Head of the Class is an American sitcom that ran from 1986 to 1991 on the ABC television network.
The series follows a group of gifted students in the Individualized Honors Program at the fictional Monroe High School in Manhattan, and their history teacher Charlie Moore. The program was ostensibly a vehicle for Hesseman, best known for his role as radio DJ Dr. Johnny Fever in the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. Hesseman left Head of the Class in 1990 and was replaced by Billy Connolly as teacher Billy MacGregor for the final season. After the series ended, Connolly appeared in a short-lived spin-off titled Billy.
The series was created and executive produced by Rich Eustis and Michael Elias. Rich Eustis had previously worked as a New York City substitute teacher while hoping to become an actor.
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Best Episodes of Head of the Class
Video Activity
S1 Ep19
8.0
18th Feb 1987
The class makes a music video for a time capsule
Arvid's Sure Thing
S3 Ep11
7.7
1st Feb 1989
Arvid goes out with an easy girl
The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming!
S1 Ep17
7.7
4th Feb 1987
The IHP faces their Russian counterparts in an academic tournament. Eric must join the team to replace an ailing Jawaharal.
On the Road Again
S2 Ep13
7.5
13th Jan 1988
Darlene and Sarah buy a car; problems with Mrs. Samuels has Dr. Samuels rooming with Charlie.
Past Imperfect
S1 Ep15
7.5
21st Jan 1987
Charlie must pass a test in Macro Economics in order to keep his teaching license. The IHP attempt to help him.
Valentine's Day
S1 Ep18
7.4
11th Feb 1987
The class has problems on Valentine's day.
Back to the Future
S1 Ep2
7.4
24th Sep 1986
The class imagines life 20 years in the future
Don't Play With Matches
S2 Ep20
7.3
23rd Mar 1988
The class gets matched up with computer dates
We Love You, Mrs. Russell
S2 Ep19
7.3
9th Mar 1988
A popular teacher has Alzheimer's
The Secret Life of Arvid Engen
S1 Ep22
7.3
6th May 1987
Arvid starts to daydream about Lori and it affects his schoolwork
Engen and Son
S3 Ep6
7.3
30th Nov 1988
Arvid's Dad teaches the honor's math class.
First Date
S3 Ep9
7.2
18th Jan 1989
Eric and Simone go on their first date.
Parent's Day
S2 Ep16
7.2
3rd Feb 1988
The IHP's parent's come to see how the class is taught
Mission to Moscow (2)
S3 Ep4
7.2
2nd Nov 1988
The team begins the competition without Eric, Arvid or Dennis.
I Am the King
S3 Ep19
7.0
5th Apr 1989
Charlie moonlights as a character in late night commercials for an appliance store.
Born to Run
S3 Ep8
7.0
4th Jan 1989
Alan and Sarah both want to be class president
Let's Rap
S3 Ep5
7.0
9th Nov 1988
The class become Peer Counselors
Mission to Moscow (1)
S3 Ep3
7.0
2nd Nov 1988
In Moscow, Dr. Samuels insists on study for an academic meet, while Charlie lobbies for more personal cultural experiences. (Part 1 of 2)
For Better, For Worse
S2 Ep18
7.0
2nd Mar 1988
Ms. Meara teaches a class on marriage
Will the Real Arvid Engen Please Stand Up?
S2 Ep12
7.0
6th Jan 1988
Arvid sends his penpal Eric's picture
Rebel Without a Class
S1 Ep13
7.0
7th Jan 1987
Eric makes trouble for another teacher
As Time Goes By
S1 Ep11
7.0
10th Dec 1986
Charlie's ex-flame evaluates the class
Teacher's Teacher
S1 Ep6
7.0
5th Nov 1986
Charlie is upset when the IHP's regular teacher announces his return from sick leave.
The Refrigerator of Fillmore High
S3 Ep1
6.9
19th Oct 1988
Dennis gets to play on the football team.
Little Shop 'Til You Drop (1)
S3 Ep13
6.8
15th Feb 1989
The final days before opening night are fraught with chaos: no Ronette, Mr. Mushnik MIA, one lead with laryngitis and another ready to walk just before curtain time.
Scuttlebutt
S3 Ep12
6.8
8th Feb 1989
An accomplished journalist alumnus visits.
Partners
S3 Ep10
6.8
25th Jan 1989
Maria hides her intelligence from a hunk she is dating
Tough Guys Don't Sew
S4 Ep14
6.8
10th Jan 1990
Viki gets much-needed help on a home-ec project from Eric, who prefers to hide his talents for fashion design and construction.
Pilot
S1 Ep1
6.7
17th Sep 1986
A high school substitute teacher takes over a class of geniuses.
The Way We Weren't
S1 Ep12
6.7
17th Dec 1986
When doing reports on their ancestry, both Alan and Darlene find things out that they don't want to.
The 21st-Century News
S2 Ep21
6.7
4th May 1988
Dennis sees a bleak future
Coach Charlie
S2 Ep6
6.7
4th Nov 1987
When Dr. Samuels is ejected from the meets, he gets Mr. Moore to take his place as coach.
Worst Episodes of Head of the Class
From Hair to Eternity (2)
S4 Ep18
4.6
14th Feb 1990
The spirit of "Hair" leads the cast to go on with the show in defiance of Mrs. Hartman, who explains her objection to Charlie.
Exactly Twelve O'Clock
S3 Ep22
4.8
10th May 1989
Hall monitor Arvid has daytime nightmares of a personal high noon after a bully he cited for loitering demands a showdown - at high noon.
The Bright Stuff (2)
S4 Ep7
5.0
8th Nov 1989
Arvid decides to return to Houston, where Dennis once again steps into the spotlight that should be on Arvid.
Viki & Eric & Simone & Alex
S4 Ep2
5.2
4th Oct 1989
Simone and Eric have eyes for others, but neither agrees with friends that honesty is the best policy.
Good Mourning
S4 Ep9
5.2
22nd Nov 1989
Charlie teaches the class about grief.
The Quiet Kid
S4 Ep20
5.2
28th Feb 1990
The IHP welcomes a brilliant new student--until he voices his opinion about the Academic Olympic team.
Dead Men Don't Wear Pocket Protectors (2)
S5 Ep9
5.2
6th Nov 1990
Bully Zach may have Arvid's missing gun. (Part 2 of 2)
The Devil and Miss T.J.
S4 Ep11
5.3
6th Dec 1989
With just one history paper keeping her from joining the honors program, T.J. makes a pact with the Devil, who delivers the paper and more--until pay-back time.
Teacher's Pet
S4 Ep26
5.3
2nd May 1990
Night-class students Charlie and Eric each think they are the apple of the teacher's eye when she joins them for after-class coffee.
The Importance of Being Alex
S5 Ep14
5.3
11th Dec 1990
Simone's reputation suffers when Alex lies to his friends about a romance with her.
Viki's Torn Genes
S5 Ep15
5.3
18th Dec 1990
At Christmas, Billy helps Viki find her birth mother, but the woman doesn't want to see her.
Getting Personal
S5 Ep5
5.4
9th Oct 1990
Billy tries the personals ads.
The Write Stuff
S2 Ep2
5.5
30th Sep 1987
Charlie encourages the class to revitalize the school's literary journal, and the class votes Simone as editor-in-chief. Unfortunately, the power this position gives Simone slightly goes to her head. Meanwhile, Eric fabricates a memoir for the journal, which dishonestly wins him more attention from Simone.
Billy's Big One
S5 Ep7
5.5
23rd Oct 1990
Billy fakes a heart attack to circumvent a health-insurance bureaucrasy; the IHP girls try writing a romance novel.
Dead Men Don't Wear Pocket Protectors (1)
S5 Ep8
5.5
30th Oct 1990
After Billy is robbe, he has the class write papers on gun control, leading Arvid to a harrowing experience when he buys a gun for the assignment. (Part 1 of 2)
The Phantom of the Glee Club
S5 Ep20
5.5
11th Jun 1991
The class learns T.J. is more than just a contemporary-style musician when Billy discovers her operatic talent.
Love at First Byte
S1 Ep4
5.6
22nd Oct 1986
Charlie receives a love note from a secret admirer he suspects is in the IHP.
Where's Charlie?
S5 Ep1
5.6
11th Sep 1990
Charlie doesn't return for the new school year and the Kids are wondering where's Charlie? Charlie found an acting gig and left and now the students have a new teacher, Billy MacGregor.
The Heartbreak Nerd
S5 Ep3
5.6
25th Sep 1990
Arvid goes out with gorgeous Viki.
That'll Be the Day
S2 Ep7
5.7
11th Nov 1987
The class puts on Grease
Be My Baby . . . Sitter
S5 Ep11
5.7
20th Nov 1990
Jasper's overprotective parents hire a babysitter for him -- and to his mortification, it turns out to be Sarah.
My Dinner With Darlene
S5 Ep19
5.7
4th Jun 1991
Darlene promises to treat the class to an elaborate farewell dinner, but then finds her credit card revoked.
Science Fair-Weather Friends
S2 Ep1
5.7
23rd Sep 1987
Sarah, Arvid, and Dennis compete and deceive to win the science fair.
Moore Than You Know
S2 Ep22
5.8
11th May 1988
Charlie thinks he sees his dead uncle
Back to School
S4 Ep1
5.8
27th Sep 1989
It's the first day back at school and there are some new additions to Mr. Moore's class.
Viki in Love
S4 Ep4
5.8
18th Oct 1989
Viki tells Charlie she's got a crush on him, but Alan gets the impression that he's the one she wants to squeeze.
From Hair to Eternity (1)
S4 Ep17
5.8
7th Feb 1990
The head of the English department takes some not-so-subtle action against Charlie's choice of "Hair" as the semester production.
Politics of Love
S4 Ep23
5.8
4th Apr 1990
Infatuated with a model, Alan determines to meet her, but the result is not a model relationship.
Cement Hi-Tops
S4 Ep25
5.8
25th Apr 1990
Aristotle's work videotaping a wedding garners him interest from an agent--of the FBI, who wants a copy.
Twelve Angry Nerds
S5 Ep2
5.8
18th Sep 1990
When Alan is caught cheating, Billy has the class act as a jury to decide his punishment.
And Then There Were None
S5 Ep4
5.8
2nd Oct 1990
Arvid's infectious flu may keep the class from performing in a Shakespeare competition.
The Ring of Darlene M.
S4 Ep3
5.8
11th Oct 1989
Certain members of the class suspect Alex of stealing Darlene's antique ring.
Head of the Class Episode Guide
Pilot
S1 Ep1
6.7
17th Sep 1986
A high school substitute teacher takes over a class of geniuses.
Back to the Future
S1 Ep2
7.4
24th Sep 1986
The class imagines life 20 years in the future
Charliegate
S1 Ep3
6.4
1st Oct 1986
Dennis misquotes Mr. Moore for the school newspaper
Love at First Byte
S1 Ep4
5.6
22nd Oct 1986
Charlie receives a love note from a secret admirer he suspects is in the IHP.
The Outsider
S1 Ep5
6.1
29th Oct 1986
Janice feels left out in class and decides to throw a party to make friends. Charlie dates a model.
Teacher's Teacher
S1 Ep6
7.0
5th Nov 1986
Charlie is upset when the IHP's regular teacher announces his return from sick leave.
Volleyball Anyone?
S1 Ep7
6.0
12th Nov 1986
Arvid tries to impress a girl by challenging the school basketball players to a volleyball match against the IHP class.
Critical Choices
S1 Ep8
6.3
19th Nov 1986
Charlie tries his hand at ""Hamlet""
Cold Turkey
S1 Ep9
6.1
26th Nov 1986
Mr. Moore spends Thanksgiving with Dr. Samuels
You've Got a Friend
S1 Ep10
6.3
3rd Dec 1986
After their team project wins them a trip to Washington, D.C., Sarah and Arvid develop slight feelings for each other. But things aren't necessarily a bed of roses between them.
As Time Goes By
S1 Ep11
7.0
10th Dec 1986
Charlie's ex-flame evaluates the class
The Way We Weren't
S1 Ep12
6.7
17th Dec 1986
When doing reports on their ancestry, both Alan and Darlene find things out that they don't want to.
Rebel Without a Class
S1 Ep13
7.0
7th Jan 1987
Eric makes trouble for another teacher
Ode to Simone
S1 Ep14
6.7
14th Jan 1987
Simone receives a discouraging letter from her favorite poet....after his death. Dennis tries to give up sarcasm and pranks.
Past Imperfect
S1 Ep15
7.5
21st Jan 1987
Charlie must pass a test in Macro Economics in order to keep his teaching license. The IHP attempt to help him.
A Problem Like Maria
S1 Ep16
6.5
28th Jan 1987
Maria dates the captain of the opposing team
The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming!
S1 Ep17
7.7
4th Feb 1987
The IHP faces their Russian counterparts in an academic tournament. Eric must join the team to replace an ailing Jawaharal.
Valentine's Day
S1 Ep18
7.4
11th Feb 1987
The class has problems on Valentine's day.
Video Activity
S1 Ep19
8.0
18th Feb 1987
The class makes a music video for a time capsule
Privilege
S1 Ep20
6.6
25th Feb 1987
Charlie sets Arvid up with a job at a hot nightclub, which causes Arvid to develop a cocky, image-conscious attitude.
The Secret Life of Arvid Engen
S1 Ep22
7.3
6th May 1987
Arvid starts to daydream about Lori and it affects his schoolwork
