Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher
| Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | ''Nick Freno'' |
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by | Richard Gurman Marc Warren |
| Directed by | Scott Baio Amanda Bearse Ellen Guylas Shelley Jensen Art Dielhenn Gerren Keith Sean Mulcahy John Tracy |
| Starring | Mitch Mullany Portia de Rossi Clinton Jackson Arjay Smith Cara DeLizia Christina Vidal Malinda Williams Charles Cyphers Stuart Pankin Jane Sibbett |
| Theme music composer | Andrew Gross Josh Kramon |
| Composer(s) | Josh Kramon |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 43 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Richard Gurman Dennis Rinsler Marc Warren |
| Producer(s) | Suzy Friendly Gene Laufenberg Carolyn Omine |
| Cinematography | Joseph W. Calloway |
| Running time | 22–24 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Warren and Rinsler Productions Warner Bros. Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | The WB |
| Original release | August 28, 1996 – May 3, 1998 |
| External links | |
| [{{#property:P856}} Website] | |
Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher (also known as Nick Freno) is an American sitcom which aired on the WB from 1996 until 1998. The executive producers of the program, Dennis Rinsler and Marc Warren, drew on their own experiences as former teachers in New York and actually based the character that Mitch Mullany played on their real life friend, John Freno. Freno was a music teacher in the same elementary school as Dennis and Marc and was beloved by the students of the school.
Contents
Synopsis
Mitch Mullany starred as the title character, an aspiring actor who, while waiting for his "big break," met his expenses as a substitute teacher at Gerald R. Ford Middle School. The storylines involved his interaction with his students, which became more plausible when he became a regular teacher. When the program was renewed, the middle school had become a high school, allowing for his interaction with slightly more mature students.
First season
Originally, Freno substituted long-term for a single fifth-grade class, which suited him well as an actor, since he was often able to revisit the mind of a preteen through comedy routines and frenetic behavior he would often work into during lessons. Nick's free-form teaching style often relied on running mock game shows on subjects, along with sly reverse psychology when it came to advice and discipline. The kids embraced Freno and found him very approachable, even if his employers thought that his methods were not challenging enough to be taken seriously.
Nick's fellow faculty members included hip, black science teacher Mezz Crosby (Clinton Jackson; played by Reggie Hayes in the pilot episode), who had been Nick's best friend since childhood; tenured shop teacher Al Yaroker (Charles Cyphers), and blustery gym coach Kurt Fust (Stuart Pankin). Also wandering the halls was old-timer Phil (Sid Newman), the school security guard. Then there was sexy, young social studies teacher Elana Lewis (Portia de Rossi), whom Nick was interested in romantically; at first, it was strictly professional and nothing more between the two, but through the first season, figurative walls were gradually broken down, and Nick and Elana found themselves dating. Their relationship would be on-again, off-again for the rest of that year. At first, Ford Middle School's principal was referred to but not seen; midway through the first season, Mr. Fust was eventually promoted to assistant principal. The regularly featured pupils in Nick's class were class clown and chief operator Tyler Hale (Ross Malinger), shy, star student Orlando Diaz (Jonathan Hernandez), who was practically the antithesis of Tyler; Jared (Arjay Smith), Tyler's buddy and regular partner in crime; intellectual Sarah (Cara DeLizia); and saxophonist Davey Marcucci (Kyle Gibson).
Second season
In the second season, with Nick now teaching on the high school level, more adult humor made its way into the stories and there were many changes in the cast, not only with the featured students but in the faculty as well. Off camera, between the first and second seasons, Nick and Elana dissolved their romance, and the latter left her job and moved out of town. Besides Nick, the only returning characters were Mezz, Mr. Yaroker, and Phil the security guard (who had now made it to the opening credits). Mr. Fust disappeared, and so did the now-former unseen principal; arriving as the new headmaster was Dr. Katherine Emerson (Jane Sibbett), a more serious-minded administrator who became a nemesis for Nick. Despite the friction that occurred between the two, Nick developed a romantic interest in Emerson.
Nick's job as a full-time teacher stuck him with instructing remedial classes, a situation heavily inspired by Welcome Back, Kotter. Nick's unruly high-schoolers included Sophia Del Bono (Christina Vidal), sexually promiscuous and not as worldly as she liked to let on; socially awkward Miles Novacek (Giuseppe Andrews); Marco Romero (Andrew Levitas), the hunk who had been held back a couple of grades; Tasha Morrison (Malinda Williams), whose upper-middle-class standing made her feel insecure around her blue-collar classmates; and Jordan Wells (Blake Heron), a similar personality to Nick's former fifth-grade troublemaker Tyler Hale.
Series changes
By the spring of 1998, when Nick's numerous attempts to court Dr. Emerson had failed, his attention switched to that of a voluptuous new manager in his apartment building, Samantha (Donna D'Errico). The two consummated their sexual tension quickly and became an item. The addition of D'Errico to Nick Freno was seen as a last-ditch attempt to save the show from cancellation, but was not picked up for a third season.
Seasonal ratings
| Season | Network | Season premiere | Season finale | Rank | Viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The WB | August 28, 1996 | May 11, 1997 | #142[1] | 3.0[1] |
| 2 | September 7, 1997 | May 3, 1998 | #172[2] | 1.9[2] |
Cast
- Mitch Mullany .... Nick Freno
- Giuseppe Andrews .... Miles Novacek (1997–1998)
- Portia De Rossi .... Elana Lewis (1996–1997)
- Cara DeLizia .... Sarah (1996–1997)
- Kyle Gibson .... Davey Marcucci (1996–1997)
- Reggie Hayes .... Mezz Crosby (Pilot episode only)
- Jonathan Hernandez .... Orlando Diaz (1996–1997)
- Blake Heron .... Jordan Wells (1997–1998)
- Clinton Jackson .... Mezz Crosby
- Andrew Levitas .... Marco Romero (1997–1998)
- Ross Malinger .... Tyler Hale (1996–1997)
- Stuart Pankin .... Kurt Fust (1996–1997)
- Jane Sibbett .... Dr. Katherine Emerson (1997–1998)
- Christina Vidal .... Sophia Del Bono (1997–1998)
- Malinda Williams .... Tasha Morrison (1997–1998)
Recurring
- Charles Cyphers .... Al Yaroker
- Mila Kunis .... Anna-Maria Del Bono
- Sid Newman .... Phil Sussman
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Young Artist Awards | Won | Best Performance in a TV Series - Young Ensemble | Cara DeLizia, Kyle Gibson, Jonathan Hernandez, Ross Malinger, and Arjay Smith |
| Best Family TV Comedy Series |
|
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| 1998 | ALMA Award | Nominated | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | Jonathan Hernandez |
References
External links
- Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher at IMDb
- Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher at TV.comLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher at epguides.com
- Pages using infobox television with unknown parameters
- 1990s American television series
- 1996 American television series debuts
- 1998 American television series endings
- American television sitcoms
- English-language television programming
- High school television series
- Middle school television series
- Television series by Warner Bros. Television
- Television shows set in New York City
- The WB shows
