Head of the Class (2021) User Reviews

more annoying than entertaining

[SnoopyStyle · 4/10 · 20 March 2022]

Alicia Gomez is the new young teacher of a honors class at Meadows Creek High School. It's a group of young smart students struggling to find their place in the world.

The original 80's show was one of my favorites for a short time. I love Simone and just about everyone in the class. I love Howard Hesseman from WKRP and his teacher-knows-best character. I love them so much that the show started losing me when they slowly lost some of the kids. Quite frankly, these new kids are all various shades of annoying. They are all cut from the same Disney-Nickelodeon teen character mold. It takes a few episodes to get used to their friendships. Robin Givens has a cameo in this one as a mom. At the end of the day, these are not appealing characters and therefore non of this is compelling. Even the teacher is almost as childish as the kids. Then there is the pilot trying to tackle cancel culture. I don't think anybody wants that... on both sides. The show keeps trying to annoy me more than entertain me. Its only hope is the tween audience of its target. I don't think that they would like this either and I don't think HBO is the place for them. Some exec must have the idea of scattershot programming.

Missing so so much....

[dan_counts · 4/10 · 12 November 2021]

The biggest loss of this show, it's presentation is that it isn't set in NYC any longer. It's moved to the Bay Area, so it might as well be Saved by the Bell: The HBO Years. Actually, I'll take it back, Saved by the Bell reboot is lightyears ahead of this.

The kid characters are just bland, they are all interchangeable with one another.

As for Isabella Gomez, as great as she was on the reboot of One Day At A Time, she is so much bleh here. And the go to woman when you need mean on a sitcom Christa Miller, she just falls flat. And bringing in Robin Givens for a single episode and her character is sooooooo far away from Darlene in the original series, it just hurts, yes, people change over the years, but not to the point they would be totally unrecognizable as the same character 30 years later.

At the end of the day, whoever at Warner approved this, needs to be taken out back and shot. Either that, or you pull the series for a year, rework it. Put it back in NYC, besides the fact the city lends itself more to diversity than the Bay Area, used correctly, NYC in and of itself is a character. Plus it makes it easier to have various character call backs even if they don't appear on the show.

Seth Cohen, Michael Elias. And Rich Eustis dropped the ball on this reboot. They don't get the good of the series, and have written episodes that aren't even memorable in any way, shape or form.

To Disney-esque for HBO Max

[dluna-00543 · 5/10 · 7 November 2021]

Cute Show, very family orientated but nothing like the original and a very Disney Channel like show. Thought it would be different and more adult being an HBO Max original. Wish they tied in the character of Darlene (Robin Givens) in more showing she's from the original.

Errrrr.. Who wanted this again?!

[mcgill_j · 2/10 · 4 November 2021]

I actually enjoyed the original series. I was a bit younger than the characters on screen but at least related to the characters. This seems like a generic show so far with no real connection to the original.

They couldn't have gotten Hesseman to play the now antagonistic Principal? Granted I love Krista Miller. But even her role this far just screams please please laugh.. And here's some canned laughter to make sure you're supposed to think this is funny.

The same thing applies to the new batch of gifted kids. No one feels different. All just kind of bland sameness. Granted the old series were very neutral stereotyped chargers but at least they felt different. I can still tell you there was Dennis, Darlene, Arvid, Janice, Simone, Jawarhalol, Eric.. still after all these years those characters stand out. I can't even tell you the name of any of these new characters in the middle of the first episode.

This head of the class isn't even middle of the pack.. More bottom of the barrel.

Woefully unfunny

[lbowdls · 2/10 · 5 December 2021]

I try every now and again to watch- or should I say come across- today's "sitcoms" like most today this one is woefully unfunny with terrible acting and direction. Obviously there are just no jokes or situations to write anymore for laughs. So sitcoms or their attempts should just die a quick death - please!

Not like the original, more a Disney Channel style comedy

[jimdbs · 3/10 · 5 November 2021]

If you're expecting a show that looks or feels like the original 80s-90s sitcom, which is pretty good btw (classic 80s sitcom theme song too) and you should try to watch at least some of if you can, this isn't it. The only common factor between both is that they're a class of intellectually gifted high school students. Also, both have diverse casts but the original has a wider range of characters who also seem more distinctive.

The style of the original is more like a real classroom and school, though not 100% realistic, and it is repeatedly made clear the students are above average in various ways academically. The teacher is a role model character and helping these students through their own personal issues as well, sometimes fairly serious. The style of this Head of the Class is more like Saved By the Bell (after the early years) where they hang out and chat in random scenes, rarely seen in a normal class setting, and some little story or two is playing out throughout the episode. The teacher character seems more like an older student buddy who is almost equal level as them but sometimes gives them helpful tips and encouragement.

As for the rating, add maybe 2-3 points for people under 18 as it's fairly in line with the style of comedy found on the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, it's just those shows are hard to watch as an adult beyond nostalgia. The original aired during prime time hours on a major network and before cable was widespread so it's not quite as narrowly fine tuned to younger people and is still enjoyable as an adult I think.

An absolutely perfect example of bad television

[prettyfly31-786-773602 · 1/10 · 7 November 2021]

Every word is delivered like the actor was fed the line seconds before shooting, the "comedy" is obvious and lazy, every person on screen is somehow both overacting and bland. The character seem vacant, the writing is sophomoric when it's good, not a saving grace in the show, usually there's one person doing a good job with a bad script, not this time.

Vomit inducing craptastic show

[sumitdhruv4199 · 1/10 · 12 February 2022]

Who Da f comes with these and actually spend millions of dollars to produce drives like these. Even I don't bull**** this much on my university papers. 🤣

Light hearted meaningful little comedy

[a_andrew_emt · 8/10 · 14 November 2021]

Better than most have rated it, I appreciate there is no over the top drama, and the comedy is simple but funny. Special recognition to Adrian who seems to who is doing an excellent excellent job for his first real acting job. Also good to see Isabella and Gavin back to work making us laugh. Can't wait to see how they will build on this season for the next.

Hahahah... kidding

[markgraff-74588 · 1/10 · 21 December 2021]

This show is amazingly terrible. The cast is remarkable when it comes to lacking talent. The writing is worthwhile and funny if you're being held at gunpoint for comment. They should've called it something completely different to preserve the originals legacy. I personally would've called it "Thud".

Stop trying to re-do old classics

[myfaithlasts · 1/10 · 7 October 2023]

Once again Hollywood proves theres nothing new under the sun. They took a good show from the 80's with Howard Hessman, and they ruined it with bad acting and bad jokes. Not that the old Head of the Class show was the best acting, but it was waaaaaay better than this. It feels like youre watching a bad Disney tv show for eleven year olds. Its a good premise for a show in my opinion. I loved Head of the Class in the eighties because I was also in a gifted program and we all enjoyed watching the show back then. But this stuff theyre making now.... It seems like its all about making bad jokes with bad timing and bad acting. I was so excited when I saw a new Head of the Class was coming out. But this was unwatchable.

Not as bad as others say

[gloria2915 · 8/10 · 11 November 2021]

Yeah it's not exactly like the original but it's not supposed to be. It's pretty wholesome,which is something you don't find much anymore. My 14 yr old daughter likes it and I'm glad she does.

Possibly the Wokest Show of all Time

[Jiszmo · 27 July 2022]

This is possibly the wokest show ever made. It also bears no relationship whatsoever to the original. It's not even set in the same location.

Some examples of the wokeness:

-Within the first couple minutes of the first episode, a girl mentions that guys make 17% more than women for the same job.

-There is one of the main schoolkid characters, who is G. He wants a gender neutral bathroom. Many episodes feature him looking for G love.

-There are every race of character in the school, so much so that white is not predominant at all. It is very noticeable and unnatural seeming.

-There is a running debate over whether cancel culture is good or bad. Much more screen time is devoted to why it is good. In fact, I only recall hearing arguments for why it is good (There are consequences for one's actions).

-The main teacher character is a Hispanic woman, rather than a white male, such as was in the original.

So anyways, the show is not funny at all. It feels fairly typical for a Disney Channel show. However, the woke thing stands out strongly, differentiating it somewhat. It doesn't even feel like an actual show so much, as an indoctrination tool. It is guaranteed to be a failure.

Funny & relevant

[enyawongg · 8/10 · 6 November 2021]

Definitely not so much like the original because its a reboot so many years later. But this reboot has caught my attention. It's funny, entertaining and definitely relevant in today's context. Definitely give it a watch!

Unapologetically funny

[simonewharton-48119 · 8/10 · 8 November 2021]

As a xennial who grew up watching Head of the Class with Robin Givens, definitely a must watch. I have a son who is the same age as these kids and it's totally relatable. Love the jabs at our generation and the unapologetic freedom of my sons generation. Funny, relatable, yet corny (ahha I came up with a third word! Inside joke, you have to watch to get it). All in all a dope concept, funny and relatable. Haters gonna hate, but if you can relate it's a damn good show! Enjoy!

Formulated but it works

[serdaraltin · 9/10 · 25 November 2021]

Every generation needs to shows like this. Heart-warming, relatable stories from high school era. I don't understand why people have such a sharp negative opinion. You can't compare this show with 1986 version. It was 35 years ago. Everthing has changed.

If Cartoon Network produced a sitcom...

[booksnbooks-12338 · 8/10 · 30 November 2021]

I mean, it is from Warner Bros Television so that explains why it gave me that impression after the Pilot. Like most sitcoms today, I enjoy the diversity and I can see this being relatable to teachers and honor/AP students. Even if you don't check any of those boxes (Like I definitely don't as I wouldn't be here writing this review if I were), it's still a good watch if you're a Screen Junkie, Open to watch a new show, or just a sitcom lover.

Cute show!!

[emgilmer · 8/10 · 26 July 2022]

I don't get why most reviews of this show are so negative, it's a very cute and funny show!! Admittedly there are some predictable and corny parts but it's a sitcom so that's a given. The characters have great personalities and chemistry, and the storylines are interesting! I would recommend this for anyone looking for a light-hearted show :)

Great show tbh

[thundergodofolympuszeus · 10/10 · 21 November 2021]

First of all, I want to tell you all to form your own opinion about it. Many people here are way to critizing about tv shows or movies.

Secondly, I really like this show. It isn't over the top, they don't try too much (in my opinion) and it has great cast.

Many either complain or compare to the old times, but we should embrace new stuff and stop comparing everything. All these reviews are honestly giving people doubts about everything (even mine).

So the conclusion in the end is: Stop looking at my review and try it out yourself and I hope you'll like it like I do :)