Roscoe Lee Browne should have replaced Howard Hesseman in Season 5 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

icecream · 04-02-2019, 07:56 PM

instead of awful actor Billy Connolly. Season 5 would have been a lot more watchable then. Roscoe played Mr. Moore's predecessor in a season 1 episode who was set to return but thought the class was in good hands with him. Once Howard Hesseman left though, he could have come out of retirement to return instead of the lousy Billy character. It is really sad too that Billy was who the show attempted a spin-off of. There are so many students who would have been a better choice, the best being Simone and Eric. Also could have had Arvid and Dennis, or Sarah and Darlene.

AMackII · 04-04-2019, 08:18 AM

Exactly, the writers & producers would've make a right choice on adding Roscoe Lee Browne to the Fifth Season of "Head of the Class" If It Wasn't For Billy Connolly.

howierules86 · 12-29-2019, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catsrule

There are so many students who would have been a better choice, the best being Simone and Eric.

My idea for a HOTC spin-off would involve Simone Foster dumping Eric, then moving away with her parents to Amarillo, TX, to practice being a dental hygienist at Amarillo College. Episodes would focus on either that, her family life, or her hobby of poetry. If the spin-off continued after 1998, Simone would finally graduate as a licensed dental hygienist, and take a hygienist job at a nearby dentist's office. Some episodes would focus on Simone trying to find a love interest who actually cares about her, but doesn't have any luck until 2005 when she finds a gentleman named Tom who accepts Simone for who she is, and shortly after that, Simone moves out of her parents' house and moves in with Tom. They both agree that it's better to just be in a relationship (i.e., not legally married) and they live happily ever after as a result.

RetroGuy2000 · 12-29-2019, 05:45 PM

Billy was horrible. I would definitely have preferred to see the original teacher.

JôherColeman · 01-06-2020, 01:47 AM

I'll keep this brief

Roscoe Lee Browne was a delight to work with. He would have made for an excellent recurring character. I bumped in to him outside a restaurant in the mid-2000's. I was amazed that he recognized me after twenty years. We chatted and laughed for a bit. I called and spoke with him a couple times thereafter with the intention of getting together for lunch. That didn't come together but it was a lovely time just bumping in to him. This string's enthusiasm for him is well-founded.

Best,

- Jôher

RetroGuy2000 · 01-06-2020, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JôherColeman

I'll keep this brief

Roscoe Lee Browne was a delight to work with. He would have made for an excellent recurring character. I bumped in to him outside a restaurant in the mid-2000's. I was amazed that he recognized me after twenty years. We chatted and laughed for a bit. I called and spoke with him a couple times thereafter with the intention of getting together for lunch. That didn't come together but it was a lovely time just bumping in to him. This string's enthusiasm for him is well-founded.

Best,

- Jôher

Thanks for the insight, Joher. It's cool that he recognized you, after so many years!

TomH1138 · 03-21-2020, 05:43 PM

I like Billy Connolly, but the character didn't fully work for me. Bringing back the original teacher...now THAT'S an interesting idea!

As for spinoffs, Dr. Samuels says in the final episode that he's going to work for a children's school (or something like that). That always seemed like the setup for a spinoff to me, but if that was ever in the works, it didn't come to fruition.

JR1 · 05-13-2020, 08:12 PM

Now that could have been interesting- far more so than the Billy character.

JôherColeman · 05-26-2020, 02:05 AM

Dear Everyone,

I watched my first complete episode of "Head of the Class" with the second wave of students and actor Billy Connely. I know that several of you were unhappy with his portrayal. Like many of the characters introduce later in the series, he brought his own energy. I'd be interested in knowing more about what people were displeased with. I understand that Conelly has had some health concerns so I wish him healing and recovery.

JôherColeman · 05-26-2020, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Thanks for the insight, Joher. It's cool that he recognized you, after so many years!

RG2000,

Thank you! Bumping into him was a pleasure. Wishing you continued good health and safety during this atypical experience of global virus.

RetroGuy2000 · 06-03-2020, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JôherColeman

RG2000,

Thank you! Bumping into him was a pleasure. Wishing you continued good health and safety during this atypical experience of global virus.

Thank you, Joher. Things have been a little crazy here, but I'm sure it was far worse in the big cities. The economic impact, however, has been horrific.

You asked why we don't care for Billy's portrayal as Billy. For me it didn't work because he was tooo... manic, I guess is the right word. his character felt over the top, and like he was performing for the audience, rather than for the students. Just my opinion, as always.

JR1 · 06-04-2020, 09:02 AM

I'd agree with Retro's comments about Billy. It's not that he himself is not likable; that role just didn't gel, IMO.

As for the student who came in later- I liked TJ, but not so much the other three. Of those characters, I'd say Aristotle was probably the most likable and added more than the other two.

04-02-2019, 07:56 PM	#1
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,615	Roscoe Lee Browne should have replaced Howard Hesseman in Season 5 instead of awful actor Billy Connolly. Season 5 would have been a lot more watchable then. Roscoe played Mr. Moore's predecessor in a season 1 episode who was set to return but thought the class was in good hands with him. Once Howard Hesseman left though, he could have come out of retirement to return instead of the lousy Billy character. It is really sad too that Billy was who the show attempted a spin-off of. There are so many students who would have been a better choice, the best being Simone and Eric. Also could have had Arvid and Dennis, or Sarah and Darlene.
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

12-29-2019, 05:45 PM	#4
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	Billy was horrible. I would definitely have preferred to see the original teacher.
	__________________ The Facts of Life's "Lost Girls" Tribute to Julie Piekarski, Eastland Girl Join "The Group", Sitcoms Online's Facts of Life group!

05-26-2020, 02:05 AM	#9
JôherColeman Actor @ imdb.me/coleman Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 02, 2019 Location: America ;^) Posts: 16	Billy Connely Dear Everyone, I watched my first complete episode of "Head of the Class" with the second wave of students and actor Billy Connely. I know that several of you were unhappy with his portrayal. Like many of the characters introduce later in the series, he brought his own energy. I'd be interested in knowing more about what people were displeased with. I understand that Conelly has had some health concerns so I wish him healing and recovery.
	Last edited by JôherColeman; 05-26-2020 at 02:10 AM. Reason: Formatting

04-04-2019, 08:18 AM	#2
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,201	Exactly, the writers & producers would've make a right choice on adding Roscoe Lee Browne to the Fifth Season of "Head of the Class" If It Wasn't For Billy Connolly.

01-06-2020, 01:47 AM	#5
JôherColeman Actor @ imdb.me/coleman Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 02, 2019 Location: America ;^) Posts: 16	I'll keep this brief Roscoe Lee Browne was a delight to work with. He would have made for an excellent recurring character. I bumped in to him outside a restaurant in the mid-2000's. I was amazed that he recognized me after twenty years. We chatted and laughed for a bit. I called and spoke with him a couple times thereafter with the intention of getting together for lunch. That didn't come together but it was a lovely time just bumping in to him. This string's enthusiasm for him is well-founded. Best, - Jôher

03-21-2020, 05:43 PM	#7
TomH1138 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 13, 2014 Location: Chicago Posts: 11	I like Billy Connolly, but the character didn't fully work for me. Bringing back the original teacher...now THAT'S an interesting idea! As for spinoffs, Dr. Samuels says in the final episode that he's going to work for a children's school (or something like that). That always seemed like the setup for a spinoff to me, but if that was ever in the works, it didn't come to fruition.

05-13-2020, 08:12 PM	#8
JR1 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 07, 2009 Location: USA Posts: 742	Now that could have been interesting- far more so than the Billy character.

06-04-2020, 09:02 AM	#12
JR1 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 07, 2009 Location: USA Posts: 742	I'd agree with Retro's comments about Billy. It's not that he himself is not likable; that role just didn't gel, IMO. As for the student who came in later- I liked TJ, but not so much the other three. Of those characters, I'd say Aristotle was probably the most likable and added more than the other two.