"Hair" with Elaine Stritch and John Cameron Mitchell

[temms]

Posted: 8/22/10 at 1:06pm

Well, almost. It's the episode of the sitcom "Head of the Class" where they do a production of "Hair". For the young'uns around here (since the show seems to have vanished - it's never shown anywhere and isn't on DVD) it was about an out-of-work actor who gets a job teaching Honors English at a NYC Public High School.

They did a musical each year - I happened to tape a rerun of the "Hair" episode about 18 years ago and just found it while going through old video tapes. It's on YT until the copyright police come knocking (but again, the show is not on the air anywhere and not available commercially in any format.)

In this episode, Elaine Stritch plays the head of the English department who is offended by the show and wants to shut it down. John Cameron Mitchell plays a dorky student who unsuccessfully auditions for Berger. Rain Pryor (daughter of Richard Pryor) makes a pretty good Sheila.

It's actually a surprisingly good production, considering it's supposed to be a public high school. I suppose there's some comparison to be made with "Glee"...



Head of the Class does "Hair" Updated On: 8/22/10 at 01:06 PM

[theeatah]

Posted: 8/22/10 at 1:28pm

Thanks!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/22/10 at 1:47pm

I remember the show....not the episode. But I think this was one from the later seasons. I always thought that Hessman looked like he hated every second of what he was doing, but the kids were having a blast.

For a 1/2 hour tv show...they really did do a decent job. But I don't underestand you comment: considering it's suppose to be a public high school. LOTS of public HS do great theater. And even if they didn't, this is TV.

[temms]

Posted: 8/22/10 at 1:56pm

Oh, I'm aware of how great HS theatre can be. All I meant was that the logic of all the students in this one English class playing all the roles and being brilliant performers was a bit of a stretch.

And the fact that they're all clearly way past high school age gives it all a very professional vibe. It's still very cool.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/22/10 at 2:05pm

Actually, I think it's one of the most realistic AGED school groups -- certainly more believable than Glee. (In fact, I think most of them were age appropriate.)

And it had to be the whole school....because there were only like 8 kids in the Giften and Talented class. (Not just AP.)

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/22/10 at 2:26pm

They certainly looked more age appropriate then the 38-year old Andrea Zuckerman, from the original Beverly Hills: 90210 (a show I watched religiously nonetheless!)

[crushgroove]

Posted: 8/22/10 at 7:02pm

I wonder if they ALL did their own singing...we know Rain did...but Michael DeLorenzo (who I never knew was on the show) has a great voice and makes a great Claude (his "Where Do I Go" is pretty good).

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/22/10 at 9:02pm

Somewhere on tape I have their Little Shop of Horrors.

[Hest882]

Posted: 8/22/10 at 10:26pm

Oh gosh, thanks! I have vague memories of this episode, but I probably remember their Little Shop episode more.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 8/22/10 at 10:38pm

I want to say that this was the fourth season, after they had done Grease and Little Shop of Horrors. I don't remember if they did a musical in the last season after Hesseman left and Billy Connolly took over as the teacher.

The thing I remember most about their Little Shop was that Dennis was playing Audrey II, but it wasn't done as a puppet, rather you saw his face and body as part of the plant.

[Doctor Dolittle]

Posted: 8/22/10 at 10:40pm

I see they brought the audience onto the stage at the conclusion. I know they did this with the recent revival. Was this part of the original production?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/22/10 at 11:06pm

I remember that episode, the Grease episode, and the Little Shop episode. I also remember the poltergeist episode which had nothing to do with Broadway.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 7:41am

The "inviting the audience on stage to dance" thing began with the original London production when audience members were apparently spontaneously moved to go up and dance with them. To keep things more organized, they began making it an invited thing, and when producer Michael Butler saw it worked, he incorporated it into all productions.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 9:36am

That was fun!

I then watched the pilot, and now I wanna see more. Damn the fact I can't find it.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 8/23/10 at 1:22pm

This would be perfect for a SHOUT! Factory release. Let's start a petition, eh? I remember all the musical episodes and the poltergeist one. The Little Shop.. is particularly memorable to me. Thanks for sharing this! I passed it on to Galt's daughter. =)


EDIT: Found an audio recording of their Little Shop and listening right now. Faboo!

Updated On: 8/23/10 at 01:22 PM