The Faculty

A mid-season replacement that series fits rather too easily into the bland high-school-sitcom mold to be memorable. Although The Faculty seems conceived as a starring vehicle for executive producer Meredith Baxter, she generously plays her role as straight woman to an ensemble cast of slightly bizarre co-workers. The most memorable is Nancy Lenehan, best known for her small recurring role as an neurotic teacher in Grace Under Fire; here, as the power-hungry bitch secretary Daisy, she shows considerable comedic talent and bite. Someone give both women another series!

Production credits:
Meredith Baxter Productions/Thompson Murphy Productions for ABC
Executive producers: Meredith Baxter, Neil Thompson, Gary Murphy
Created by: Kim Friese
Producer: Tim Steele
Supervising producer: Cheryl Holliday
Associate producer: Paula S. Warner
Co-executive producer: Bill Bryan
Executive story editors: Thomas R. Wolfe, Barbara Wallace
Creative consultant: Mark Nutter
Consultants: Michael McManus, Kevin Mulholland

1st Season 1996

1. "Pilot"
   gs: Mike Damus [ Zack Randall ], James Cada [ Workman ]

   Junior-high vice-principal Flynn Sullivan uses her idealism to cope with the pressures of modern education. In the opener, she deals with a student accused of writing X-rated graffiti.

   b: 13 Mar 96 pc: _________ w: Neil Thompson & Gary Murphy d: Will Mackenzie

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2. "Carlos Garcia"
   gs: Brad Greenquist [ Ed Collins ], Keone Young [ Mr. Takehama ], Natanya Ross [ Wendy ], Angell Conwell [ Marcy ], Damion Stevens [ Jimmy Rodriguez ]

   Where in the world is Carlos Garcia. He's in the imagination of the faculty, who create the overachieving student as a joke on the self-assured Amanda; but it could backfire and cost them a bundle.

   b: 20 Mar 96 pc: 29508 w: Neil Thompson & Gary Murphy d: Tom Cherones

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3. "Opportunity Knockers"
   gs: Ian Ogilvy [ Marion ], Jewelie Hull [ Trina ], Beverly Sanders [ Mrs. Wilson ]

   Shelly has a car accident with a plastic surgeon who makes her an offer she can't refuse in exchange for not reporting the crash to he r insurance company. Meanwhile, Principal Skinner pledges to eat a live worm if the students can improve their math scores by 10 points.

   b: 27 Mar 96 pc: 29504 w: Bill Bryan d: Will Mackenzie

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4. "Somewhere There's Music"
   gs: Janet Hubert [ Annette Freeman ], Jenica Bergere [ Amanda ], Robin Pearson Rose [ Renee ], William Ontireros [ Jerry ]

   The hills are alive with the sound of music, but Hamilton Middle School won't be unless Flynn and Herb can wrangle more money for the band from a frugal school board. Meanwhile, Shelly and Clark battle over a Civil War diary.

   b: 3 Apr 96 pc: 29503 w: Barbara Wallace & Thomas R. Wolfe d: Will Mackenzie

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5. "Behavior Among Adults"
   gs: Pat Crawford Brown [ Mrs. Alice Munson ], Thomas Hobson [ Adam ], Beverley Mitchell [ Leslie ]

   Amanda and Luis find the sex-education class they're t aching too hot to handle when their eyes suddenly lock; Daisy relinquishes control of the supply closet to Flynn, who unlocks it and finds that her colleagues instantly clean it out.

   b: 10 Apr 96 pc: 29505 w: Kim Friese d: Will Mackenzie

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6. "Spirit Day"
   gs: Sally Livingston [ Rachel ], Adam Hendershott [ Billy ], Chris Owen [ Petey ]

   Shelly has little enthusiasm for the annual "Spirit Day," especially after she and Flynn have an argument that carries over into the day's festivities.

   b: 17 Apr 96 pc: 29513 w: Gary Murphy & Neil Thompson d: Glenn Casale

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7. "Daisy's Secret"
   gs: Dawnn Lewis [ Mrs. Lowman ], Brent Hinkley [ Rick ]

   While Daisy serves jury duty, a temp discovers that school property is missing, leading the staff to wonder if their secretary is a thief.

   b: 24 Apr 96 pc: 29511 w: Cheryl Holliday d: Jeff Meyer

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8. "He's the Janitor"
   gs: Michael McGrady [ Brent ], Joseph V. Perry [ Gus ], Lyman Ward [ Tom ], Chelsea Hertford [ Judy ], Angelo Tiffe [ Mike ]

   Flynn's been in a drought -- datewise -- since her divorce, but she really cleans up when she snags a contractor who's later hired as the school janitor.

   b: 8 May 96 pc: 29502 w: Gary Murphy & Neil Thompson d: Will Mackenzie

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9. "Bus Stop"
   gs: Bonnie Bartlett [ Katherine ], Adam Hendershott [ Billy ], Peter Iacangelo [ Fred ], Raymond Fitzpatrick [ Mr Peters ], Lynsey Bartilson [ Sarah ]

   There's a field trip in them thar' hills, at least that's Clark's plan, and he and Shelly would have struck gold if they hadn't gotten their busload of kids lost. Meanwhile, back at the school, Flynn's pugnacious mother visits.

   b: 29 May 96 pc: _________ w: Bill Bryan d: Will Mackenzie

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10. "Parents' Night"
    gs: Kathleen Noone [ Mary Driscoll ], Pat Millicano [ Richard Lewman ], Steven Anderson [ Frank O'Neal ], Marianne Muellerleile [ Mrs. Reed ], Sue Casey [ Irene Peters ], Joseph V. Perry [ Gus ]

    Flynn is stressed out over her job and agrees to take an experimental anti-anxiety drug; Amanda needs some mothering at her first parents' night; and Herb has a reunion date with a college sweetheart.

    b: 5 Jun 96 pc: _________ w: Barbara Wallace & Thomas R. Wolfe d: Jeff Meyer

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11. "Clark's Crisis"
    gs: Michael G. Hagerty [ Unknown ], Jack McGee [ Unknown ], Joshua Gibran Mayweather [ Unknown ], Adrienne Brett [ Unknown ]

    Amanda organizes a birthday party for "Al," a school-bus driver; Flynn tries to lift the spirits of a dejected Clark after he and his wife separate.

    b: 12 Jun 96 pc: _________ w: Cheryl Holliday d: Tom Cherones

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12. "The Brain Teaser"
    gs: Ernest Liu [ Unknown ], Sally Livingston [ Rachel ], Laurel Diskin [ Unknown ], Bodhi Pine Elfman [ Unknown ], Adam Hendershott [ Billy ], Spencer Vrooman [ Unknown ], Ben Gould [ Unknown ]

    Shelly needs her spirits lifted, and sponsoring a student in the Academic Challenge seems the answer; Herb needs to lower his cholesterol and Luis is only too glad to help.

    b: 19 Jun 96 pc: _________ w: Kim Friese d: Glenn Casale

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13. "Julie's Party"
    gs: Sharon Annett [ Unknown ], Phil Buckman [ Unknown ], Cee Cee Harshaw [ Unknown ]

    Flynn plans an 18th-birthday party for her daughter Julie, who's away at college; but when Julie backs out, mom is suspicious and does the most uncool thing of all -- she visits the dorm.

    b: 26 Jun 96 pc: _________ w: Thomas R. Wolfe & Barbara Wallace d: Tom Cherones