DANGEROUS MINDS
September 30, 1996 - March 15, 1997
17 episodes
ABC
Starring: Annie Potts, Tamala Jones, Cedrick Terrell, K. Todd Freeman, Jenny Gago, Greg Serano, Maria Costa, LaToya Howlett and Stanley Anderson
Based on the Screenplay by Robert Bass
Based on "My Posse Don't Do Homework" by Louanne Johnson
Plot: Louanne Johnson (Potts) is a former teacher and US Marine returning to the classroom as an English teacher in an inner city school rife with gangs and lots of other issues. She inspires her students while sparring occasionally with colleagues include computers teacher Bud Bartkus (Anderson).
It was clear from the jump that this was going to be a show that was trying hard to be edgy. Between Annie Potts' hairstyle and the use of "Gangsta's Paradise" as a theme song, this show was really trying to prove it was one of the "cool kids." My goodness, Coolio even guest starred in the pilot. The show also used a very irritating transition between scenes that felt very 90s and was also another attempt at being hip. It was such a blatant attempt at a network show to do something cool and even then, before streaming and tons of diverse TV, cool was reserved for places like MTV, not ABC.
The saving grace of this show was Potts herself. She is such an accomplished actress that she could make the character work even though she checked all the boxes for a stereotypical inspiring teacher with tough students. The series had her win over the tough students way, way too quickly but Potts still sold the scene well. Even a bizarre moment where she kissed a student on the cheek worked more than it should have. Potts elevated the writing in a big way. Interestingly enough, the pilot resisted the urge to build up the backstory or home life of Potts' character. It showed lots of instances of doing good things for her students. Sure, the show veered into the "white savior" tropes quite a bit but that isn't too surprising since it was 1996. I'm sure it would be handled differently today.
Dangerous Minds the TV show premiered just over a year after the movie debuted in theaters in August 1995. It was a pretty successful film despite mixed to negative reviews from critics. The Michelle Pfeiffer vehicle debuted at #1 at the Box Office and grossed $84.9 million in the US. At the time, it had the fourth biggest August opening weekend in Box Office history (now it sits all the way down at #107 on that list) .So, the audience was there for a TV show. Michelle Pfeiffer was a giant movie star at the time so there was no chance she was going to come on board for the TV show. The network enlisted Annie Potts, who had been on the very successful Designing Women followed by a pinch hitting run on Love & War.
The series fared better with critics than the movie though the very clear "white savior" approach wasn't as noticed or critiqued in those days. In fact, just like in the film, it was the leading lady who received the best reviews. Variety said "spiky yet vulnerable is an appealing combination that Annie Potts has in abundance" while Entertainment Weekly called Potts and her supporting ensemble "terrific." Despite the solid reviews, ABC could not get the show to work in a slot that hadn't worked for them since the heyday of MacGyver. The series was modestly rated from the get-go and was finally pulled after 17 episodes. The movie hasn't remained much in the public consciousness either, both the movie and the show are relics of their time.
Tomorrow: A look at Season 9 (Part 2) of Happy Days!
Next Wednesday: A One Season Wonder look at Homeboys in Outer Space!
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