Toledo Blade|pages=P–2|accessdate=November 28, 2012}}
Premise
The series follows Darryl Harper (Sivad), a highly paid advertising copywriter who decides to quit his job to teach underprivileged kids at P.S. 391, an inner city school in New York City. Darryl's wife Virginia (Penny Johnson) supports his choice but Virginia's father, Phil Drexler (Bill Cobbs) does not. Phil frequently voices his disapproval to Darryl that he feels is his right as Darryl and Virginia live rent-free in the brownstone Phil owns and also lives in.{{cite book|last=Brooks|first=Tim |author2=Marsh, Earle F.|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present |publisher=Ballantine Books|date=October 17, 2007|edition=9|pages=630|isbn=978-0-345-49773-4}}
Cast
- Darryl Sivad as Darryl Harper
- Penny Johnson as Virginia "Vicki" Harper
- Bill Cobbs as Phil Drexler
- Trent Cameron as Sam
- Jahary Bennett as Devon
- Billy Dee Willis as Donald
Reception and cancellation
Homeroom premiered on ABC on September 16, 1989, to mixed reviews.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RpAyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XfADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6598,297831&dq=abc+homeroom+darryl+sivad&hl=en|title='Homeroom' Star Sivad Trying to Be the Best He Can Be|last=DuBois|first=Stephanie|date=November 21, 1989|work=The Spokane Review|page=5|accessdate=November 28, 2012}} The series was scheduled on Sunday nights opposite CBS's hit series Murder, She Wrote and NBC's My Two Dads. As a result, Homeroom struggled in the ratings and faced cancellation.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UwgjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ps4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1072,1453553&dq=abc+homeroom+darryl+sivad&hl=en|title=Keeping 'Homeroom' alive via 'African-American grapevine'|date=November 2, 1989|work=The Modesto Bee|page=E5|accessdate=November 28, 2012}} In an effort to save the series, the cast and producers asked viewers to start a letter writing campaign. Executive producer Topper Carew went on a cross-country promotional tour to schools where he showed the series to students and teachers and held a Q&A session afterwards.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lhAqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FmUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1419,3940009&dq=abc+homeroom+darryl+sivad&hl=en|title='Homeroom' actors try to save series|last=Weaver|first=Maurice|date=November 20, 1989|work=Sun Journal|page=8|accessdate=November 28, 2012}} Carew also mailed letters and contacted African-American organizations and activists asking them to watch the show and to talk about it. Despite the cast and producers' efforts, ABC canceled the series in December 1989.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FwggAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OGUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3827,995699&dq=abc+homeroom+canceled&hl=en|title='Homeroom', 'Living Dolls' canceled by ABC|date=December 6, 1989|work=Sun Journal|page=29|accessdate=November 28, 2012}} Three of the thirteen episodes produced were never aired.
Episodes
{{Episode table |background=#5DAFFF |overall=5 |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
|Title=Pilot
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1989|9|16}}
|EpisodeNumber=1
|DirectedBy= Art Wolff
|WrittenBy= Gary Gilbert & Andrew Scheinman
|ShortSummary= The kids cheat at a big math test.
|LineColor=5DAFFF
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=The Lookin' for West Coast Travelin' 'Long the Missouri River Blues
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1989|9|24}}
|EpisodeNumber=2
|DirectedBy= Linda Day
|WrittenBy= David X. Cohen & Roger S. H. Schulman
|ShortSummary= Donald takes piano lessons. Anthony gets dumped by his girlfriend.
|LineColor=5DAFFF
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Food for Thought
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1989|10|1}}
|EpisodeNumber=3
|DirectedBy= Arlando Smith
|WrittenBy= Marc Cherry & Jamie Wooten
|ShortSummary= The manager for the cafeteria gets tired of Donald's misbehavior.
|LineColor=5DAFFF
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=It's Not Easy Bein' Green
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1989|10|8}}
|EpisodeNumber=4
|DirectedBy= Linda Day
|WrittenBy= Marc Cherry & Jamie Wooten
|ShortSummary= A tree is left in Devon's care, but the tree dies because of lack of water. Virginia tries to help Phil with his high blood pressure.
|LineColor=5DAFFF
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Dirty Laundry
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1989|10|22}}
|EpisodeNumber=5
|DirectedBy= Linda Day
|WrittenBy= Trish Soodik
|ShortSummary= Lisa and Devon run for class president.
|LineColor=5DAFFF
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Who Is Captain Fitness?
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1989|11|5}}
|EpisodeNumber=6
|DirectedBy= Linda Day
|WrittenBy= Marc Cherry & Jamie Wooten
|ShortSummary= Sam's hero, Captain Fitness, dies during a classroom workout.
|LineColor=5DAFFF
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Dinner at Fiveish
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1989|11|19}}
|EpisodeNumber=7
|DirectedBy= Linda Day
|WrittenBy= Trish Soodik
|ShortSummary= Phil goes out with a colleague of Darryl.
|LineColor=5DAFFF
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=The Commercial Break
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1989|12|3}}
|EpisodeNumber=8
|DirectedBy=
|WrittenBy= David Cohen & Roger S.H. Schulman
|ShortSummary= Anthony directs his first commercial. The kids find out that Darryl was once a practical joker.
|LineColor=5DAFFF
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Mr. Drexler's Neighborhood
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1989|12|10}}
|EpisodeNumber=9
|DirectedBy= Linda Day
|WrittenBy= Paul B. Price & Stephen Nathan
|ShortSummary= Phil tries to teach the kids in Darryl's class about the streets in the neighborhood.
|LineColor=5DAFFF
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, Sister
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1989|12|17}}
|EpisodeNumber=10
|DirectedBy= Arlando Smith
|WrittenBy= Trish Soodik
|ShortSummary= Darryl lets Lisa direct a school play based on her contest-winning script.
|LineColor=5DAFFF
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Who'll Be My Role Model Now That My Role Model Is Gone?
|OriginalAirDate=UNAIRED
|EpisodeNumber=11
|DirectedBy= Tony Singletary
|WrittenBy=David Cohen & Roger S.H. Schulman
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=5DAFFF
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=The Visitor
|OriginalAirDate=UNAIRED
|EpisodeNumber=12
|DirectedBy= Linda Day
|WrittenBy=David Cohen & Roger S.H. Schulman
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=5DAFFF
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=The Mom Who Came to Dinner
|OriginalAirDate=UNAIRED
|EpisodeNumber=13
|DirectedBy= Linda Day
|WrittenBy= Marc Cherry & Jamie Wooten
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=5DAFFF
}}
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0096612|Homeroom}}
- {{epguides|id=Homeroom|title=Homeroom}}
Category:1989 American television series debuts
Category:1989 American television series endings
Category:1980s American black sitcoms
Category:1980s American school television series
Category:1980s American multi-camera sitcoms
Category:1980s American workplace comedy television series
Category:Elementary school television series
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:Television series about educators
Category:Television shows set in New York City
Category:Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios