We are Back to School, in one form or another, so today's Top 10 is Top 10 TV Teachers/Coaches!
Close Calls:
Mr. Garvey - Key and Peele
CB Brown - Schooled
Helen Crump - The Andy Griffith Show
10. Cameron Tucker (played by Eric Stonestreet) - Modern Family
We didn't get to see a ton of Cam as a gym teacher and football coach on Modern Family, but I love that the show turned a stereotype on his head by making someone who often appeared flamboyantly gay a competent and effective football coach. And they were never preachy or heavy-handed about it.
9. Charlie Moore (played by Howard Hesseman) - Head of the Class
An anti-Mr. Kotter teaching the anti-Sweathogs, Charlie Moore was the perfect teacher for a group of pretentious straight A students because he was a little bit pretentious himself. As a musical director myself, I love that he was also the musical director at the school.
8. Jessica Day (played by Zooey Deschanel) - New Girl
We didn't get a ton of glimpses into Jess' career on New Girl but knowing everything we do about Jess as a character, she had to be a pretty amazing and fun teacher, right?
7. Mr. Banglian (played by Horatio Sanz) - Saturday Night Live
The hilarious example of a teacher who tried WAY too hard to be cool, Mr. Banglian was one of the funniest parts of an underrated recurring sketch - "Wake Up Wakefield." We all had a teacher like Mr. Banglian in our lives.
I'm not a loyal Boy Meets World viewer by any means but I've seen enough of the show to know that he was a quintessential teacher who made a difference in kids' lives. If I was a bigger fan of the show, he may have challenged for #1.
5. Coach Hayden Fox (played by Craig T. Nelson) - Coach
Coach Fox is exasperated a lot of the time but wouldn't you be too if you were dealing with bone-headed college football players and bone-headed assistant coaches? He still always had his players' interests at heart.
4. Mr. Katimski (played by Jeff Perry) - My So-Called Life
Jeff Perry only appeared in four episodes of the short run of My So-Called Life, but made a very big impact thanks to his calm and levelheaded demeanor and his connection to struggling teen Rickie.
3. Mr. Collins (played by Steven Gilborn) - The Wonder Years
Steven Gilborn was in less episodes of The Wonder Years than Jeff Perry in My So-Called Life but his impact was undeniable, first as a very stern math teacher and then through his passing and the impact it had on Kevin Arnold.
2. Ms. Frizzle (voiced by Lily Tomlin) - The Magic School Bus
One of the most iconic cartoon characters, Ms. Frizzle was the perfect science teacher. Sure, she could do things no other teacher could do thanks to a certain bus, but she also was kooky and funny and fascinated about science.
Could there really be any other #1? Eric Taylor was so much more than a football coach. He was a mentor, counselor, pseudo-parent, disciplinarian and cheerleader. Whether giving a pep talk to an entire team or helping an individual player, Coach Taylor should be a role model for all high school coaches.
Tomorrow: A One Season Wonder Look at Mary!
Next Tuesday: Top 10 TV Neighbors!
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