Teech

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Teech
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	Norman Steinberg David Frankel
Written by	David Frankel Richard Marcus Norman Steinberg Thomas Szollosi Richard Christian Matheson
Directed by	Art Dielhenn Paul Lazarus
Starring	Phill Lewis Curnal Achilles Aulisio Joshua Hoffman Ken Lawrence Johnston Jason Kristofer Maggie Han Steven Gilborn
Theme music composer	David Frankel Tom Snow Norman Steinberg
Opening theme	"Teach Me" performed by B. B. King
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	13 (9 unaired)
Production
Executive producers	Norman Steinberg David Frankel
Producer	Bruce Chevillat
Editor	Jerry Davis
Running time	30 minutes
Production companies	Nikndaph Productions Columbia Pictures Television
Original release
Network	CBS
Release	September 18 (1991-09-18) – October 16, 1991 (1991-10-16)

Teech is an American sitcom television series that briefly aired on CBS from September 18 to October 16, 1991 as part of its 1991 Fall lineup. The series was co-produced by Nikndaph Productions in association with Columbia Pictures Television for CBS.

Synopsis

Teech stars Phill Lewis as "Teech" Gibson, an African American music instructor (and the "coolest teacher") at Winthrop Academy, a prestigious, predominantly-white prep school. He has style and drives a Corvair. Teech loves music and has tremendous appeal even to troubled, disruptive students. Teech also had appeal to Cassie Lee (Maggie Han), the sexy assistant headmaster who had hired him. Headmaster Alfred Litton (Steven Gilborn) wanted to dismiss Teech's troubled students from the school. He apparently would like to have done the same to Teech except he realized that so doing would likely open him to charges of racism and discrimination.

Cast

• David "Teech" Gibson (Phill Lewis) is the recently hired African American music instructor at Winthrop Academy.
• George Dubcek, Jr. (Curnal Achilles Aulisio) one of the members of the "gang of four." He's an archetypal jock who's the son of a retired NFL football player.
• Alfred W. Litton (Steven Gilborn) is the school's headmaster who loves any form of punishment. His favorite is the "stool of deprivation" where one must wear pants that have a stool attached to them for a week.
• Cassie Lee (Maggie Han) is the headmistress that is responsible for hiring Teech Gibson.
• Kenny Freedman (Josh Hoffman) one of the members of the "gang of four." The gang's leader and lady killer.
• Boyd Askew (Kevin Lawrence Johnson) one of the members of the "gang of four." He's the son of a wealthy and well connected family.
• Alby Nichols (Jason Kristofer) one of the members of the "gang of four." Known as the "Philly Cheese Steak Prince" and often strikes out with the ladies.
• Adrian Peterman (Jack Noseworthy) is the stereotypical teacher's pet, always trying to get the "gang of four" expelled.

Production notes

The series was created by David Frankel and Norman Steinberg. The theme song for Teech "Teach Me" was written by Tom Snow and performed by B. B. King.

Reception

The premier of Teech increased viewer rate by 62% compared the previous year’s Doctor Doctor.

Teech was met with a largely negative reception. Critics argue that the themes of racism are poorly handled and outdated.

Marc Berman, a TV critic and journalist, argues that Teech poorly handles the racist themes in the show that are only played for laughs.

The jokes about the "service entrance" and "watermelon" seem dated to the 1960's and they wouldn't have been funny then either

Johanna Schneller, a TV critic on Showtime magazine, argues that Teech promotes sexist stereotypes through Ms. Lee, commenting on her short skirt length and how Ms. Lee talks about her sex life with other boys in the school

She wears skirts so short, they're belts, and makes jokes with the boys about her sex life. Too bad the producers of the show, who are trying so hard to dispel racial stereotypes, aren't more concerned with the sexist stereotypes that they're creating

Episodes

External links

• Teech at IMDb
• Teech at epguides.com

References