NDSU Spectrum: TV review
‘Boston Public’ sheds light on the teachers’ point of view
By JOHN HANSEN
Feb. 9, 2001
“Boston Public” is not your stereotypical high school drama. Despite some surface similarities to “Dawson’s Creek” (for example, they are both set in the Boston area, yet no one speaks with an accent) no one’s going to confuse the two shows anytime soon.
“Boston Public” is the first high school show to focus on the teachers’ point of view. It explores what makes teachers tick and what fuels teacher-student conflict.
Created by David E. Kelley (whose ABC series “The Practice” will cross over with “Boston Public” on Sunday and Monday), this show about teachers has had no shortage of spicy storylines and performances in its inaugural year, as it illuminates the headache-inducing and sometimes deeply-rewarding profession.
Every character on “Boston Public” is flawed — all of them have made poor decisions that have nearly had me shouting at the screen. And they have little power to overcome daily annoyances such as grading system, bullies and overcrowded classrooms.
However, at the end of each hour I end up liking and respecting these teachers because, even if they make stupid judgements sometimes, we see that they are just doing the best they can. Furthermore — and this is where the show delves into fantasy a bit — most of these people really love to teach.
My favorite character by far is Harry Senate (Nicky Katt). He uses casual sarcasm as a mechanism to fend off the pushy Vice Principal Guber (Anthony Heald) and to help him fit in with his students, thus giving him a better chance to reach them.
Despite the façade, this guy is passionate about teaching. When assigned to “the Dungeon” — a class full of misfits in the basement — he shoots off a gun to get everyone’s attention. Then he gets a kid to read by allowing him to touch dead people. Finally, he opens a student NRA meeting by reeling of a string of staggering statistics on why easy access to guns make America considerably more violent than countries with stiffer restrictions.
The greatest moment of the season so far comes when a parent tells Senate thanks for being a great teacher and inspiring her child. This causes the usually blank-faced Senate to cry.
Chi McBride has been impressive as Principal Stephen Harper, a man of convictions who puts his job on the line in defense his teachers. Guber (Anthony Heald) is the type of authority-wielding power figure who terrified everyone in high school, but his appreciation for classical music and his love for a teacher, Loren Davis (Jessalyn Gilsig), who doesn’t love him back, show a human side to this caricature.
Sure, Guber is becoming annoying lately — firing Milton (Joey Slotnick) for having a relationship with a student, then firing the coach (Thomas McCarthy) for not ratting on his friend. But even if it’s manipulative, Kelly’s characters always inspire a response in the viewer, and that’s certainly a good thing.
What: “Boston Public” Season 1
When: 7 p.m. Mondays on Fox
Starring: Jessalyn Gilsig, Chi McBride, Anthony Heald, Nicky Katt, Thomas McCarthy, Joey Slotnick, Loretta Devine, Rashida Jones, Sharon Leal, Fyvush Finkel
Executive Producer: David E. Kelley
Grade (episodes 1-12): A-
“Boston Public” Season 1 (2000-01, Fox) — Executive producer David E. Kelley knows where the line between reality and silliness lies, and he toes that line as expertly on this show as he does on his law drama “The Practice.”
In fact, there are many similarities between the world of law and the world of high school — ridiculous rules, daily travesties, and the overriding sense that you have to see it to believe it. “Boston Public” puts a human face on today’s hot-button issues and ends up being as powerful as it is edgy.
While the are numerous scenes absolutely drenched in satire, the show is ultimately a reflection of reality. We get to see what makes principals, teachers and students (and the human race) tick. Even the “bad guys” — namely the authoritarian Vice Principal Guber (Anthony Heald) and the snappish Principal Harper (Chi McBride) — are tough to dislike because they are so human. Even when they unjustly fired a character at mid-season, I kept watching because it’s just so difficult to look away. A-
— John Hansen, NDSU Spectrum, Summer 2001