The Faculty (TV series)

The Faculty is an American sitcom starring Meredith Baxter as a middle school administrator.[1] The show aired on ABC from March to June 1996.[2][3]

The Faculty
GenreComedy
Created byGary Murphy
Neil Thompson
Directed byTom Cherones
Will Mackenzie
StarringMeredith Baxter
Peter MacKenzie
Jenica Bergere
Peter Michael Goetz
Nancy Lenehan
Miguel A. Núñez, Jr.
ComposerEd Alton
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Running time30 minutes
(with commercials)
Production companiesMeredith Baxter Productions
Thompson-Murphy Productions
ABC Productions
DistributorABC Distribution Company
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseMarch 13 –
June 26, 1996 (1996-06-26)

Premise

Baxter played Flynn Sullivan, a divorced vice-principal balancing the demands of her career with single motherhood. The Faculty was notable among school-based programs for its focus on activity in Hamilton Middle School's faculty lounge, rather than in the classrooms.[4][5] Co-creator Neil Thompson called it "an adult-based show," and said that the relationships among the school's staff were the central element.[4]

The premiere episode featured Sullivan's decision whether to expel a student for painting graffiti on a school wall that accused a teacher of having sex with a sheep.[6]

Cast

Episodes
No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Pilot"Will MackenzieGary Murphy & Neil ThompsonMarch 13, 1996 (1996-03-13)
2"Carlos Garcia"Tom CheronesGary Murphy & Neil ThompsonMarch 20, 1996 (1996-03-20)
3"Opportunity Knockers"Will MackenzieBill BryanMarch 27, 1996 (1996-03-27)
4"Somewhere There's Music"Will MackenzieBarbara Wallace & Thomas R. WolfeApril 3, 1996 (1996-04-03)
5"Behavior Among Adults"Will MackenzieKim FrieseApril 10, 1996 (1996-04-10)
6"Spirit Day"Glenn CasaleGary Murphy & Neil ThompsonApril 24, 1996 (1996-04-24)
7"Daisy's Secret"Jeff MeyerCheryl HollidayApril 24, 1996 (1996-04-24)
8"He's the Janitor"Will MackenzieGary Murphy & Neil ThompsonMay 8, 1996 (1996-05-08)
9"Bus Stop"Will MackenzieBill BryanMay 29, 1996 (1996-05-29)
10"Parents' Night"Jeff MeyerBarbara Wallace & Thomas R. WolfeJune 5, 1996 (1996-06-05)
11"Clark's Crisis"Tom CheronesCheryl HollidayJune 12, 1996 (1996-06-12)
12"The Brain Teaser"Glenn CasaleKim FrieseJune 19, 1996 (1996-06-19)
13"Julie's Party"Tom CheronesBarbara Wallace & Thomas R. WolfeJune 26, 1996 (1996-06-26)

Creation

Baxter said that the role of Flynn Sullivan appealed to her because it was a break with TV tradition, portraying an "intelligent, capable woman" who "isn't looked at a sexual object or as a target" and "doesn't need to be defended and protected and rescued."[1] The Seattle Post-Intelligencer described Flynn as "90 percent dignity, 10 percent dizziness." Baxter said she "would love to go with less dignity" but compared the character to Mary Richards: "everyone around her can be a little nuts, but there has to be some center there that viewers can believe in."[8]

In creating the show, Baxter knew she wanted to set it in a workplace as opposed to a family home, in contrast with her previous work (such as the hit 1980s sitcom Family Ties). She and her colleagues considered settings including a fashion magazine, an advertising agency and a newspaper before deciding on a school.[8]

Baxter was also one of the show's executive producers, along with Thompson, whose parents and sister were teachers, and Gary Murphy.[4][7]

Reaction and cancellation

The Faculty premiered on Wednesday, March 13, 1996 as a midseason replacement.[4]

Reviews of the show were generally unfavorable. Matt Roush of USA Today said The Faculty "fails the critical tests of originality and pungency," although he called Baxter the show's "one unmistakable asset."[9] Howard Rosenberg of the Los Angeles Times said the sitcom was "of light merit," comparing its characters unfavorably to the funnier school personalities of The Simpsons.[6] Frederic Biddle of The Boston Globe was particularly negative, calling Baxter a failure as a physical comedian and decrying "the stick-figure boobies who pass for supporting characters."[10]

In contrast, The San Diego Union-Tribune's John Freeman praised the show, calling its ensemble cast "notably strong" and naming Shulman and Goetz as stand-outs.[11]

The Faculty won its time slot with its premiere episode, placing 34th in the weekly Nielsen ratings.[2][3]

References
  1. Winslow, Harriet. "'The Faculty': Meredith Baxter, Vice Principal." The Washington Post, 1996-03-10, p. Y3.
  2. Margulies, Lee. "TV Ratings: Two 'Frasiers' Help NBC to Lopsided Win." Los Angeles Times, 1996-03-20, p. 9.
  3. Graham, Jefferson. "ABC's dramatic twist 'Murder' back minus Benzali; 'Noah' returns." USA Today, 1996-05-20, p. 1D.
  4. McCabe, Bruce. "Inside the teachers' lounge." The Boston Globe, 1996-03-10, p. 4.
  5. Nichols, Judy. "Worth Noting on TV." Christian Science Monitor, 1996-03-12, p. 14.
  6. Rosenberg, Howard. Los Angeles Times, 1996-03-13, p. 3.
  7. Bianculli, David. "In Charge Of "The Faculty": New Comedy Puts Meredith Baxter In Authority Role On Both Sides of Camera." St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1996-03-14, p. 41.
  8. Moore, Frazier. "Meredith Baxter No Woman in Distress in Her New 'Faculty.'" Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1996-03-13, p. C4.
  9. Roush, Matt. "Uninspired 'Faculty' goes by rote." USA Today, 1996-03-13, p. 3D.
  10. Biddle, Frederic. "'Faculty' has a lot to learn." The Boston Globe, 1996-03-13, p. 78.
  11. Freeman, John. "Baxter, cast have distinct faculty for sitcom humor". The San Diego Union-Tribune, 1996-03-13, p. E7.
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