View Full Version : When Did Head of the Class Jump the Shark?


TMC
11-04-2023, 10:09 PM
https://popculturereferences.com/when-did-head-of-the-class-jump-the-shark/

In a feature looking at if or when a TV series "jumped the shark," Brian asks you all to determine when (or if) Head of the Class jumped the shark.

https://popculturereferences.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/head-of-the-class-header-1024x512.jpg

Today, we look at when (or if) you folks believe that Head of the Class “jumped the shark.” (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125301/http://www.jumptheshark.com/h/headoftheclass.htm)

This is “Just Can’t Jump It,” (https://popculturereferences.com/category/just-cant-jump-it/) a feature where we examine shows and whether they “jumped the shark.” Jumped the shark (coined by Jon Hein (http://www.jonhein.com/)) means that the show had a specific point in time where, in retrospect, you realize that show was going downhill from there (even if, in some rare occasions, the show later course-corrected). Not every show DOES jump the shark. Some shows just remain good all the way through. And some shows are terrible all the way through. What we’re looking for are moments where a show that you otherwise enjoyed hit a point where it took a noticeable nose dive after that time and if so, what moment was that?

Head of the Class was a sitcom about a special class made up of a gifted students in the Individualized Honors Program (IHP) at a fictional public high school in Manhattan. Charlie Moore (Howard Hesseman) was an actor and substitute teacher who filled in for their normal history teacher until he got the job for good, as the kids loved how different he was from their other, more staid teachers. Eventually, Moore left the show when he got a good acting gig, and Billy Mcgregor (Billy Connolly) takes over as their new teacher for the show’s fifth and final season.

So first…DID IT JUMP THE SHARK? I am going to say no.

WHEN DID IT JUMP THE SHARK Head of the Class was not a particularly good show, but it kept a pretty steady pace throughout its five seasons. It is one of the few shows that lost its lead character and kept going pretty much the same as always. Connolly is a very funny performer, so he was a fine replacement for Hesseman.

howierules86
11-05-2023, 07:53 AM
The original version never jumped for me, thanks to always having this lady:

296910

Edward216
04-09-2024, 10:01 PM
I'm going to disagree. Head Of The Class "jumped the shark" for me when Billy Connolly replaced Howard Hesseman. I hate Billy Connolly but I always thought the rest of the cast was fine. But after Billy Connolly took over as their teacher I didn't like watching the show as much. So yeah he kind of spoiled it for me.

Ed.

icecream
04-09-2024, 11:02 PM
I'm going to disagree. Head Of The Class "jumped the shark" for me when Billy Connolly replaced Howard Hesseman. I hate Billy Connolly but I always thought the rest of the cast was fine. But after Billy Connolly took over as their teacher I didn't like watching the show as much. So yeah he kind of spoiled it for me.

Ed.He ruined Head of the Class especially as the lead actor replacement. Pathetic that ABC even aired a spin-off with Billy Connolly, I am glad that flopped.

KurtfromPitts
04-10-2024, 11:10 AM
When the new-age character Viki joined the cast.

zed300
05-08-2024, 04:55 PM
He ruined Head of the Class especially as the lead actor replacement. Pathetic that ABC even aired a spin-off with Billy Connolly, I am glad that flopped.

I agree!