"Room 222" (1969)TV series 1969-1974

Directors:

Allen Baron
Terry Becker

Writers:

James L. Brooks (writer)
Treva Silverman (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

17 September 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family

Plot:

Black teacher Pete Dixon tries to teach the students at Walt Whitman High to be tolerant. He is assisted...

Plot Keywords:

School | African American | Number In Title

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Lloyd Haynes	...	Pete Dixon (66 episodes, 1969-1974)
Denise Nicholas	...	Liz McIntyre (66 episodes, 1969-1974)
Michael Constantine	...	Principal Seymour Kaufman (66 episodes, 1969-1974)
Karen Valentine	...	Alice Johnson (66 episodes, 1969-1974)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

The shows from the first season included a laugh track. However, by the second season the laugh track was gone to help emphasize that the show was a drama, rather than a comedy.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Operation Double 007 (#6.8)" (1993)

Commentary

It may have been socially relevant for its time,but this was one of the shows that dealt with the cutting-edge issues of its day. This show came on the heels of several issues of its time including the Apollo 13 moon mission,the struggle of the civil rights movement and the overall fighting and the anti-war demonstrations of the Vietnam War.

However,it was the 'Boston Public' of its time.

Room 222 simply deals with the everyday happenings of a black English teacher(played by Lloyd Haynes)who is struggling against bureaucratic pressures which is exemplified by the school principal(played by Michael Constantine) who would always help his students make something of themselves by staying in school and not getting into trouble. However,it was absolutely routine even by today's standards--but it was frank and very controversial went it premiered in 1969 on ABC-TV.

The show dealt with a lot of racial issues here which goes to show that just seeing an African-American in a position of authority and helping out the students and bringing them together made this show stand out. There were other issues as well including pregnancy,drug abuse and school violence,and interracial dating(something that was explored but never dealt with and the first to do so). One episode in particular dealt with a student who wanted the faculty have a black festival and out of the blue---the queen of soul herself---Aretha Franklin lends her support and even sings here(that episode is a rarity if it is seen).

There were excellent secondary performances from not only Haynes,but from Karen Valentine and Denise Nicholas and from the students too including Glynn Turman and Eric Laneuville. The series ran on ABC-TV from 1969-1974 and it came out during the "bubble gum" era of shows like The Brady Bunch. This was a fine show that was very "realistic" and to learn what it was like to just get along with each other.

NOTE: The shows' creator was James L. Brooks who went on to produced "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and countless others. The producers were Larry Gelbert and Gene Reynolds who would also produced the M*A*S*H TV show the following year as well as writer D'Angelo Brooks.