Whatever it is called, the Super Secret Formulas or some such. It looks at teh similarities in sitcom "formulas," usually humorously.
The one on last Sunday (probably a rerun of Fridays) mentioned a formula of sitcoms was when shows casts went on trips, and they had HOTC mnetioned going to Russia for like three seconds. It;s the same ep dedicated to Rerun from What's Happening, and featuring the Punky Brewster (sorry Julie!) mouth to mouth CPR episode.

You know, HotC took a historic trip to Russia, being the first American sitcom to film there, and all they can devote on that is 3 seconds!? When will our show get the respect it deserves?

Originally posted by Really4rob
Whatever it is called, the Super Secret Formulas or some such. It looks at teh similarities in sitcom "formulas," usually humorously.
The one on last Sunday (probably a rerun of Fridays) mentioned a formula of sitcoms was when shows casts went on trips, and they had HOTC mnetioned going to Russia for like three seconds. It;s the same ep dedicated to Rerun from What's Happening, and featuring the Punky Brewster (sorry Julie!) mouth to mouth CPR episode.
Hey Rob! Thanks for telling us about it. Hopefully this will repeat on Vh1 soon, I'll have to see if I can catch it and see it too. They have HOTC and Punky mentioned in it, thats pretty cool lol! Altho it sucks that they only had 3 seconds of HOTC tho. Wow I didn't even know that HOTC was the first American sitcom to film there, thats amazing, and they definately should have gotten more respect for that and for everything else too!

sorry again to be posting on such old topics, but i would be curious to know how the idea of the episode came up and who developed it. i'm sure there mustve been extensive governemnt involvement being during the communist period there. also, when the cast and crew were there, how much security did they need? did they feel safe or did they spend their whole trip in fear? just a few things ive always wondered about those episodes.

I have a few articles about their Russia trip. I will post the more interesting stuff later. Right now I have some errands to run. See ya later!

thanks, that'd be great.

Originally posted by mudshark82
sorry again to be posting on such old topics, but i would be curious to know how the idea of the episode came up and who developed it. i'm sure there mustve been extensive governemnt involvement being during the communist period there. also, when the cast and crew were there, how much security did they need? did they feel safe or did they spend their whole trip in fear? just a few things ive always wondered about those episodes.
Those are really good questions! Now I'm curious and would love to know too LOL. Thanks so much Warsaw Dreams for posting the Russia trip articles when you get time, I'd love to see them too :D

I can't get my scanner to work right now (stupid technology!) but I'll try to write the more interesting things from the atricles.
When Head of the Class did the episode where the Russian team comes to New York for an Academic match, executive producer Michael Elias thought that the class should go over to Russia for a re-match. The producers made their first trip to the USSR in Feb. of 1988. They ended up going there three times in seven months to get a list of their needs and to scout Russian actors.The 1988 writer's strike almost ruined their plans but it was over in time for the cast and crew, about 85 people in all, to make the trip. Associate producer Frank Pace said "It turned out to be a difficult shoot under difficult conditions, but we made two pretty terrific shows." Some of the Soviet actors learned their English lines phonetically and didn't know what they were saying. Afterwards, some of the Russian actors came to America to visit with some of the cast. Dan Schneider said that the folks in Moscow really didn't want anything to do with them. The older people would look away although the younger people were a little friendlier but still didn't know who the cast was. The cast came down with colds as it was rainy and they were staying in a hotel with no heat, no towels and no shower curtains. Brian Robbins had his hotel room burglarized and the thieves took his new CD player and Sony walkman. The trip lasted 12 days.
Although it doesn't sound like the best time in the world, I still wish I could have been there!! :D

that is alot of cool stuff. i'm sure it was an experience none of them would forget. thanks alot for taking the time to share that, i really found it interesting.

My pleasure! I love to discuss Head of the Class with people who love it as much as I do!

Originally posted by warsaw dreams
I can't get my scanner to work right now (stupid technology!) but I'll try to write the more interesting things from the atricles.
When Head of the Class did the episode where the Russian team comes to New York for an Academic match, executive producer Michael Elias thought that the class should go over to Russia for a re-match. The producers made their first trip to the USSR in Feb. of 1988. They ended up going there three times in seven months to get a list of their needs and to scout Russian actors.The 1988 writer's strike almost ruined their plans but it was over in time for the cast and crew, about 85 people in all, to make the trip. Associate producer Frank Pace said "It turned out to be a difficult shoot under difficult conditions, but we made two pretty terrific shows." Some of the Soviet actors learned their English lines phonetically and didn't know what they were saying. Afterwards, some of the Russian actors came to America to visit with some of the cast. Dan Schneider said that the folks in Moscow really didn't want anything to do with them. The older people would look away although the younger people were a little friendlier but still didn't know who the cast was. The cast came down with colds as it was rainy and they were staying in a hotel with no heat, no towels and no shower curtains. Brian Robbins had his hotel room burglarized and the thieves took his new CD player and Sony walkman. The trip lasted 12 days.
Although it doesn't sound like the best time in the world, I still wish I could have been there!! :D
Yeah thank you so much for writing that out and sharing it with us! I enjoyed reading it, that is a lot of interesting stuff!

I'm glad everyone enjoyed it! :wave:

Speaking of VH1...does anyone know if they featured "HOTC" on "I Love the 80s Strikes Back"?

Nope-not one word!

Yeah...because on the original "I Love the 80s," Rain Pryor was on the 1989 one, and mentioned the fashion trends of them...but nothing of HOTC. I would've thought "...Strikes Back" woulda mentioned it, but I am truly disappointed.:(

I know- they were an important item from the 80's that everyone seems to forget about!

E! has a special on tonight (march 15th) about 80's teen idols. Do you think any of the HOTC guys will be featured?

Originally posted by warsaw dreams
E! has a special on tonight (march 15th) about 80's teen idols. Do you think any of the HOTC guys will be featured?
ahh I missed that, did any of the HOTC guys get featured? They should have lol!

I didn't see the show either, but I doubt they were featured.

It seems like Head of the Class is kind of a forgotten show, except of course when it comes to us.

I really wish they would release it on DVD, then we can have every single episode remastered and sounding great :)

Mike

It would be REALLY great it came on DVD with cast and crew commentary!