Season 1 Thoughts - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Eric Paddon · 04-22-2009, 06:38 PM

Watching all of these episodes in sequence for the first time (I do recommend that "A Day In The Life" be watched after the pilot rather than in broadcast sequence because it is the true first episode that sets up the revisions made after the pilot) was fascinating. I had first seen the show in its PBS repeats but never realized that not all episodes had been shown at the time. So some of these were old and familiar from decades of earlier exposure and others like the critical episode where Jonathan Brooks cheats and leaves law school I had never seen before.

The adjustments from the pilot I think strengthened the show. Giving Hart a regular off-campus girlfriend as Marilu Henner was set-up to be wouldn't have worked because we would have been subjected to week after week of her going, "Why do you kill yourself trying to be a lawyer?" Fortunately, Marilu had a better job waiting in the wings with "Taxi". Logan was a better character for the woman of the group than O'Connor in the pilot.

Since the Brooks character in the novel and movie goes through a tortured demise, I've always wondered if from the get-go it was planned so that Brooks would only be around for a little bit and then have to make his exit. What is strange is how the producers evidently decided early on that Deka Beaudine as Ashley Brooks wasn't working out well since she is never seen again after episode #4, despite remaining in the credits through episode #13. Even in episode #13 "Act Of Desperation" dealing with Jonathan's cheating and eventually leaving law school, she isn't referred to (with the only allusion to Brooks being married being a reference to his father-in-law wanting him to be a lawyer). I almost wonder if the episode "Da-Da" which deals with the travails of a married student who isn't good at analysis was originally intended for Brooks and Ashley, since the basic plotline is lifted entirely from what Brooks goes through in the novel and movie (indeed, one interesting thing about watching the episodes is spotting the moments when something from the novel or movie finally got incorporated) but they decided that since Beaudine wasn't cutting it (imdb lists her as having NO professional credits of any kind after "Paper Chase" until the 90s) they would rewrite it for a different married couple altogether (Tom Clayton's problem is the same as Jonathan Brooks in "Act Of Desperation". He can memorize the facts, but he can't analyze them well).

I am glad I never saw the Russian athlete episode until now. It is embarrassing to watch, and I can understand why John Houseman refused to do the episode.

OH Nuts! · 04-25-2009, 10:32 AM

Wow, you sure know your Paper Chase. I saw the '73 movie and have it at home but didn't read the book.

One could go on for pages abt Season 1 but I'm going to try to keep my post brief (not easy with a show this rich and complex)

First I like the way the series expanded upon Kingfield's personality. In the movie he was ominous and foreboding - a true curmudgeon if there ever was one. In Season 1 you saw glimpses of a kindly side - but one that was judiciously exposed. For example, when he gives Hart that extra "assignment" in "The Tables Down At Ernie's" . What did parallel the movie was Kingfield's brilliance - I LOVE the part in the movie where Hart stands up to him and says "Kingfield you are a s-o-b". Kingfield cleverly handles this, sensing what could be the start of a mutiny, by saying "Mr. Hart, that's the most intelligent thing you've said all morning"* eliciting tension-releasing laughter and also admitting very subtly that yes I am a s-o-b. Two good examples of Kingfield's smarts from S#1 were the "Ernie's" ep above and "The Apprentice" where Prof K deftly argues a case before the bench.

I like the way Hart's character unfolds, and that you get to see that Kingsfield really does like him. But then why not, Hart is mentally adroit - quite willing to think outside the box skillfully - the last being a fav of Kingfield's too. You see that Kingfield likes Hart by choosing him to tutor in "A Matter Of Anger" and choosing him as his asst. in "The Apprentice. Also, he makes a very kind remark abt Hart in "The Clay Footed Idol" where he indicates he thinks Hart will make a superb lawyer.

I enjoy the other characters as well but won't go on about them here. As for Hart's g.f. in the pilot glad she taxi'd off as Nardo - although she might have been good in The Paper Chase too.

I love discussing this show so...pick a theme...or an ep you'd like to discuss. I also like playing games related to the show...like the A-Z game. The "Wrong Answer" game can be fun too. But don't know if games are your shtick - or the other fans. I like it all. So I'll start the Wrong Ans. game off and if no one wants to play so be it. Discussing the series is FUN for me too - esp. a series that was high up on my wish list- that has FINALLY come out (Thank you again SHOUT!)

* I may be a tiny bit off on the quote. Can't find my Paper Chase movie DVD.

Eric Paddon · 04-25-2009, 08:45 PM

Kingsfield's awareness of Hart's potential and brilliance is the biggest change from the movie/book. In those, Kingsfield remains imperious and aloof to the very end, not even recognizing Hart or knowing who he is when he thanks him at the end of the year (and this alone is perhaps the reason why the Hart of the book and the movie seems ready to quit law school altogether). Obviously that couldn't work for a TV series where eventually Kingsfield has to have some recognition of who these students are and what are their potential gifts and whether they can survive his methods.

An article John Houseman wrote for "Harper's" in December 1979 summarizes some of the things that went wrong for the series, specifically how its being saddled with an 8 PM time slot forced some script ideas to be nixed altogether because they were too adult in nature (one rejected script involved a female student becoming pregnant and accusing another student of being the father, and revolving around whether it was true or not).

OH Nuts! · 04-26-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Paddon

Kingsfield's awareness of Hart's potential and brilliance is the biggest change from the movie/book. In those, Kingsfield remains imperious and aloof to the very end, not even recognizing Hart or knowing who he is when he thanks him at the end of the year (and this alone is perhaps the reason why the Hart of the book and the movie seems ready to quit law school altogether). Obviously that couldn't work for a TV series where eventually Kingsfield has to have some recognition of who these students are and what are their potential gifts and whether they can survive his methods.

An article John Houseman wrote for "Harper's" in December 1979 summarizes some of the things that went wrong for the series, specifically how its being saddled with an 8 PM time slot forced some script ideas to be nixed altogether because they were too adult in nature (one rejected script involved a female student becoming pregnant and accusing another student of being the father, and revolving around whether it was true or not).

Although poetic license is not always a good thing, in the TV series it was as it showed a meeting of the minds...and talents. Hart's enthusiasm and Kingsfiled's more kindly depiction made the show sizzle.

Very few (if any) series are perfect - even groundbreaking masterpieces like I Love Lucy and All In The Family had their weak moments. Even in Season One of the Paper Chase, I felt a few eps seemed weak in development. But overall it was fine. The series did go on for 4 seasons so a lot more went right than wrong. The pregnancy plot you describe does sound like too much for a late 70s TV show. The Paper Chase did not always handle controversial topics deftly unlike All In The Family. "Once More With Feeling" had clumsy moments to me. But then, its very hard to pull of emotionally charged topics well. On the other hand, some eps were pure brilliance-like "Moot Court". In any event, I was so happy to revisit 22 eps of the series that I ate them all up.

Chocolate Moose · 04-26-2009, 02:53 PM

Each episode was on TV for an hour so it was a very long show. The season must have been 24 shows as the DVD set is 6 dvds (assuming each one has 4 episodes like the one i saw).

Some cable shows only shoot 6 half hour episodes so it's certainly a long season by that standard!

Anyway, in 1977, I remember seeing PC on Saturday afternoons, around 4 or 5 PM iirc. When was it on at 8 PM ?

I don't know if it's in the first season, but I liked when Houseman gave HArt (iirc) a dime and told him to call his mother, that he'd never be a lawyer .....

and

When Bell tells Houseman that his name is Bell, like the LIberty Bell, and Houseman tells Bell that he shan't ring him any more.

Eric Paddon · 04-27-2009, 06:18 PM

You're describing two scenes in the movie actually, not the TV series. It was 22 episodes in its one year on CBS and it debuted in the fall of 1978, not 77.

Chocolate Moose · 01-27-2010, 04:29 PM

I wanted to get several dvds of this show together and thought the legal holidays would be the perfect time, since the show is quite long... asked for it before x-mas ....and have been waiting for Blockbuster to send it to me every since ... it says Available on my queue but they've been sending me other stuff I requested, AFTER PC. I'm pretty, pretty steamed.

I'm finally getting disc 2,3 4 before the weekend; no idea why i can't get disc #1.....

04-25-2009, 10:32 AM	#2
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Wow, you sure know your Paper Chase. I saw the '73 movie and have it at home but didn't read the book. One could go on for pages abt Season 1 but I'm going to try to keep my post brief (not easy with a show this rich and complex) First I like the way the series expanded upon Kingfield's personality. In the movie he was ominous and foreboding - a true curmudgeon if there ever was one. In Season 1 you saw glimpses of a kindly side - but one that was judiciously exposed. For example, when he gives Hart that extra "assignment" in "The Tables Down At Ernie's" . What did parallel the movie was Kingfield's brilliance - I LOVE the part in the movie where Hart stands up to him and says "Kingfield you are a s-o-b". Kingfield cleverly handles this, sensing what could be the start of a mutiny, by saying "Mr. Hart, that's the most intelligent thing you've said all morning"* eliciting tension-releasing laughter and also admitting very subtly that yes I am a s-o-b. Two good examples of Kingfield's smarts from S#1 were the "Ernie's" ep above and "The Apprentice" where Prof K deftly argues a case before the bench. I like the way Hart's character unfolds, and that you get to see that Kingsfield really does like him. But then why not, Hart is mentally adroit - quite willing to think outside the box skillfully - the last being a fav of Kingfield's too. You see that Kingfield likes Hart by choosing him to tutor in "A Matter Of Anger" and choosing him as his asst. in "The Apprentice. Also, he makes a very kind remark abt Hart in "The Clay Footed Idol" where he indicates he thinks Hart will make a superb lawyer. I enjoy the other characters as well but won't go on about them here. As for Hart's g.f. in the pilot glad she taxi'd off as Nardo - although she might have been good in The Paper Chase too. I love discussing this show so...pick a theme...or an ep you'd like to discuss. I also like playing games related to the show...like the A-Z game. The "Wrong Answer" game can be fun too. But don't know if games are your shtick - or the other fans. I like it all. So I'll start the Wrong Ans. game off and if no one wants to play so be it. Discussing the series is FUN for me too - esp. a series that was high up on my wish list- that has FINALLY come out (Thank you again SHOUT!) * I may be a tiny bit off on the quote. Can't find my Paper Chase movie DVD.
	Last edited by OH Nuts!; 04-26-2009 at 09:23 AM.

04-26-2009, 02:53 PM	#5
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,881	Each episode was on TV for an hour so it was a very long show. The season must have been 24 shows as the DVD set is 6 dvds (assuming each one has 4 episodes like the one i saw). Some cable shows only shoot 6 half hour episodes so it's certainly a long season by that standard! Anyway, in 1977, I remember seeing PC on Saturday afternoons, around 4 or 5 PM iirc. When was it on at 8 PM ? I don't know if it's in the first season, but I liked when Houseman gave HArt (iirc) a dime and told him to call his mother, that he'd never be a lawyer ..... and When Bell tells Houseman that his name is Bell, like the LIberty Bell, and Houseman tells Bell that he shan't ring him any more.
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

04-22-2009, 06:38 PM	#1
Eric Paddon Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 22, 2006 Posts: 164	Season 1 Thoughts Watching all of these episodes in sequence for the first time (I do recommend that "A Day In The Life" be watched after the pilot rather than in broadcast sequence because it is the true first episode that sets up the revisions made after the pilot) was fascinating. I had first seen the show in its PBS repeats but never realized that not all episodes had been shown at the time. So some of these were old and familiar from decades of earlier exposure and others like the critical episode where Jonathan Brooks cheats and leaves law school I had never seen before. The adjustments from the pilot I think strengthened the show. Giving Hart a regular off-campus girlfriend as Marilu Henner was set-up to be wouldn't have worked because we would have been subjected to week after week of her going, "Why do you kill yourself trying to be a lawyer?" Fortunately, Marilu had a better job waiting in the wings with "Taxi". Logan was a better character for the woman of the group than O'Connor in the pilot. Since the Brooks character in the novel and movie goes through a tortured demise, I've always wondered if from the get-go it was planned so that Brooks would only be around for a little bit and then have to make his exit. What is strange is how the producers evidently decided early on that Deka Beaudine as Ashley Brooks wasn't working out well since she is never seen again after episode #4, despite remaining in the credits through episode #13. Even in episode #13 "Act Of Desperation" dealing with Jonathan's cheating and eventually leaving law school, she isn't referred to (with the only allusion to Brooks being married being a reference to his father-in-law wanting him to be a lawyer). I almost wonder if the episode "Da-Da" which deals with the travails of a married student who isn't good at analysis was originally intended for Brooks and Ashley, since the basic plotline is lifted entirely from what Brooks goes through in the novel and movie (indeed, one interesting thing about watching the episodes is spotting the moments when something from the novel or movie finally got incorporated) but they decided that since Beaudine wasn't cutting it (imdb lists her as having NO professional credits of any kind after "Paper Chase" until the 90s) they would rewrite it for a different married couple altogether (Tom Clayton's problem is the same as Jonathan Brooks in "Act Of Desperation". He can memorize the facts, but he can't analyze them well). I am glad I never saw the Russian athlete episode until now. It is embarrassing to watch, and I can understand why John Houseman refused to do the episode.

04-25-2009, 08:45 PM	#3
Eric Paddon Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 22, 2006 Posts: 164	Kingsfield's awareness of Hart's potential and brilliance is the biggest change from the movie/book. In those, Kingsfield remains imperious and aloof to the very end, not even recognizing Hart or knowing who he is when he thanks him at the end of the year (and this alone is perhaps the reason why the Hart of the book and the movie seems ready to quit law school altogether). Obviously that couldn't work for a TV series where eventually Kingsfield has to have some recognition of who these students are and what are their potential gifts and whether they can survive his methods. An article John Houseman wrote for "Harper's" in December 1979 summarizes some of the things that went wrong for the series, specifically how its being saddled with an 8 PM time slot forced some script ideas to be nixed altogether because they were too adult in nature (one rejected script involved a female student becoming pregnant and accusing another student of being the father, and revolving around whether it was true or not).

04-27-2009, 06:18 PM	#6
Eric Paddon Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 22, 2006 Posts: 164	You're describing two scenes in the movie actually, not the TV series. It was 22 episodes in its one year on CBS and it debuted in the fall of 1978, not 77.

01-27-2010, 04:29 PM	#7
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,881	I wanted to get several dvds of this show together and thought the legal holidays would be the perfect time, since the show is quite long... asked for it before x-mas ....and have been waiting for Blockbuster to send it to me every since ... it says Available on my queue but they've been sending me other stuff I requested, AFTER PC. I'm pretty, pretty steamed. I'm finally getting disc 2,3 4 before the weekend; no idea why i can't get disc #1.....