The Sopranos is a television drama that was first broadcast on HBO in 1999. It provides a hard-hitting and edgy look into the life of an Italian-American Mafia family living in Northern New Jersey. The Sopranos series has run for six seasons and is scheduled to end in mid-2007. Filmed on location in New Jersey, the series offers a glimpse into the everyday life of a Mafia family. Although the show centers on a family, it is clearly not a family show. The Sopranos is aimed squarely at mature audiences and includes graphic depictions of violence, nudity, language and drug use.

The show chronicles the life and times of mob boss Tony soprano and his family, including his daughter Meadow, son A.J. and wife Carmela.

The pilot began with a severe anxiety attack being suffered by the main character Tony Soprano. Tony Soprano’s therapy and interaction with his therapist, Dr. Melfi, have played a continuing central role in the show’s plot.

The Sopranos has proven to be one of the most popular dramas on television and is the most popular cable drama. More than 13.4 million viewers watched the premiere episode of the fourth season. The Sopranos has been a critical success as well. Is it is frequently hailed as the top drama series and is cited as one of the best shows on television. TV Guide magazine ranked the Sopranos fifth in its list of the “greatest of all time” television shows. The show has received numerous Emmy award nominations and won the Emmy for outstanding drama in 2004. The show has also taken home at least one acting-related Emmy award every season.

However, not everyone joins in the glowing praise of this dramatic presentation. The show is often criticized for its stereotypes of Italian Americans. Several national groups who advocate on behalf of Italian-Americans have been quite vocal in their opposition to the show. In some cases, the cast of the Sopranos has even been barred from participating in public events.

The Sopranos was created and is produced by David Chase. Chase’s earlier TV credits include episodes of The Rockford Files and Northern exposure. Chase continues to be the driving creative force behind the Sopranos and writes many of the episodes. He is credited for the central role that dream sequences play in the series. Chase believes that these dream sequences can expand on and clarify the show’s narrative. The Sopranos is also rich in symbolism, although popular interpretations of the exact meaning of the symbolism vary quite a bit.

The central character, Tony Soprano, is portrayed by James Gandolfini. Gandolfini was actually born in New Jersey where much of the show is filmed. After working as a Manhattan bartender, Gandolfini began his acting career in New York theater. He is also appeared in several films and other television shows, but true fame came as a result of his role on the Sopranos. It’s interesting to note that Gandolfini actually had personal reservations about continuing in the role of Tony Soprano because of the show’s violence and its stereotypical portrayal of Italian-Americans.

The Sopranos was originally set to air on the Fox network but was rejected by Fox before airing. HBO then picked up the show. It was originally intended to run for only one or two seasons, but its success and wide appeal has propelled the show into its sixth season. Sopranos fans are forced to wait longer between seasons than is normal for most television shows. These breaks are often blamed on the need for time to develop storylines and scheduling conflicts with the actors.

The Sopranos is also distinctive for its musical selections, which are often played throughout the show. At the same time, the series is somewhat unique for its lack of incidental music, taking a fairly minimalist direction in terms of soundtrack.

All indications are that the show will end in the early summer of 2007. After that, Sopranos fans can look for the show to continue airing on the A&E network. As a testament to the popularity of The Sopranos, A&E won a bidding war with Lifetime, Spike, USA and TNT. Ultimately, they paid $2.5 million per episode, possible the largest payout ever for syndication. Fans can also purchase fully-loaded, unedited DVD sets of every season.

The Sopranos centers around the life of Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a middle-aged father of two, husband, and successful businessman. But unlike most sitcom families, Tony is constantly irritated by his children, Meadow and Anthony (Jamie Lynn Sigler and Robert Iler). Furthermore, he regularly cheats on his wife Carmela (Edie Falco), and to top it off, he’s the head of a mafia crime organization. The constant confusion and stress in Tony’s life pushes him to seek out a therapist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), so he can unload his problems. Following a the outline of a traditional prime time soap opera, The Sopranos shies away from the glorification of the mobster lifestyle and paints a picture of a world not much different than that of the average middle-class family…

The Sopranos (Season 5) DVD offers a number of dramatic episodes including the season premiere “Two Tonys” in which Tony makes a play for Dr. Melfi following his recent separation from Carmela, but Carmela calls on Tony for help in fending off a bear that keeps returning to their house. Meanwhile, Christopher gets in an argument with Paulie when he realizes he’s always stuck paying for dinner… Other notable episodes from Season 5 include “All Happy Families…” in which Tony and Carmela fight over A.J.’s behavior while Carmela becomes interested in A.J.’s school guidance counselor, and “Marco Polo” in which Tony and Carmela reunite (at least for one evening) after she invites Tony to her father’s birthday party…

Below is a list of episodes included on the Sopranos (Season 5) DVD:

Episode 53 (Two Tonys) Air Date: 03-07-2004
Episode 54 (Rat Pack) Air Date: 03-14-2004
Episode 55 (Where’s Johnny?) Air Date: 03-21-2004
Episode 56 (All Happy Families…) Air Date: 03-28-2004
Episode 57 (Irregular Around the Margins) Air Date: 04-04-2004
Episode 58 (Sentimental Education) Air Date: 04-11-2004
Episode 59 (In Camelot) Air Date: 04-18-2004
Episode 60 (Marco Polo) Air Date: 04-25-2004
Episode 61 (Unidentified Black Male) Air Date: 05-02-2004
Episode 62 (Cold Cuts) Air Date: 05-09-2004
Episode 63 (The Test Dream) Air Date: 05-16-2004
Episode 64 (Long Term Parking) Air Date: 05-23-2004
Episode 65 (All Due Respect) Air Date: 06-06-2004

Recipient of numerous awards and critical acclaim, The Sopranos has solidified itself as one of the best shows of the past decade. A sitcom family version of The Godfather, although not to be confused with family-friendly programming, the show provides a fresh glimpse of the vast underworld of organized crime. Putting a middle-class family twist on the mafia lifestyle, it creates a seduction world that it is simultaneously easier to relate to for most viewers. James Gandolfini plays the role of Tony Soprano, loving husband and father of two. He also happens to be an organized crime boss. But the glamour life portrayed in the movies isn’t the one enjoyed by Tony. He grapples not only with the high stress of his job, but out-of-control kids, a strained relationship with his wife, and a growing bout of depression. Seeing a therapist on a regular basis, the show follows his day-to-day exploits…

The Sopranos (Season 4) DVD offers a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “For All Debts Public and Private” in which Tony and Carmela deal with the strain on their household finances in the midst of a recession, and Adrianna brings a friend of great interest to the Soprano family dinner. Meanwhile, Tony creates a special bond with Christopher when he gives his blessing for Christopher to avenge his father’s murder… Other notable episodes from Season 4 include “No Show” in which Meadow has a fallout with Tony and Carmela when she decides to drop out of college and travel the European continent, and “Pie-O-My” in which Tony develops a deep interest in Ralphie’s new race horse, prompting him to spend more time away from home than Carmela likes…

Below is a list of episodes included on the Sopranos (Season 4) DVD:

Episode 40 (For All Debts Public and Private) Air Date: 09-15-2002
Episode 41 (No Show) Air Date: 09-22-2002
Episode 42 (Christopher) Air Date: 09-29-2002
Episode 43 (The Weight) Air Date: 10-06-2002
Episode 44 (Pie-O-My) Air Date: 10-13-2002
Episode 45 (Everybody Hurts) Air Date: 10-20-2002
Episode 46 (Watching Too Much Television) Air Date: 10-27-2002
Episode 47 (Mergers & Acquisitions) Air Date: 11-03-2002
Episode 48 (Whoever Did This) Air Date: 11-10-2002
Episode 49 (The Strong, Silent Type) Air Date: 11-17-2002
Episode 50 (Calling All Cars) Air Date: 11-24-2002
Episode 51 (Eloise) Air Date: 12-01-2002
Episode 52 (Whitecaps) Air Date: 12-08-2002

In the late 90’s, The Sopranos, along with HBO’s other original series with Sex And The City, took the entertainment world by storm with its dry wit and flavorful brand of drama. A hybrid of The Godfather and a normal, run-of-the-mill sitcom family, The Sopranos created a new experience for its audience and quickly developed a legion of loyal dedicated fans. Winner of numerous Emmys, the show follows the lives of the Soprano family headed by Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a middle-aged family man and mafia boss. Tony is joined by his two children Anthony and Meadow (Robert Iler and Jamie Lynn Sigler), his wife Carmela (Edie Falco), his therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), and a band of mafia characters too numerous to mention. Far from the glamour life often portrayed in the movies, The Sopranos is one show you won’t want to miss…

The Sopranos (Season 3) DVD offers a number of dramatic episodes including the season premiere “Mr. Ruggerio’s Neighborhood” in which the Soprano family continues their daily routine, completely unaware that the FBI is plotting an intricate scheme to bug their house. Meanwhile, Tony begins some plotting of his own when Patsy begins asking too many questions about his brother’s death… Other notable episodes from Season 3 include “Fortunate Son” in which Tony learns that his panic attacks are partly due to genetics and past events from his childhood, and “He is Risen” in which Tony’s problems with Ralphie bubble to surface when Ralphie doesn’t get the promotion he hoped for…

Below is a list of episodes included on the Sopranos (Season 3) DVD:

Episode 27 (Mr. Ruggerio’s Neighborhood) Air Date: 03-04-2001
Episode 28 (Proshai, Livushka) Air Date: 03-04-2001
Episode 29 (Fortunate Son) Air Date: 03-11-2001
Episode 30 (Employee of the Month) Air Date: 03-18-2001
Episode 31 (Another Toothpick) Air Date: 03-25-2001
Episode 32 (University) Air Date: 04-01-2001
Episode 33 (Second Opinion) Air Date: 04-08-2001
Episode 34 (He is Risen) Air Date: 04-15-2001
Episode 35 (The Telltale Moozadell) Air Date: 04-22-2001
Episode 36 (To Save Us All from Satan’s Power) Air Date: 04-29-2001
Episode 37 (Pine Barrens) Air Date: 05-06-2001
Episode 38 (Amour Fou) Air Date: 05-13-2001
Episode 39 (Army of One) Air Date: 05-20-2001

In the late 1990’s a new HBO original series took America by storm. The Sopranos redefined the cable drama series genre with its unique look into the family life of a New Jersey mafia kingpin. Recipient of numerous Emmy nominations in the years since, The Sopranos has built a loyal following among television viewers and critics alike.

The Sopranos focuses on the life of Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a middle-aged father of two and the successful head of an organized crime family. He’s joined by his two kids Anthony and Meadow (Robert Iler and Jamie Lynn Sigler) and his wife Carmela (Edie Falco). Burdened by the stress of his job and family life, Tony often visits psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), one of the few people outside the family that he can trust. Following a traditional soap opera template, The Sopranos provides fans with alternative view of the mafia lifestyle, one that’s not all the glory and craziness of The Godfather and Goodfellas, but more like middle-class America…

The Sopranos (Season 2) DVD offers a number of dramatic episodes including the season premiere “Guy Walks into a Psychiatrist’s Office” in which Tony firmly establishes himself as the leader of the New Jersey area while Dr. Melfi starts seeing a therapist of her own in order to deal with the guilt she feels for refusing to treat Tony professionally. Meanwhile, Christopher’s criminal enterprises in the “boiler room” bring thug violence into a professional workplace… Other notable episodes from Season 2 include “Commendatori” in which Tony takes a business trip to Italy with Christopher and Paulie, and “Full Leather Jacket” in which Carmela uses the power of her status as Tony’s wife to get a friend to write a letter of recommendation for Meadow…

Below is a list of episodes included on the Sopranos (Season 2) DVD:

Episode 14 (Guy Walks into a Psychiatrist’s Office) Air Date: 01-16-2000
Episode 15 (Do Not Resuscitate) Air Date: 01-23-2000
Episode 16 (Toodle-F***ing-Oo) Air Date: 01-30-2000
Episode 17 (Commendatori) Air Date: 02-06-2000
Episode 18 (Big Girls Don’t Cry) Air Date: 02-13-2000
Episode 19 (The Happy Wanderer) Air Date: 02-20-2000
Episode 20 (D-Girl) Air Date: 02-27-2000
Episode 21 (Full Leather Jacket) Air Date: 03-05-2000
Episode 22 (From Where to Eternity) Air Date: 03-12-2000
Episode 23 (Bust Out) Air Date: 03-19-2000
Episode 24 (House Arrest) Air Date: 03-26-2000
Episode 25 (Knight in White Satin Armor) Air Date: 04-02-2000
Episode 26 (Funhouse) Air Date: 04-09-2000

Along with Sex And The City, the HBO original series The Sopranos took the world by storm in the late-1990s with its cutting edge drama and acerbic wit. A cross between The Godfather and the traditional nuclear sitcom family, the show provided a unique experience for a niche audience that quickly developed into a barrage of dedicated fans. Nominated for countless Emmy’s, and winner of at least four in every one of its seasons except Season 2 (in which it carried home one), The Sopranos has cemented itself as one of the elite shows in television history…

Golden Globe performer James Gandolfini plays the title role of Tony Soprano, a middle-aged father of two, loving husband, and successful businessman. But contrary to a typical sitcom, Tony finds himself irritated by his kids Anthony and Meadow (Robert Iler and Jamie Lynn Sigler), he cheats on his wife Carmela (Edie Falco), and the business organization responsible for his success is the mafia (of which he is the local boss). All the confusion in Tony’s life leads to massive amounts of stress, prompting him to regularly visit a therapist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) – one of the few outsiders he trusts. Following a classic prime time soap opera format, quite similar to the hit TV show Dallas, The Sopranos provides audiences with a glimpse into the life and times of a mafia boss, where we find out that being a mob kingpin isn’t the glamour life often portrayed in the movies…

The Sopranos DVD offers a number of dramatic episodes including the self-titled series premiere in which the groundwork for the show is set when Tony Soprano visits a therapist in hopes of ending his panic attacks (sounds similar to the plot for Analyze This!). In his initial session with the beautiful Dr. Melfi, Tony confides in her the stressful aspects of his extraordinary life – a demanding job, an unhappy wife, and rebellious kids (among other problems)… Other notable episodes from Season 1 include “College” in which Tony takes his daughter on a college orientation trip to Maine where he encounters a former (and current) enemy, and “A Hit is a Hit” in which Tony strikes out when he attempts to make friends outside of his close-knit circle…

Below is a list of episodes included on The Sopranos (Season 1) DVD:

Episode 1 (The Sopranos) Air Date: 01-10-1999
Episode 2 (46 Long) Air Date: 01-17-1999
Episode 3 (Denial, Anger, Acceptance) Air Date: 01-24-1999
Episode 4 (Meadowlands) Air Date: 01-31-1999
Episode 5 (College) Air Date: 02-07-1999
Episode 6 (Pax Soprana) Air Date: 02-14-1999
Episode 7 (Down Neck) Air Date: 02-21-1999
Episode 8 (The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti) Air Date: 02-28-1999
Episode 9 (Boca) Air Date: 03-07-1999
Episode 10 (A Hit is a Hit) Air Date: 03-14-1999
Episode 11 (Nobody Knows Anything) Air Date: 03-21-1999
Episode 12 (Isabella) Air Date: 03-28-1999
Episode 13 (I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano) Air Date: 04-04-1999

When you were a kid, did you ever watch these old black and white gangster movies with the sharp suits and the sharper dialogue? If so, who did you cheer for – the clean cut good guy, or the gangster with the cutting one-liners and the complete lack of respect for authority? If it was the latter, don’t worry – you’re not alone, and when you look at the gangster movie genre in more detail, you can begin to understand why.

For instance, if you’ve ever seen the two films that are hailed as the genre’s defining moments, Little Caesar and Public Enemy, you probably remember distinct moments in the films, as opposed to the gangster’s in them receiving justice for their deeds. For example, famous movie gangster Edward G Robinson is probably better remembered in Little Caesar for the luxurious lifestyle he had, as opposed to any comeuppance he received. The same can be said of James Cagney in Public Enemy, who is so enamoured by a little girl’s smile that he brakes into a little two-step jig.

This love for gangsters as opposed to law enforcers has carried over into more modern examples of the genre, and has seen the typical idea of what a gangster is challenged by the actors and scripts of these newer films. Take a look at the legendary Al Pacino – as Michael Corleone in the much-loved Godfather movies, he played the reluctant mafiosi boss who places his family over his own choices. However, in the classic Scarface, he was the psychotic Tony Montana who revelled in causing as much damage as possible on his rise to the top. Two very different characters, yet both garnered the love of audiences worldwide.

It’s not only outside the movies that this love of the lawbreaking gangsters makes itself known. One of the biggest successes of the last few years has been the TV show The Sopranos, a story about a modern crime family who’ll happily eulogise quotes from films like The Godfather and Goodfellas. This is also prevalent in the high school movie Brick, which is almost a homage to Miller’s crossing with its look and dialect.

Perhaps it’s because gangster movies represent the American Dream, albeit in a setting that goes against the law, that sees gangsters enjoy such a rapport with the public. After all, at their heart, they’re the story of a nobody rising up to become a somebody, and we all want to relate to that.

However, one thing that should be remembered in all this love for the gangster movie is that the so-called “heroes” are still law-breaking citizens, and as such deserve to be punished for their wrong-doings. Although the life might seem glamorous, it will catch up with them as it always does, and by festering any kind of love for a gangster, you’ll soon feel as morally shot down as the persona up on-screen.

Stu Unger is one of the biggest superstars to have immerged from the professional poker world. Besides being a true poker genius and a three time World Series of Poker champion, Stu Unger had a fascinating life story. It was not surprising that after his death Stu was the subject of a biography and a biopic.

Stu Unger lived the life of a rock star including the quick rise to fame, the drugs, the comeback and the unavoidable death at an early age. Here you can read about the life story of the legendary poker player Stu Unger.

The Beginning

Stuart Errol Ungar was born in 1953 to a Jewish family who lived in Manhattan on the Lower East Side. Stus father was a well known bookmaker and his mother was too ill to fight against her sons fascination with gambling. After the death of his father, 13 years old Stu had found a father figure at his neighbor Victor Romano, one of the infamous Genovese family soldiers.

Stu and Romano had at least one thing in common: they both had an incredibly sharp memory, which was mainly used in poker and gin games. By that time, Stu was already an accomplished gin player who had gained vast experience in winning gin tournaments. Stu dropped out of school to become a full time gin rummy player. The Genovese family had benefited from Stus talent. In return, they provided him protection from other gamblers who found themselves offended by his harsh and arrogant playing style.

The Rise

As a professional gin player, Stu had managed to beat all the professional gin poker players around. According to the rumors, Stu caused Harry Yonkie Stein, one of the best players around to stop playing gin completely after beating him in a gin match. Since he was out of proper competition, Stu decided to focus on playing poker professionally. In 1976, he and his girlfriend relocated to Las Vegas where they got married and had a girl, Stephanie.

In 1980, Stu won the World Series of Poker Main Event after beating experienced poker pros such as Doyle Bronson. Stu was the youngest WSOP champion in history and was nicknamed The Kid. Even though Stu won the 1981 WSOP Main Event, he still considered himself more a gin and rummy player than a poker player. After winning his first WSOP championship title, he was quoted saying that the poker world would meet better no limit players than him, but no one will ever be able to play gin rummy better than he does.

At the same time, Stu had tried to use his skill to grab money at the blackjack table. Nevertheless, the casinos were not happy with Stus presence around the blackjack tables and he was constantly barred. In 1982, he was fined by the New Jersey Gaming Commission for cheating, although Stu has not done anything illegal but using his natural skill and phenomenal memory.

The Fall

In 1990, Stu made another appearance to the WSOP. This time, he was heavily into drugs. He was a chip leader for the first three days of the event and then disappeared. He was found lying at his hotel room, unconscious from a drug overdose. However, it did not stop him from finishing ninth and earning enough money for his future cocaine supply.

The Comeback

After seven years of disappearing from the professional poker circle, Stu had returned to the WSOP. In 1997, he was broke, with damaged nostrils from cocaine abuse, addicted to horseracing and sports gambling, but still in shape to beat all the new contestants and gain back his WSOP Championship title. The local media was happy to embrace The Comeback Kid, but his success did not last long.

The Death

Stu Unger did not attend the 1998 World Series of Poker since he could not get the money to pay the entry fee. Seven months after Scotty Nguyen won the 1998 WSOP, Stu Ungar was found dead at his motel room in Las Vegas with 800 dollars in his pocket. Apparently, he died of a heart condition caused by years of drug abuse.

The Biography

Read: One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stuey The Kid Ungar, The Worlds Greatest Poker Player written by Nolan Dalla, Peter Alson, Mike Sexton.

Watch: High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story directed by A. W. Vidmer and starring Michael Imperioli, Christopher Moltisanti of The Sopranos, as Stu Unger

Aida Turturro, the actress who plays Janice Soprano on the HBO series “The Sopranos,” is one of the more than 20 million Americans who have diabetes.

Turturro was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (where the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells do not use the insulin properly) in 2000. For more than a year after her initial diagnosis she was in denial and did not take the proper steps-such as diet and exercise-to manage the disease.

Finally, her doctor told her that her blood sugar levels were too high and if she did not learn how to manage the disease, she would suffer serious complications.

“As soon as I started learning more about the potential complications of the disease, I realized I should have taken action sooner,” said Turturro. “It is scary what can happen to you if you do not take control of your diabetes.”

Turturro was among the more than 50 percent of diabetes patients whose A1C levels are above the target goal of 7 percent as established by the American Diabetes Association. Patients with diabetes should know their A1C level. It is a simple blood test that assesses glucose levels over a two- to three-month period.

In addition to her diet and exercise routines, Turturro worked with her doctor to develop a treatment regimen that was right for her. At first she was taking oral medications but was still unable to get her blood sugar levels under control. About two years ago, Turturro and her doctor added Lantus® (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection), the once-daily, true 24-hour basal insulin, to her treatment plan.

With a treatment regimen that includes Lantus and other diabetes medications, Turturro achieves good blood glucose control with an A1C level below seven percent.

“Managing diabetes is not easy. What I have learned is the best way to manage the disease is by becoming educated, motivated and an advocate for yourself,” said Turturro. “It is a 24-hour disease and you have to put in a real effort to keep your blood sugar levels under control.”

Note to Editors: Important Safety Information for Lantus

Lantus is indicated for once-daily subcutaneous administration, at the same time each day, for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients (6 years and older) with type 1 diabetes mellitus or adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who require basal (long-acting) insulin for the control of hyperglycemia. Lantus must not be diluted or mixed with any other insulin or solution. If mixed or diluted, the solution may become cloudy, and the onset of action/time to peak effect may be altered in an unpredictable manner. Lantus is contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to insulin glargine or the excipients.

Hypoglycemia is the most common adverse effect of insulin, including Lantus. As with all insulins, the timing of hypoglycemia may differ among various insulin formulations. Glucose monitoring is recommended for all patients with diabetes. Any change of insulin type and/or regimen should be made cautiously and only under medical supervision.Concomitant oral antidiabetes treatment may need to be adjusted. Other adverse events commonly associated with Lantus include the following: lipodystrophy, skin reactions (such as injection-site reaction, pruritus, rash) and allergic reactions.

Every profession could use a good TV show to help it flourish in tough times. With No Child Left Behind, maybe teachers need one more than ever.

I’ve heard most of the arguments on why this happens: pay, working conditions, job satisfaction, bureaucracy, lost tenure, ad infinitum. If you’re reading this story, I’m sure you have too.

I know that students decided to become teachers for reasons other than money, and they didn’t begin their working life expecting the other negatives. They must have inspired by something, maybe a teacher who took a personal interest, or turned them on to learning. Or, maybe it was attraction of having summers off.

I can say one thing, for sure. Teachers were rarely “made” because of Hollywood; film and television producers have done little in recent years to portray teaching in an honest and positive light. They’ve certainly done a lot for the images of law enforcement, crime scene investigation and medicine, but not K-12 education.

If you are in your thirties or forties, what movies and TV shows about teachers come to mind?

Welcome Back Kotter (1975-79) was hilarious. Having grown up in New Jersey, I admit that I’m a huge fan, because the show made fun of Brooklyn. But my Hebrew school friends imitated the “Sweathogs,” the remedial rowdies in Kotter’s class. Even the nerdy girls dreamed of being with Vinnie Barbarino, Freddie “Boom-Boom” Washington and Juan Epstein, the Puerto Rican Jew, while the guys shot their hands up, shouting “Ooh! Ooh!” like Arnold Horshack. Like the Sweathogs, my classmates wanted to annoy and bury the teachers, not praise them.

Boston Public (2000-2004) was created by David E. Kelley, who also brought us LA Law, Boston Legal, The Practice, Doogie Howser M.D. and Picket Fences. The latter featured Fyvush Finkle as a doddering attorney. Thanks to Kelley, he later plays Harvey Lipshultz, a doddering widowed social studies teacher. Harvey was not exactly a role model for someone starting a teaching career. Chi McBride played Steven Harper, the fair-minded principal to near perfection, though I could not same the same for his vice principals: Scott Guber (played by Anthony Heald), the authoritarian dork and Ronni Cooke (played by Jeri Ryan, of Borg collective fame in Star Trek Voyager), a lawyer-turned-teacher who directs the school to teach to standardized tests. They were not exactly role models for teachers who aspired to become principals.

Then there are movies such as: The Blackboard Jungle (1955), To Sir, with Love (1967), Class of 1984 (1982), The Principal (1987), Stand and Deliver (1988), Lean on Me and Dead Poets Society (both 1989), Class of 1999 (1990), Dangerous Minds (1995), The Substitute (1996), One Eight Seven (1997), and Freedom Writers (2007). They all revolve around the same theme: an idealistic young teacher struggles to reach their students and unsuccessfully navigates the educational bureaucracy in an urban public school, before stumbling on their own success formula. The ending to any of the movies is the same: the teachers are popular, even loved, and with their students behind them, they teach on.

But that’s not real life, that’s the entertainment ‘biz.

Would a serious television drama that better depicts teachers in real life actually succeed? Could it inspire young people to become teachers?

In other words, what if we brought back Room 222, in re-runs, or updated for today?

Room 222 aired on ABC from September 17, 1969 to January 11, 1974 for 112 episodes. It was centered around an American History class at Walt Whitman High School in Los Angeles, taught by Pete Dixon (Lloyd Haynes), an African-American teacher. Other characters featured in the show were guidance counselor Liz McIntyre (Denise Nicholas) as Pete’s girlfriend; the principal, Seymour Kaufman (Michael Constantine) and Alice Johnson (Karen Valentine) as a student teacher. In addition, recurring students were featured from episode to episode.

Pete Dixon, the main character, was not much different from the idealistic teachers in the movies, though Haynes’ acting made him far more believable. While I remember Karen Valentine’s character as being somewhat ditzy, the others appeared genuine and not ridiculously overconfident. They talked amongst each other about how to improve their teaching and best act in loco parentis, without trying too hard to be mom or dad to their students.

Like the movies, Room 222 tried to address contemporary political issues of the 1960’s and 70’s such as homosexuality, war, race relations and woman’s rights. The show boiled a lot of content into half an hour. Boston Public needed an hour to deal with three similar themes in a single episode.

But unlike the movies, the teachers didn’t always conjure heroics and the students were not always cheering at the end. There were tragedies: the ex-Marine who couldn’t play high school baseball after coming home from Vietnam, for example, or more sadly, a bright and promising senior who dies of leukemia. Teachers and the principal showed their warts. Seymour Kaufman was the type of principal that any teacher would like to have for a boss. He was the Sherman Potter (of M*A*S*H fame) of high school principals, minus the Midwestern witticisms.

Did Room 222 succeed?

It almost didn’t: weak early ratings almost led ABC to pull the show after the first season, but Room 222 ended up winning the Emmy for Best New Series at season’s end. Room 222 was nominated for seven Emmy awards and seven Golden Globes between 1970 and 1971.

More amusing, Lloyd Haynes and Karen Valentine won TV Land Awards as Teacher of the Year and Classic TV Teacher of the Year — thirty years after Room 222 went off the air!

ABC launched Room 222 in the same year as The Brady Bunch. Their final episodes concluded only two months apart. Yet, while we fondly remember the Brady’s through numerous spin-offs and regular re-runs, we do not find Room 222 episodes in syndication today. I guess that comedies are more marketable on the re-run stations during prime time.

Would Room 222 succeed today, in a similar format? I’m not sure. Room 222′s story lines showed open discussion and problem solving; the teachers rarely complained about the task of teaching. None of them kvetched about the low pay, or the students they taught. Teachers, like the crusty Mr. Dragan (Ivor Francis) who had traditional teaching styles were frequently portrayed as jaded. Today, the most fervent advocates of No Child Left Behind would laud them as teachers and scholars.

A Room 222 for the 2000′s would have its share of hits and misses in political correctness. There may be too much competition for a major network to take the risk. These days, you’re more likely to see a well-developed show covering the themes in Room 222 on HBO and their cable kin. They’re more comfortable with serious, controversial programming, such as Mad Men, Big Love and The Sopranos.

Maybe the reason we don’t have a teacher’s docudrama is that parents don’t want to hear teachers complain about a tough day at work, after they’ve had their own bad days at work. Parents do not usually have sympathy for teachers; otherwise, they’d always support school budget proposals.

It’s also possible that parents do not want their children to know that their teachers work for a living -— and that teachers consider teaching a job, as opposed to a calling.

That’s a natural, but over-protective, impulse.

Parents don’t want their kids to grow up to be Sweathogs.