Going Public With My Love of "Boston Public"
Published March 21, 2003
Like the critically acclaimed "Freaks and Geeks" and "My So-Called Life" before it, "Boston Public" is high drama set in a high school.
Unlike most academically based TV shows, however, this one revolves around the lives - both professional and personal - of the faculty and staff.
And, boy, what lives they lead. This ain't your parents' "school drama", kids. The problems are never simple at Winslow High, that's for sure.
This David E. Kelley production is way over-the-top.
In the beginning, there was 'Harry Senate' (played by Nicky Katt), teacher extraordinaire. He shot off a gun in the classroom just to drive home his anti-violence lesson plan. Don't worry, it was loaded with blanks. The only thing hurt was Senate's career. But he wasn't fired, because behind the gruff exterior of 'Principal Steven Harper' (Chi McBride) is a heart of gold. Harper himself later killed a parent. But it was self-defense. He was cleared of all charges.
In any case, this is "Boston Public", so before too long it all became too much for poor Harry. He lost that "teaching fire" in his belly.
He lost his will to live.
He lost his mind. But not before bedding fellow teacher 'Ronnie Cook' (Jeri Ryan).
Hey, he might've been crazy - but he's not stupid!
Then, poor Harry took an "extended leave of absence." Doh!
Yes, teachers seem to come and go quickly on this show. There was the older male teacher who had an affair with a nubile young female student. His best friend, the Phys. Ed. coach, knew about the affair but said nothing. Sooner rather than later, the extracurricularly copulating couple got caught during a "private tutoring session" - by her dad, no less.
The amorous teacher got fired. His best friend got fired for not turning the guy in. The sexed up one moved on, the friend committed suicide. Cut to morgue scene of Principal Harper having a heart-to-heart talk with the corpse. Obviously, Harper did most of the talking. Not like that time he killed a parent. But, hey, that was clearly self-defense. The charges were dropped. In case you missed that the first time.
Then there was the somewhat naive woman teacher who had a student stalking her. But, since this is "Boston Public", the stalker was female too. Yup, there's nothing hotter than primetime "Lesbian Stalking". The student was transferred to the School for Mentally-Disturbed Girls; the teacher was transferred to another school "for her own protection."
Then, there was new teacher Zach Fischer (Jon Abrahams), who thought dissecting frogs in science class just didn't cut it. So he borrowed a human corpse from a pal at the county morgue. Just for the record, it wasn't the same corpse Harper talked to in one of the previously described episodes. Or the dead parent, killed in self-defense - a crime for which Harper was eventually cleared. Did I mention that already? Well, they sure mention it a lot on "Boston Public".
- Going Public With My Love of "Boston Public"
- Published: March 21, 2003
- Type:
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Drama, Video: Television
- Writer: Pete Petrisko
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- Pete Petrisko's personal site
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I have conflicted feelings about Boston Public, not the least because David E. Kelly is a bad, bad man. The show isn't good, but it isn't terrible, and I can't stop watching it. It's like eating junk food, you know it's not good for you, but nonetheless irrestiable.
One of the key reasons is Michael Rappaport. He's an okay actor, but the best reason is he had a restraining order issued against him for stalking Lili Taylor. Now, if they could get her to do a guest spot on BP, that would be genius.
Some of the best reviews of Boston Public are at ScoopMe.
Some storylines & ideas I'd like to see explored on 'Boston Public' in the future...
1. "Riley Goes Bad" She's 12-years old. She's a genius. She just wants to fit in. And the next thing you know, she's "chasing the dragon" with the stoner kids. But she's only 12, so an allowance will only buy so much horse. So Riley turns into an "evil genius", and comes up with really creative ways to rip off teachers and other students, just so she can afford that next fix. End her brief drug-addled run on the show with her overdosing & dying in the restroom. At episode's end, run a "If you're a kid on drugs, and don't want to OD in the school restroom like Riley did, please call this number" Public Service Announcement. Yes, it'll be another "very special" episode of 'Boston Public'.
2. More Loretta Devine. As far as her character goes, I have but three words: PULL... MORE... NUTTIES..!
3. Scott Guber's older brother comes to visit. He's an extrovert, a ladies man, and oozes with fake sincerity. In other words, everything Scott is not. He's been married four times, and is on the prowl for Wife#5. He sets his sights on Marilyn. Nothing makes for good television like sibling rivalry. Get Peter MacNichol for the role. Or Seinfeld's Michael Richards.
4. Principal Harper's old army buddy drops in. His gay army buddy. Back in the service, he couldn't come out. But he had told his friend, Steven. But now, he's more comfortable with his homosexuality. In fact, he shows up wearing a dress. He's a female impersonator. He does a mean Judy Garland. The highlight of the episode would be his duet with that chick from "American Idol".
5. Ronnie cheats on Zach. She sleeps with the district man. Zach finds out. He goes out and gets really really drunk. He wakes up the next morning in bed with another... man! Much hand-wringing ensues. His pal, Colin, really ribs him over this one.
6. Bring back Vonda Shepard. She hasn't sung on the show in a very long time.
7. Danny's niece gets sick, is diagnosed with a terminal illness, and dies. Since this is 'Boston Public', it all happens over the course of one episode. The following week, his sister shows up and says, "I'm clean! Where's my daughter?" Danny has some serious 'splaining to do.
8. Get back to basics with Jeri Ryan. In other words, the form-fitting outfits and the business of "assimilating."
9. More Fyvush Finkel. Give this distinguished actor something to do other than be more or less "comic relief." Please, before he dies of old age. Or boredom. Maybe give Harvey a girlfriend who's like twenty years younger than him. So Harvey starts with the Viagra. Can we say, "Viagra-induced rages?" Sure we can.
10. One idea for next season: During the week of the "Great American Smoke-Out", have the stoner kids (and other cigarette-smoking students) stage a school "smoke-IN".
11. Have another teacher die, or get run out of town on a rail. This hasn't happened for at least two or three episodes now. Frankly, I'm getting worried that 'Boston Public' has hit a creative slump, due to this fact.
Yup, that about covers it. -- Pete
Great reviews of everything that is contrived, ridiculous and fatuous about this addictive and entertaining program. Me, I love it when Loretta Devine pulls a nutty. . .
The big season premiere of "Boston Public" aired on Friday, starting things off with a bang...
It's kinda funny though... In the above, I added 'future plot suggestions', including, "9. More Fyvush Finkel. Give this distinguished actor something to do other than be more or less "comic relief." Please, before he dies of old age. Or boredom. Maybe give Harvey a girlfriend who's like twenty years younger than him. So Harvey starts with the Viagra. Can we say, "Viagra-induced rages?" Sure we can..."
An amended version of my article above - w/ the "plot suggestions" included - even made it onto Fox's Boson Public site a few weeks after I posted it on blogcritics.org
So, in last Friday's season premiere episode, Harvey DID start taking viagra (which he 'inherited' from a recently deceased friend) and tried hooking up with a female teacher, telling her she made his "loins tingle". Can the rages be far off?
And more importantly... is this new plot development a coincidence, or is David E. Kelley a no-good, dirty hack? :)
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I have not watched an episode of this show but I do find the advertisements for each episode outrageously funny.
I'll wait for the DVD before I actually sit down and watch a whole episode.