Isabella Gomez to Headline "Head of the Class" Reboot Pilot for HBO Max
by Nellie Andreeva
November 25, 2020


"One Day at a Time" star Isabella Gomez is set as the lead of HBO Max’s multi-camera comedy pilot "Head of the Class", a reboot of the popular 1980s ABC sitcom.

Gomez’s casting reveals a gender swap in the follow-up as the lead in the original series was played by Howard Hesseman.

https://deadline.com/2020/11/isabella-gomez-star-head-of-the-class-reboot-hbo-max-gender-swap-1234621424/

Jolie Hoang-Rappaport Joins HBO Max "Head of the Class" Reboot
by Dino-Ray Ramos
November 30, 2020


"Watchmen" actress Jolie Hoang-Rappaport is going back to school. She is the latest to join the roster of the "Head of the Class" reboot at HBO Max.

Hoang-Rappaport will play Makayla Washington, a business-savvy, life-chronicling Insta-queen.

https://deadline.com/2020/11/jolie-hoang-rappaport-hbo-max-head-of-the-class-reboot-1234621980/

Gavin Lewis Joins "Head of the Class" Reboot Pilot for HBO Max
by Denise Petski
December 17, 2020


Gavin Lewis (Little Fires Everywhere) is set as a series regular in HBO Max’s multi-camera comedy pilot "Head of the Class", a reboot of the popular 1980s ABC sitcom.

Lewis will play Luke Burrows. Fourteen years old, driven, ambitious, and conservative Luke already has a 10 point life plan to follow in his senator father’s footsteps.

https://deadline.com/2020/12/gavin-lewis-head-of-the-class-reboot-pilot-hbo-max-1234658705/

HBO Max's Head of the Class reboot rounds out its cast, adds Christa Miller as the principal (https://deadline.com/2021/01/head-of-the-class-jorge-diaz-christa-miller-cast-hbo-max-reboot-pilot-1234675694/)

The Bill Lawrence-produced comedy will feature his wife Miller in a recurring role as Principal Maris, an intimidating, tough love boss that always puts the students first. Other cast members include Jorge Diaz as a goofy English teacher, Dior Goodjohn as the defacto leader of the class, Brandon Severs as a year-round athlete and Adrian Matthew Escalona as a shy, introverted, overthinking coder.

Just a note that Head of the Class apparently is on HBO Max- makes sense, as it's behind the upcoming new take on the show.

I know it's also on Roku, though I'm signed up to Max through early September, so I'll probably watch it on there at some point.

Just a note that Head of the Class apparently is on HBO Max- makes sense, as it's behind the upcoming new take on the show.

I know it's also on Roku, though I'm signed up to Max through early September, so I'll probably watch it on there at some point.

It's been off of Roku for a while now. I'm hoping that Roku will eventually bring it back like they did with The Nanny.

"Head of the Class" Lands Series Order at HBO Max
by Peter White
March 31, 2021


HBO Max has handed the reboot of "Head of the Class" a ten-episode order. The project was handed a pilot order and five additional scripts in May 2020.

The series comes from "Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence.

https://deadline.com/2021/03/head-of-the-class-bill-lawrence-amy-pocha-seth-cohen-series-order-hbo-max-1234725653/

Apparently, Robin Givens is reprising her role on the HBO Max reboot of the show. Haven't seen it reported anywhere else (Deadline article, posted on Yahoo):

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/batwoman-robin-givens-joins-season-182726961.html

Givens is currently recurring in the upcoming HBO Max series Head of the Class, reprising her role as Darlene Merriman from the original series. In the followup series, Darlene is Terrell’s (Brandon Severs) mother.

Apparently, Robin Givens is reprising her role on the HBO Max reboot of the show. Haven't seen it reported anywhere else (Deadline article, posted on Yahoo):

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/batwoman-robin-givens-joins-season-182726961.html

Givens is currently recurring in the upcoming HBO Max series Head of the Class, reprising her role as Darlene Merriman from the original series. In the followup series, Darlene is Terrell’s (Brandon Severs) mother.

That's awesome! That ties it to the old show then and allows for guest stars. Very glad to hear that. I'll check it out then.

No date yet, though HBO Max has announced that the show will premiere in November.

I still haven't seen the tidbit about Robin Givens anywhere other than what I posted. Hopefully it turns out to be so.

Robin Givens indeed will appear as Darlene. She posted a photo from the set July 3 on Instagram. Not sure if it's just one episode.

Robin Givens indeed will appear as Darlene. She posted a photo from the set July 3 on Instagram. Not sure if it's just one episode.

Robin Givens reprising her Head of the Class character on HBO Max's reboot (https://ew.com/tv/robin-givens-head-of-the-class-first-look)

Givens played Darlene Merriman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpoAD5xJmtk&t=153s), a member of the original Individualized Honors Program (IHP) on the ABC sitcom Head of the Class from 1986 to 1991. On the HBO Max reboot, she'll play one of the parents to one of the overachieving high school students. In the reboot, Alicia Gomez takes on the Howard Hesseman role as the teacher who wants the kids to focus less on grades and more on experiencing life. "It's really cool," Givens tells EW of playing Darlene again. "It's so funny because you think reboots, and you immediately think, 'Oh no!' with certain things. 'Just leave it!' And then there was something about this when I was asked to do it, it just warmed my heart. It made me so happy. I thought it was so sweet." Givens adds that Darlene is now known as Darlene Hayward, an ambitious lawyer with a degree from Stanford. "She's become a lawyer, she's a single mom and very close to her son and very much a mama bear. She's Darlene Merriman, all grown up," says Givens. "She's a perfectionist and sticking to her son like glue and trying to be the best mom she could possibly be but doesn't understand she probably should get out of the way a little bit to let him do some growing up...She wants what is best for her son and is hyper-focused on setting him up for success. Darlene might need a reminder of the positive impact an out-of-the-box teacher can have, but she's fighting for the good of all students at Meadows Creek High as co-head of the Parents' Association."

Premieres Nov. 4. Will definitely check out the first episode at least. The clip released isn't all that funny, so hopefully the whole episode has some memorable moments.

HBO Max's Head of the Class reboot is wholesome and bland, but there is some potential (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/head-of-the-class-review-1235040883/)

"Things I remember about the original Head of the Class, which aired on ABC from 1986 to 1991: that terrific ensemble cast. Howard Hesseman, Robin Givens and the guy who’s now running Paramount Pictures?" says Daniel Fienberg. "Come on! The opening credits and Ed Alton’s theme music. It’s a bop! The Moscow episodes. Your history books may say otherwise, but in my mind, the Cold War was ended by Rocky IV and Head of the Class. Thing I don’t remember about the original Head of the Class: what the show’s actual premise was. As best I can explain, it was about a diverse group of nerds in the 'Individualized Honors Program' at a Manhattan public school who relied on a permanent substitute teacher (Hesseman’s Charlie Moore) to impart lessons about life, or something to that effect. It was a show that generated its appeal around its cast and the often likable relationships among the very, very archetypal teen characters, all played by actors who appeared from the outset to be in their 30s (other than Tannis Vallely’s Janice, who was a prodigy and actually looked 11). All of this is to say that Head of the Class was a successful show, and a generation — my, my, my generation, I suppose — has affection for it. Therefore, of course it would eventually be rebooted as a brand. But what exactly is that brand, and what is really to be gained from bringing it back? After watching three episodes of HBO Max’s new version, I’m still not sure. After a bumpy pilot, the sitcom settles into a low-key likable vibe. It’s a somewhat quaint and innocuous multi-cam that would have felt rousingly progressive in 1986 and would probably be too bland for ABC’s comedy lineup today, a show that neither gains anything nor loses much from tacking on the Head of the Class name. The looseness of the premise is the main thing the new show has in common with the original, along with the participation of creators Rich Eustis and Michael Elias, who collaborate with new series developers Amy Pocha and Seth Cohen."

ALSO:


Head of the Class feels out of place on HBO Max (https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/hbo-max/head-of-the-class-review/): "With its tinny laugh track and line, line, joke rat-a-tat formula, it feels like a network television sitcom," says Amy Amatangelo. "The show is fine, at times even funny—but it seems better suited to airing between The Goldbergs and The Wonder Years on ABC Wednesday nights. What I find particularly challenging about this era of streaming platforms is that so few of them have a brand or a personality. We are at a point where any show could air on any network. Why do we have a gazillion streaming platforms anyway?" She adds: "Again it’s not bad, and it may work for the show’s intended younger audience. But as far as expanding HBO Max’s brand of original series, it’s too generic and not really worth the time. Head of the Class isn’t a failure, but you can easily pass on attending."
Head of the Class relies on the boundless wellspring of charisma and enthusiasm that is Isabella Gomez (https://www.avclub.com/one-day-at-a-time-s-isabella-gomez-is-at-the-head-of-th-1847987330): "The general premise of Head Of The Class is still the same in 2021 as it was in 1986: a rough-around-the-edges teacher is assigned to a group of gifted students and uses unorthodox educational methods to educate the kids on matters both in and out of the school, steering them to make the most of themselves even when they’re not in class," says Will Harris. "Admittedly, the teacher this time around—Alicia Gomez (played by the aforementioned Gomez)—isn’t just rough around the edges, she’s also wet behind the ears, which means that not only is there a considerable learning curve, but there’s also a tendency for Alicia to find the experiences of the kids feeling more familiar to her than the sensation of being a teacher and role model."
What's it like for Isabella Gomez to go from the One Day at a Time reboot to the Head of the Class reboot? (https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/isabella-gomez-head-of-the-class-one-day-at-a-time-1235102530/): "It makes so much sense for me, especially with this character," she says. "She’s so different than Elena. The show is so different than One Day at a Time that I didn’t feel like, 'Oh, I’m doing another reboot.' Right now, we need so much joy and so much laughter after the couple of years we’ve had as humans that I was really excited to sign on board." Gomez adds that Head of the Class benefits from its representation. "Absolutely," she says. "What I liked about it is that it wasn’t even a conversation about that. And in fact, Alicia was Alicia Adams before she was Alicia Gomez. I think that the creative team really went in and auditioned people and just wanted to get whoever was the best for the role. And it just so happened that the cast was super diverse because there’s so much talent all over the spectrum. I was stoked that that’s what the cast looks like."

I'll make my opinions of the show in three syllables: HORR-I-BLE!

Obviously watching just the first episode doesn't give you a vibe for what the whole series will be but powering through the first four episodes was like licking the bottoms of Oprah Winfrey's feet.

The show sucks, the writing, the acting even the fake audience laughter sucks.

It isn't a patch on the original, though a few of the actors have somewhat endearing qualities. Isabella Gomez is likable. I agree about the bad laugh track. And I don't like how many, of these modern comedies rely so heavily on "trendy" talk, technology, etc.

As per Deadline:

HEAD OF THE CLASS Reboot Cancelled by HBO Max After 1 Season (https://deadline.com/2021/12/head-of-the-class-reboot-canceled-hbo-max-one-season-1234898663/)

The Isabella Gomez-led reboot of the 1986-1991 ABC high school sitcom has been canceled a little over a month after its Nov. 4 premiere. From executive producer Bill Lawrence and writers/showrunners Amy Pocha and Seth Cohen, Head of the Class premiered to okay reviews (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/head_of_the_class_2021/s01). “We will not be moving forward with a second season of Head of the Class, an HBO Max spokesperson said in a statement to Deadline. “We were grateful to work with Bill, Amy, and Seth to bring back such an iconic series, and we thank them and the terrific cast for their hard work and dedication.” Head of the Class is the second original series to be canceled by HBO Max, joining fellow comedy Generation.

As per Deadline:

HEAD OF THE CLASS Reboot Cancelled by HBO Max After 1 Season (https://deadline.com/2021/12/head-of-the-class-reboot-canceled-hbo-max-one-season-1234898663/)

That's too bad. I actually enjoyed the show. I didn't laugh a lot through out, but I found the show charming and sweet. The same for Punky Brewster, which was also cancelled after just one season.

I only checked this out recently long after it was cancelled. I do not always have HBOMAX and was not going to signup for it at the time.

I liked the cast but that is about it. It’s been a long time. I will be 45 this year. I was probably not the audience for this at all. The format changes were too many for this to feel anything like the original at all.

The teacher feels not much older than the students. I first gained internet access my senior year in High School. 96/97. Do teachers really follow students online??!! Seems a lot of ethics issues on privacy.

Admittedly I only watched 3 episodes but these kids seemed like average students. smart but not as gifted as IHP students were. The debate subjects are way too broad and vague to teach them anything meaningful.

It’s crazy how this show came and went without a blip. Being buried on HBOMAX did not help. Which is before HBOMAX started cutting original programming last year. If some how it got renew it might have been cut anyways.

No real loss. I do wonder if they hoped to involve any more of original cast if it had continued. Robin Givens back as Darlene as one of the kids’ Mom felt really arbitrary. Like it was an afterthought.

I am surprised they did not set this again at Fillmore High School. Having one of the original kids as current Principal would have been stronger connection. Plus made it easier to justify appearances by others if a reunion episode ever happened. At least you could say they are visiting their old homes and roots.