Brian Robbins Movies
Gen-X'ers will almost invariably recall actor Brian Robbins; he began his career by starring in a multi-season run as Eric Mardian, a self-styled slickster forced into the same high-school class with a group of nerdy brainiacs, in the Howard Hesseman ABC sitcom Head of the Class (1986-1991). Robbins also appeared in other projects at around the same time, including episodes of Growing Pains, the sci-fi exploitation outing C.H.U.D. 2: Bud the C.H.U.D. (1989) and the family-friendly telemovie Camp Cucamonga (1990).Around 1993, Robbins abandoned acting by stepping behind the camera, as a director, producer, and eventually, executive-level Hollywood studio producer -- and thus achieved far greater success in that venue than he did as a young star. Among other endeavors, Robbins was responsible for such blockbuster series as Smallville, What I Like About You, and One Tree Hill, and features such as the Eddie Murphy comedy Norbit (2007). In 2008, he signed to both produce and direct the inspirational prison drama Jailhouse Rock. For a number of years, Robbins ran a production shingle with partner Mike Tollin, though the press reported in 2007 that their partnership had formally ended. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 1988
"Permanent substitute" teacher Charlie Moore (Howard Hesseman) continues to instill the genius-level students of Fillmore High's Individual Honors Program (IHP) with the sort of things one can't find in a book -- such as emotional maturity, personal responsibility and a genuine sense of self-worth -- in season three of Head of the Class. New to the series this year is Rain Pryor, daughter of Richard Pryor, as the street-smart T.J. Jones, a remedial student who is "slow" mainly because of a bad and overly defensive attitude, but who is determined to earn the right to join the IHP kids. This is the season that Head of the Class carved its niche in the annals of television history. The hour-long episode "Mission to Moscow," originally telecast November 2, 1998, was the first American prime time comedy series episode ever to be filmed in the Soviet Union. Other season highlights include "Let's Rap," featuring future King of Queens regular Leah Remini in a one-line bit part; "First Date," wherein tough-guy Eric (Brian Robbins) and budding poetess Simone (Khrystyne Haje) go out together for the first time; "I Am the King," which sets up Charlie Moore's eventual exit from the series when he is hired as a commercial spokesman for an appliance store; and "King of Remedial," in which fat, wisecracking science geek Dennis (Dan Schneider) surprises himself by becoming the role model for a group of special-education students. Finally, season four offers the second of the series' musical episodes with the two-part "Shop Til You Drop," wherein the IHP class stages a production of "Little Shop of Horrors." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Howard Hesseman, William G. Schilling, (more)
- 1987
- R
A quaint, stagebound little horror film from Charles Band's Empire Pictures, Cellar Dweller stars Jeffrey Combs (fresh off his glorious turn as Herbert West in the Empire-produced Re-Animator) as a '50s horror-comic artist who falls prey to one of his own creations -- a ferocious demon he based on a drawing from an arcane book of spells and curses. The story picks up again in the 1980's, where the late artist's palatial home has been converted into a combination boarding house and art academy led by Yvonne De Carlo. One of the students pursues her obsession with reviving the "Cellar Dweller" comic series herself, delving into Combs' old studio for inspiration, and eventually discovers the same occult manuscript secreted in the basement. History repeats itself (naturally) and the creature emerges to stalk and maul anew. This admittedly cool concept and the rather effective monster are dampened a bit by a flippant, tongue-in-cheek attitude (a more ominous, Lovecraftian tone would have been more effective), but makeup-man-turned-director John Buechler shows a definite flair for imbuing his beast with a suitably sinister personality. Observant fans of Charles Band's body of work (yes, they do exist) should spot the numerous visual references to other Band films. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Deborah Mullowney, Brian Robbins, (more)
- 1987
Head of the Class enters its second season with unorthodox substitute teacher Charlie Moore (Howard Hesseman) now permanently in charge of the Individual Honors Program (IHP) at New York's Fillmore High. Charlie has no trouble teaching the kids academics, since his ten charges are the most brilliant students in school; his primary goal is to instruct them in "The Book of Life," enhancing their maturity, spurring on their emotional growth, and helping them develop the social skills that will help them survive the real world. In the season opener, it is clear that Mr. Moore still has a lot of work ahead of him when three of his pupils childishly stoop to deception to win a local science fair. Likewise needing to learn something about basic human values is poetic student Simone (Khrystyne Haje), who becomes an obnoxious control freak when put in charge of the school's literary journal. Later on, the arrival of a transfer student (Leon Fan, in the first of several recurring appearances as Billy Chin) nearly reduces the youthful geniuses to tears when it looks as if one of them will be forced to leave the class to make room for the newcomer. Also, Charlie reluctantly takes over for principal Samuels (William G. Schilling) as coach for a big academic competition; a Woody Allen film festival has both Charlie and nerdish student Arvid (Dan Frischman) moping over their respective neuroses; the episode "On the Road Again" features Claudette Nevins as Dr. Samuels' wife Lois, who through a series of bizarre circumstances ends up sharing a room with Charlie; onetime Star Trek regular Nichelle Nichols serves up a big surprise for chubby science geek Dennis (Dan Schneider) in "For Better, for Worse"; and in the episode "Will the Real Arvid Engen Please Stand Up?," series regulars Dan Schneider and Brian Robbins (Eric) pull double duty as actors and scriptwriters. This season also presents the first of three musical episodes, "That'll Be the Day," in which the IHP class puts on a performance of the Broadway hit Grease (this episode also features a guest turn by a young Lori Petty). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Howard Hesseman, William G. Schilling, (more)
In this made-for-TV movie, a young Los Angeles man is killed by a drunken driver and his brother attempts to avenge his death by ridding the streets of dangerous drivers. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1986
In this teen drama, a courageous high school girl accuses her well-respected coach of improper conduct. Despite severe ostracism from her peers and the faculty, the brave girl refuses to back down until justice is done. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Season one of Head of the Class begins as substitute teacher Charles Moore (Howard Hesseman) takes over the high-achieving Individual Honors Program (IHP) at New York's Monroe High School (soon to be re-christened Millard Fillmore High). Though principal Dr. Samuels (William G. Schilling) expects Charlie merely to keep quiet and allow the students to study on their own so that the school can continue winning the annual Academic Olympics Contest, our hero prefers to take a less passive approach to his work. He realizes that although his students all possess genius-level intellects, they are woefully lacking in personal maturity and basic social skills. Thus, Charlie sets the class on its ear by adopting a "hands-on" approach, flamboyantly instructing his charges in "The Book of Life." Though Samuels is terrified that the kids' grades will suffer, in fact they begin to excel beyond all expectation -- just as Charlie and assistant principal Bernadette Mehra (Jeanetta Arnette) figured they would. Mr. Moore's first crop of students include Maria (Leslie Bega), Darlene (Robin Givens), Allan (Tony O'Dell), Arvid (Dan Frischman), Simone (Khrystyne Haje), Dennis (Dan Schneider), Eric (Brian Robbins), Sarah (Kimberly Russell), Jawarhalal (Jory Husain), and preteen prodigy Janice (Tannis Vallely). Occasionally commiserating with the IHP-ers during this and the next season is "normal" student Lori Applebaum (Marcia Christie). Charlie's new job is jeopardized early in the season when the IHP's regular teacher Vernon Thomas (Roscoe Lee Browne) returns from sick leave; fortunately, Thomas is wiling to defer to Charlie's unorthodox techniques. Later in the season, the academic tables are turned when the students help Charlie re-qualify for his teaching license. And in one far-sighted episode, the kids compete in an academic tournament against a group of brainy Russian students; two years later, Head of the Class would be the first American sitcom to film an episode in the Soviet Union. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Howard Hesseman, William G. Schilling, (more)
- 1985
In this prison drama, two adolescent girls are incarcerated with adults by an obsessive judge. There they are terribly exploited and abused. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Against his parents' orders, Mike (Kirk Cameron) goes for a ride on a dirt bike, only to suffer a painful fall. The trick now is to hide his injuries from Maggie (Joanna Kerns) and Jason (Alan Thicke), to say nothing of hiding his guilt and humiliation. Elsewhere, Ben (Jeremy Miller]) begins suffering traumatic nightmares, which are "analyzed" by Carol as part of a school project--a fact which Ben tries to turn to his financial advantage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
