Room 222: Season 1

File this under the category, "good things come to those who wait," and brother, has it been a long, long wait for this Classic TV gem to be rediscovered and released on DVD. Now, thanks to Shout! Factory, the complete first season of the iconic comedy-drama, Room 222, is being released for the first-time ever in a four-disc DVD boxed set.The series, which premiered on ABC in 1969, explored life at integrated Walt Whitman High School in Los Angeles, as seen through the eyes of Pete Dixon, a black American history instructor whose classes are held in Room 222. It's amazing to look back and realize that integration was considered fairly "new" in 1969!(The basic plot was similar to the popular 1967 film, To Sir, With Love, which starred the brilliant Sidney Poitier. In the movie, Poitier portrayed an idealistic teacher-trainee dealing with rambunctious white high school students from the slums of London's East End.)Room 222 was a half-hour comedy-drama that aired on ABC from 1969-1974. While seldom seen in syndication today, the show broke new ground that would later be developed by the major sitcom factories of the 1970's.Mixing dramatic elements with traditional TV comedy, Room 222 also predated the "dramedy" form by almost two decades! (Note: Director James L. Brooks worked on the series and went on to fame for his efforts in everything from the Mary Tyler Moore Show to the Simpons, as well as countless movies.)The plots of Room 222 centered around dedicated and student-friendly teacher Dixon (played by Lloyd Haynes) whose mild-mannered style was admired and respected by students. He used American history class as a spring-board to teach real-life lessons in understanding and tolerance.The series also depended on an ensemble cast of students and other school employees. The optimistic idealism of Pete, his compassionate girlfriend and school guidance counselor Liz McIntyre (played by Denise Nicholas), and student-teacher and later English teacher Alice Johnson (played by Karen Valentine) was balanced by the experienced, slightly jaded principal, Seymour Kaufman (played by Michael Constantine). Among the students were shy Helen Loomis (played by Judy Strangis), Bernie with the wild hair (played by David Jolliffe), militant Jason Allen (played by Heshimu Cumbuka) and genius Richie Lane, (played by Howard Rice.)These high school employees and a handful of others debated among themselves how to best handle the academic and personal challenges of their students. Each episode also explored serious cultural issues of the day in a realistic way and in a realistic setting, predating later "relevant" comedies known for using comedy to do just that.During its five seasons on the air, the series dealt with racism, sexism, homophobia, war, dropping out of school, shoplifting, drug use among both teachers and students, illiteracy, cops in school, guns in school, veterans' issues, teenage pregnancy and death. In one controversial episode, a young male student contracts venereal disease and an elderly female teacher loses her job because she gave him advice to deal with the problem.The series garnered a number of community and educational awards for its positive portrayal of important social issues seldom discussed on TV at the time, and won an Emmy for Outstanding New Series in 1969.The episodes from the first season included a laugh track. However, by the second season the laugh track was gone, emphasizing that the show was now primarily a drama, rather than a comedy.The series was broadcast on Friday evenings at 9 p.m., following both The Brady Bunch and The Partridge Family, but preceding Love, American Style. Room 222's initial episodes garnered weak ratings and ABC was poised to cancel the program after its first season. But because of the awards the show earned, ABC relented and renewed the series.The effervescent Valentine became a fan-favorite and a break-out star worldwide. She was frequently depicted in all of the teen magazines of the day.Include in this four-disc boxed set are all 26 First Season episodes: Richie's Story; Naked Came We into the World; Funny Boy; The Coat; The Flu; First We'll Eat - Then We'll Strike; Teacher's Dropping Out; Out Teacher is Obsolete; Triple Date; Fathers and Sons; Alice in Blunderland; Clothes Make the Boy; Seventeen Going on Twenty-Eight; The Exchange Teacher; El Genio; Arizona State Loves You; Operation Sandpile; Play it Loose; Goodbye, Mr. Hip; One Upon a Time there was Air You Couldn't See; The Whole World Can Hear You; Ralph; I Love You Charlie, I Love You Abbie; The New Boy; Funny Money; and Just Between Friends.The series' unforgettable theme song was composed by famed film composer Jerry Goldsmith, and written in a 7/4 time signature, which was unusual for the genre.Thanks to Shout! Factory for this release. Let's hope they keep 'em coming!

Can anyone out there name a more recent television series dedicated to the efforts of teachers? No? I didn't think so.Room 222 did for the teaching profession on television what Jack Webb did for the police profession on TV. It just brought the whole thing down to earth and made the people more true to life. I saw Room 222 growing up in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and it was part of that smash ABC Friday night line-up: The Brady Bunch at 8 p.m., The Partridge Family at 8:30, Room 222 at 9 p.m., The Odd Couple at 9:30, and Love American Style at 10 o'clock. Looking back upon it all, I probably understood Room 222 the least. The show was subtle with much more mature conversation than the shows which preceded it on Friday night, and more serious than the two which were to follow. The laugh track was subdued; It didn't hit one over the head. I suppose the ABC execs who programmed the show meant it for a high school audience and their parents, and both had to listen attentively and be thoughtful at that. In a world that seemed to be unraveling in the late '60s and early '70s with Vietnam, the Youth Movement, Watergate, what have you, Room 222 now seems like an island of stability compared with more recent times of what is happening on junior high and high school campuses.I suppose that Lloyd Haynes was an ABC counterpart to NBC's Chet Kincaid on The Bill Cosby Show. Here was a thoughtful, African-American man who could teach and hold the students' interest while putting history into perspective and addressing current issues. Perhaps we have come so far as to not make color an issue as it may have been when these shows first aired in the late '60s/early '70s, but the issue today seems to be one of quality teaching and addressing the needs of the students rather than of race, and this is where Room 222 scores an "A." And, to present this issue on television in a thoughtful and provocative manner moves the score to an "A+." Shows like this just do not happen on television anymore, and the only question left to be asked is "Why?" The issues and concerns of students during those high school years seem to remain the same, proving that young people are still young people. The more things change, the more things seem to stay the same. Room 222 is as relevant now with issues of students as it was 40 years ago.Lloyd Haynes is great as Mr Dixon. He remains a calm and level-headed teacher, for that is in his personal character. Denise Nicholas is a bit prissy at times, but she plays a fine supporting role of high school counselor and Mr Dixon's "shadow" girlfriend. Karen Valentine plays a bubbly and talkative, if not also a bit naive, student teacher named Alice Johnson. She seems the perfect coed for the year 1968. Michael Constantine is the somewhat exasperated principal of Walt Whitman High School (whose facade is actually Los Angeles High School). This is actually very fine ensemble playing, and the supporting actors of various teaching types occasionally penetrate to several core issues of teacher frustration. Overworked and underpaid? You bet!All in all, Room 222 is worth one's investment. It takes one back to when there was still something called a bit of discipline in the high school classroom. Young and old may still learn from its provocative and thoughtful story-line and comment today.

yes

Great show! The picture quality is faded, but it is still fun to watch!

great first season... just wish there were out takes and more interviews....recommend

Very nostalgic and the show was well written, for its time, and the characters and actors are excellent. The transfers were taken from the best prints they could find, but no restoration was done. So unfortunately, most episodes have washed out, faded colors, and lots of scratches on the film/video.