Boston Public
The lives of 10 faculty members at a high school in Boston weave in and out of dealing with trouble-makers, having a personal life, and keeping sanity.
Cast:Loretta Devine , Anthony Heald , Fyvush Finkel , Chi McBride , Sharon Leal , Jeri Ryan , Michael Rapaport , Nicky Katt , Jessalyn Gilsig , Rashida Jones , China Shavers , Kathy Baker , Jon Abrahams , Joey McIntyre , Cara DeLizia , Tom McCarthy , Joey Slotnick , Natalia Baron
S1.E1 ∙ Chapter One
Another school year is off to a booming start at Winslow High School - an urban high school outside of Boston. Principal Steven Harper spends his days putting out fires, defending his faculty and just trying to keep it together. Lauren Davis, the idealistic head of the social studies department, and Harry Senate, a geology teacher with buried secrets, are embroiled in controversy for failing the star running back before a huge game with the cross-town rivals. But they both have bigger personal problems. Lauren has been asked out on a date by the icy vice principal and Harry has been put on probation for wielding a gun in one of his classes. When he's not dodging the star running back's lawyer or pulling a bully off the class geek, Principal Harper is trying to calm Ms. Hendricks. She left her class after scrawling "Gone to kill myself, hope you're happy" on the chalkboard. Meanwhile, English teacher Milton Buttle has become the star attraction on student Sheryl Holt's website. His unflattering, animated portrayal has made Buttle the butt of everyone's jokes. And let's not forget dear old Mr. Lipschultz. The 80-year-old American history teacher kicked popular Dana Poole out of class for not wearing a bra.
S1.E2 ∙ Chapter Two
Last week's bra protest has resulted in school unity. All the girls have decided to go bra-less in a show of solidarity with Dana Poole. The superintendent is breathing down Harper's neck because Lauren has rallied a few of the other teachers and they all refuse to get fingerprinted. Also, Marla, who is supposed to be on medical leave, has shown up for work, and Lipschultz, the man behind the bra debacle, has shown up on Sheryl Holt's infamous website - in a bra and panties! Meanwhile, Vice Principal Guber tries to regain control by meeting with Dana Poole. He suspects that she's high, so he wants a urine sample. She protests and bolts straight to Harry.
S1.E3 ∙ Chapter Three
Principal Harper's job is in jeopardy and an impending school board meeting has him on edge. Still, he can't help but get involved when Anthony Ward is found hanging upside down from the roof. It turns out the entire soccer team has ganged up on little Anthony since he thwarted their attempts to download answers for a test. Harper's decision to suspend the entire team, and thereby forfeit the soccer season, only adds fuel to Superintendent Marla Shinn's fire. Meanwhile, Harry Senate confesses to kissing Dana Poole and explains her blackmail scheme. Guber sends a shocked Dana to Bob "Big Boy" Lick for counseling but Harper does not suspend Senate. Coach Riley, on the other hand, is dealing with a football team who has marked one of their teammates as gay and will not shower with him. Plus, Lauren is left to defend herself when Superintendent Shinn questions the topic of cannibalism being taught in Lauren's classroom. At the school board meeting, things come to a head when all of the faculty's - and Principal Harper's - indiscretions are exposed. Surprisingly, an impassioned speech by Marla Hendricks puts everything into perspective, and even manages to silence Superintendent Shinn. At least, temporarily.
S1.E4 ∙ Chapter Four
Rehearsals are in full swing for the annual charity show. Marilyn is dismayed to learn that the main skit the students have prepared is a spoof of the Winslow High faculty - complete with a gun-toting Senate and Buttle stuck inside a donkey! Elsewhere on campus, Lauren enters a stairwell and catches two student body presidential candidates engaged in a sex act. Lauren confronts the students - Peter and Susan - who deny any wrongdoing. However, when Peter later drops out of the election, it becomes clear that Susan's sexual favor was a motivating factor. On top of all this, Lauren must also deal with John LeBlonde. John's an excellent student on the recently suspended soccer team and needs Harper's approval to apply for a prestigious academic award.
S1.E5 ∙ Chapter Five
It's Thanksgiving week, but no one seems particularly grateful. Guber, for example, is still upset over his onstage serenade at the charity show. Football player Jason Harrelson broke bully Malcolm White's arm during a fight in the hall. Buttle is starring in yet another Sheryl Holt original online humiliation cartoon. Last, but not least, Lauren discovered a senior sex posse which awards senior guys points for sex. In response to the sex posse scandal, Principal Harper organizes a sophomore assembly to preach the benefits of chastity. The teachers draw straws, and Lipschultz is chosen to head up the event. Later at the assembly, Lipschultz' boring speech turns shocking when he confesses to catching his beloved late wife in bed with another man.
S1.E6 ∙ Chapter Six
A popular and beloved teacher, Mr. McMahon, has a heart attack and dies at school. A close friend of the deceased, Principal Harper overcomes his own grief to help his students cope with the loss. To make matters worse, it appears that McMahon had been having an affair with a female senior, Karen Fitzgerald. While Harper struggles to deal with the incident's aftermath and maintain status quo, the students and faculty begin to fall apart. A defiant pupil, Webster, spits on Lauren and she vows to have him expelled. The case becomes more complex, however, when Harper learns that Webster was close to Mr. McMahon and is extremely upset over his death.
S1.E7 ∙ Chapter Seven
Life seems to be one big lawsuit for Principal Harper. First, Mrs. Walsh, who was fired for spanking her students, sues for wrongful termination. Then, after Harper suspends Sheryl Holt for offensive content on her website, she sues to get the suspension overturned. Lauren gets knocked out by a launched breast implant. While Marylin counsels the girl on her self-image, Lauren decides to let the boyfriend off the hook. In court, Lipschultz's testimony - on both the Holt and Walsh cases - is disastrous and results in two losses for the school.
S1.E8 ∙ Chapter Eight
Buttle meets a beautiful girl, Lisa, who shares his love of Shakespeare. Back at Winslow High, Senate learns that Juan Figgis' mother has been convicted on drug charges and is going to prison. Meanwhile, Lipschultz collapses in class and is rushed to the hospital. Buttle breaks up with Louisa when he realizes he is in love with Lisa, only to find out she is not a 20-year-old Harvard student, but an 18-year-old student at Winslow High.
S1.E9 ∙ Chapter Nine
The first day back at school has barely begun when the police show up looking for a murder suspect. A botched robbery has gone down a few blocks away and the panicked assailant, wearing a Winslow High Letterman's jacket, shot and killed a man before heading towards school grounds.
S1.E10 ∙ Chapter Ten
Sheryl Holt breaks the news about Milton and Lisa's secret affair on her website. Suspicious, Harper confronts Buttle about his sexual involvement, but Milton disavows any wrongdoing, claiming that he and Lisa have started a "Shakespeare Club." However, Riley has his hands full with another explosive situation - an anonymous bully has severely beaten three male students. Meanwhile, Marilyn suspects that a girl in her class is a victim of incest when the student writes a "fictional" essay about her father molesting her. In the middle of this crisis, Guber asks Lipschultz to resign after accusing him of being a racist.
S1.E11 ∙ Chapter Eleven
Coach Riley has a serious crush on Marilyn Sudor but is nervous about asking her out due to their racial differences. Meanwhile, Harper is concerned about the cheer-leading squad. They have been rehearsing for an important competition, but their new routine is extremely sexual. The choreographer argues that it's impossible to tone down the program, so Harper cancels the meet. Regardless of the consequences, Lisa and Buttle continue to tempt fate and continue their heated affair, and in an effort to help his kids discuss their feelings, Senate forms a "Suicide Club," which outrages parents and faculty alike.
S1.E12 ∙ Chapter Twelve
As Senate approaches the school grounds, he saves a student from being attacked by gang members. After numerous attempts, Harry finally manages to get the boy to reveal that he is a member of the Crips. Meanwhile, Harper grows even more suspicious about Lisa and Buttle's deepening friendship, so Guber takes the reins and alerts Lisa's parents about their daughter's rumored affair. In the midst of these crises, Lauren has her hands full trying to help an overweight female wrestler, Christine, cope with the loss of her boyfriend. After winning an important wrestling match, Christine addresses the audience and asks them to stop calling her "The Blob", even when it's supportive. They respond by chanting her name instead. Lisa Grier's father goes to Buttle's home and catches them about to have sex. The next morning, Guber gives Buttle a choice: Voluntarily resign or be fired in such a manner as he'll never teach again. Buttle resigns and is ordered to leave by Guber. Harper also rebuffs Buttle. Kevin Riley talk to Guber and tries to mitigate Buttle's actions and ends up getting fired immediately for not disclosing the affair sooner.
S1.E13 ∙ Chapter Thirteen
When Coach Riley is fired for withholding information about Buttle's affair, he hires the best attorneys in Boston - Ellenor Frutt and Jimmy Berluti. Ellenor immediately begins subpoenaing witnesses, sending a message to Winslow High that she means business. Meanwhile, Lauren discovers that Harry had dated another co-worker, Jenna, before her. Disturbed that Harry would have a relationship with a woman Lauren deems unsavory, she becomes concerned about her own relationship with Senate. In court, the reputations of the entire faculty at Winslow are smeared, but the closing argument (given by Steven Harper himself) convinces the judge to uphold the termination. Kevin angrily tells Harper that his decision demonstrated the he cared less about the students than protecting his own authority. The episode ends with Kevin and Milton saying goodbye to the faculty, excluding Harper and Guber.
S1.E14 ∙ Chapter Fourteen
Lauren finds Harry hasn't told his friend about her. Six teachers resign and Marla must teach a class she doesn't know how to. Scott wins a contest to be a guest conductor with the Boston Pops and asks Marilyn out when she is too nice to him. Steven and Harry look for a missing teacher, only to find him passed out drunk in his home. Apparently, he deserted his class the previous November, leaving Lisa Grier to teach and nobody noticed or cared. Steven decides to let Lisa continue to teach, touching off a firestorm by faculty and parents alike.
S1.E15 ∙ Chapter Fifteen
Harry advises Tyronn to leave town when he is shot at. Harvey sends Scott on a two-hour drive for a non-existing conducting opportunity. A student accuses the cheer-leading teacher, Tina, of touching her in inappropriate ways. Tina is suspended with pay pending the investigation. Lauren inadvertently hinders Tina by saying that she once hit on her. The girl's parents reveal that their daughter is a pathological liar who has made these accusations before and has even accused Steven of touching her. Tina's suspension is lifted. She angrily states that if it had been Lauren, she wouldn't have been suspended. Steven retorts that Lauren doesn't coach her students to do lap-dances.
S1.E16 ∙ Chapter Sixteen
Security tapes of the girls' shower room are missing... with footage of Lauren on them. Marla sends her entire class to the principal's office. Anthony's hit list is found. Lauren and Harry break up.
S1.E17 ∙ Chapter Seventeen
A student's mother complains about bus fumes to Steven. The tape of Lauren showering ends up on Sheryl Holt's website. Harry gets in trouble for knowing Tyronn was a murderer. Scott becomes Lisa Grier's co-teacher for her Shakespeare class.
S1.E18 ∙ Chapter Eighteen
Scott fires an art teacher twice. Christine Banks dies of a heart attack after winning a wrestling match. Harry finds out Dana Poole has become a stripper. Marla insults janitors and she finds one of her student's father is a janitor.
S1.E19 ∙ Chapter Nineteen
While heading to work, Lauren's car breaks downs. She gets so frustrated with it that she starts jumping up and down on it and smashing the windows with a baseball bat. Suddenly, an old student of hers appears named Daniel Evans who thanks her for changing his life. He shows her a history text book he has written and she is very impressed. He asks her out for a drink, and she immediately says yes. After, they head to her place and have a night of passion. The next day she tells Marilyn, who finds it a little immoral. Lauren cannot get past how great the sex was. Lauren admits she finds it a total turn on when Daniel calls her Ms. Davis.
S1.E20 ∙ Chapter Twenty
Lauren continues her relationship with Daniel. Marilyn finds out that Jeremy's mother is locking her son in the basement for punishment. Steven can't date a student's mother. Kevin punches an opponent in a debate.
S1.E21 ∙ Chapter Twenty-One
Steven's remarks prevent Scott from getting a job as a headmaster. Lauren finds out Daniel is stalking her. Marla worries when a convicted sex offender asks a younger girl to the senior prom. Marilyn suspects Jeremy has done something to his mother. Anthony Ward is accused of threatening a girl who turned him down for the prom, prompting the superintendent to transfer him to another school.
S1.E22 ∙ Chapter Twenty-Two
Lauren gets a gun to protect herself from Daniel, only to get a two-month suspension for pulling it on school grounds. Jeremy won't tell Marilyn what happened to his mother. Daniel's parents reveal that their son has serious psychological problems and that his History textbook was plagiarized. Marla gives Winslow High's first student to get accepted to Harvard an F. In order to bolster Winslow's reputation and prevent a lawsuit from the parents, Harper convinces Lipschultz to re-evaluate Marla's F Grade and doctor it to a D. At prom, Kevin Jackson gives a speech bemoaning the lack of heroes in their generation but praises the faculty for being real heroes. Guber gets a special award from the students. Jeremy Peter's mother is shown locked in the basement, tied to a chair with a gag over her mouth.
S2.E1 ∙ Chapter Twenty-Three
Attorney Ronnie Cooke, visiting speaker, witnesses a fight in Harry's class. To defuse the situation Harry suggests the boys settle their differences with a boxing match in the room, which of course lands him in hot water with Guber. Marla is offended by the invitation to be the faculty sponsor of a Fat Girls Club. Steven reprimands Harvey for insulting his students and Danny Hanson by admitting to fantasizing about some of his students.
S2.E2 ∙ Chapter Twenty-Four
Ronnie Cooke quits her law firm and joins the faculty at Winslow High and is immediately assigned a class of remedial students. Meredith Peters, now outfitted with a hook for her missing hand, is working at the school as a teacher's assistant. One of Lauren's students, interviewing for admission to Princeton, reveals a medical condition she fears will keep her out of college. The teachers hold a secret meeting regarding recent actions taken by the school administration.
S2.E3 ∙ Chapter Twenty-Five
With Ronnie's help, students sue Harvey for his continued abuse of one particular student. Jamal Crenshaw is accepted to college with the help of a plagiarized essay. Guber starts dating Meredith Peters. Steven assigns the annual "Gun Lecture" to Marla with surprising results.
S2.E4 ∙ Chapter Twenty-Six
Scott represents Harvey in court. Marla has a confrontation with Meredith Peters, whom she has dubbed "The Hook Lady." Ronnie's on-again off-again boyfriend, Matthew, tries to impress her class in the value of Shakespeare. The school newspaper continues to offer sexual advice. Steven's daughter is expelled from her private school and enrolls at Winslow.
S2.E5 ∙ Chapter Twenty-Seven
Danny Hanson comes home to find his fiancé in bed with another man whom Danny attacks and send to the hospital, landing himself in jail. Scott declines Meredith's invitation to spend the night. One of Lauren's students is close to signing a record deal which would mean dropping out of school. The sex advice columnist's identity of finally revealed.
S2.E6 ∙ Chapter Twenty-Eight
A statutory-rape case entangles Ronnie with the enraged parents of the 15-year-old victim; an illicit-drug situation embroils Harper with his unsettled daughter.
S2.E7 ∙ Chapter Twenty-Nine
Scott and Meredith shop for a new hand. The school production makes an interesting change to Our Town. The writing of one of Harry's students concerns him. Brooke Harper gets her hopes up after seeing her divorced parents sharing a kiss after a night out as a family. Debbie Nixon receives disappointing news from the college of her choice. Scott discovers a secret of Jeremy Peters'. Ronnie is serenaded at the school Christmas pageant.
S2.E8 ∙ Chapter Thirty
Steve is asked to be by the side of a former student, now on death row and scheduled for execution. Scott finds it difficult to keep Jeremy's secret from Meredith. Ronnie's class is disrupted by a student with ADD whose creative abilities are hampered by his medication.
S2.E9 ∙ Chapter Thirty-One
Debbie Nixon's mother believes he daughter is having an affair with Danny Hanson. Meredith fears that Jeremy has tampered with her prosthetic hand, sending them to therapy where he reveals his feelings. Harvey is selected to give a speech on what teaching means to hi for a chance to win a $250,000 grant for the school. A student's photography assignment concerns Marilyn, and possibly social services and he police.
S2.E10 ∙ Chapter Thirty-Two
Lauren invites Scott to the symphony, much to the concern of Meredith. A student "falls" down a flight of stairs, but whether or not it was an accident is unclear. Danny and Marla dispute the place of God in a public school. Concern continues to grow over Harvey's speech for the $250,000 grant.
S2.E11 ∙ Chapter Thirty-Three
Danny discovers Brooke making out in a parked car on school grounds with a man ten years her senior. Harry discovers his dungeon students apparently bullying weaker students, but not all is as seems. Harry subsequently challenges Scott to a debate between the dungeon students and the debate team.
S2.E12 ∙ Chapter Thirty-Five
The faculty decide to have a staff talent show to lighten the mood at Winslow. Lipschultz asks Ronnie to sing a duet with him at the talent show but she convinces him that Marilyn is just waiting to be asked. Meanwhile Danny befriends one of his cerebral palsy kids and arranges for him to attend Winslow. The mood is severely challenged when a student finds a notebook with plans for a bombing and shooting spree at Winslow.
S2.E13 ∙ Chapter Thirty-Six
A student's illness rattles Senate, who is haunted by feelings of futility; a teen's eating disorder upsets Lauren, who is also unnerved by a website advocating anorexia.
S2.E14 ∙ Chapter Thirty-Four
Seven teenagers, including Zack, are killed in a drunk driving accident and the students and teachers, both, must face their grief. Ronnie takes it especially hard having been close with Zack. Brooke's best friend was also killed in the accident. Meanwhile, Harvey tries to convince the students that he was George Washington in a previous life.
S2.E15 ∙ Chapter Thirty-Seven
Peabody Award-winning examination of a volatile but crucial topic. Hanson leads his class in a discussion of the n-word, including its use by rappers and stand-up comics. Its very utterance causes Marla to lobby Harper for Hanson's removal.
S2.E16 ∙ Chapter Thirty-Eight
Mikki, an 18-year-old Winslow student, tricks Harper and the administration into allowing Just Eighteen, a racy Maxim-like magazine to come to the school to shoot provocative photos of her. Ronnie, who stumbles upon the shoot, pleads with Mikki not to pose for the magazine, saying it is a decision she will regret for the rest of her life. Meanwhile, back at school, a student approaches Guber with information that Meredith hit her with her prosthesis during an argument. Also at the school, one of Lauren's students has an emotional break-down. The breakdown was apparently brought on by stress, caused from Lauren pushing too hard.
S2.E17 ∙ Chapter Thirty-Nine
Ronnie catches a student performing a crime; two female students tell Marilyn about their sexual conversations online with an older man.
S2.E18 ∙ Chapter Forty
A black man goes to see Harvey and tells him he's his son. Harvey doesn't deny knowing his mother. But he doesn't know what to do.
S2.E19 ∙ Chapter Forty-One
Ronnie puts together a surprise birthday party for Senate but her good intentions quickly turns into chaos when all the guests resort to bickering and nitpicking at each other. Among the sparks at the party, Lipschultz snoops into Harper's briefcase and reveals his application for headmaster at an opposing school, while Lauren and Scott grow closer together as she has her own issues after being called a perfectionist.
S2.E20 ∙ Chapter Forty-Two
As the prom approaches, female students outrage the faculty when they auction themselves as dates, while Harper deals with angry students who oppose his allowing a transgender student to compete for the queen's crown.
S2.E21 ∙ Chapter Forty-Three
Lauren and Marilyn investigate a student who seems to be eating her own hair. Danny is discovered having sent letters home to the "over-weight" girls in his class after he is punched by a girl who received one of these letters. Marla goes to Steven and Scott about this issue, asking that he be fired. Meanwhile, Scott and Steven are continuing to have personality conflicts regarding leadership. Jamal Crenshaw's brother, Amaad, murders a store clerk and soon after, Jamal confides in Harry. Harry takes it to Ronnie, a past lawyer, who believes that Jamal's best bet is to turn himself in. However, when he doesn't; Harry and Ronnie do. Later on, Amaad comes to visit Harry at Winslow High and when things get out of hand, Harry calls the police. But before he can give them any details, he is stabbed by Amaad three times.
S2.E22 ∙ Chapter Forty-Four
Staff and students at Winslow High struggle to get on with their lives after a number of tragic events.
S3.E13 ∙ Chapter Fifty-Seven
One of Kimberly's female students develops an unhealthy obsession with the young teacher, Scott Guber's mother comes to visit. Harvey considers.
S3.E17 ∙ Chapter Sixty-One
Ronnie struggles with the reaction of the staff to her new role as Assistant Principal. The students react to the MCAT tests. Guber conspires with the staff to undermine Ronnie. Danny deals with his growing "family". Harvey struggles with the realization that he needs to teach as much as he is needed to teach. Marilyn reveals a secret to her past that explains her frustration with Aisha's relationship.
S3.E22 ∙ Chapter Sixty-Six
Whitney Houston is coming to the Prom. Danny marries Clair. Final resolution of budget cuts
S4.E1 ∙ Chapter Sixty-Seven
Ronnie witnesses an attempted rape, then receives a shock when she presses for legal action on behalf of the victim; Hanson tries to prevent a student from being expelled for drugs.
S4.E2 ∙ Chapter Sixty-Eight
Cheerleading rivalry takes a nasty turn that reopens an old wound between two competitive moms - Candy Sobell & Angela Sanchez; an electric shock causes a student to believe he's Jesus; a shy teenage girl's fling troubles Carmen, who's vexed by the wallflower's swaggering boyfriend Jake.
S4.E3 ∙ Chapter Sixty-Nine
A female student makes a severe accusation against Danny Hanson; a political debate puts one student's life in jeopardy in new teacher Carmen Torres' class; and the tension between Harper and Guber reaches its peak when it comes to their feelings for Marylin.
S4.E4 ∙ Chapter Seventy
Winslow High School battles the war on drugs. Marla Hendricks has an altercation with a student and deals with the repercussions.
S4.E5 ∙ Chapter Seventy-One
An investment banker, convicted of securities fraud, avoids jail time by agreeing to community service: teaching math at Winslow High. A sexy and eccentric woman (Sherilyn Fenn) smashes into Guber's car and then crashes her way into his life.
S4.E6 ∙ Chapter Seventy-Two
A student discovers Harper and Marilyn have been secretly dating and threatens to go to the school board; Hanson and Claire try to assist a student who is having trouble with his dad.
S4.E7 ∙ Chapter Seventy-Three
Charlie Bixby (Dennis Miller) takes an unconventional approach when volunteering at a teen hot line; Marla decides to try in-vitro fertilization and asks Harper to be the donor; Carmen reveals a secret from her past.
S4.E8 ∙ Chapter Seventy-Four
Harper decides to call the FBI when he learns that a student has been accessing a terrorist recruitment website from the school library; Ronnie learns that one of her students has HIV.
S4.E9 ∙ Chapter Seventy-Five
Guber discovers the high school drum line's freshman hazing involves physical abuse; a student-produced TV documentary about Ronnie worries her; a father is sentenced to being handcuffed to his son for a week.
S4.E11 ∙ Chapter Seventy-Seven
An overachieving student sues the school when she has to share presidency of the honor society with a black student in a wheelchair; Marla begins her in-vitro process.
S4.E12 ∙ Chapter Seventy-Eight
Racial tensions heat up amongst the students. This opens the eyes of Steven and Marilyn about their opposing views on different topics.
S4.E13 ∙ Chapter Seventy-Nine
Joannie Hanson celebrates 1 year of sobriety. Allison's living arrangement becomes a topic of discussion. Marla Hendricks deals with hormonal changes.
S4.E14 ∙ Chapter Eighty
Steven Harper wins principal of the year. A former student Billy gets killed while serving in the army. Mr Harper reminisces about helping Billy overcome his personal and academic obstacles. Political controversies emerge between Steven and Danny over the war. Michael Rapport directs.
S4.E15 ∙ Chapter Eighty-One
The final episode. Art teacher Henry Preston starts controversy due to an inability to draw appropriate boundaries with students. Danny and Claire's relationship is strained due to Allison go to live with her mother. Scott tries to prove his normality to Violet by exaggerating his friendship with Steven.
