Teech
Encyclopedia
Teech is an American situation comedy
that briefly aired on CBS
as part of its 1991 Fall lineup
. The series was co-produced by Kid'n'Graph Productions in association with Columbia Pictures Television
for CBS.
as "Teech" Gibson, an African American
music instructor (and the "coolest teacher") at Winthrop Academy, a prestigious, predominantly-white prep school
. Teech loved music and his students and had 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.
Scheduled opposite NBC
's Top 20 hit Unsolved Mysteries
, Teech drew low ratings and was pulled from the lineup after only four episodes had aired.
and Norman Steinberg. Teechs theme song "Teach Me" was performed by B.B. King.
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
that briefly aired on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
as part of its 1991 Fall lineup
1991-92 United States network television schedule
This was the television schedule on all four United States commercial broadcast television networks for the fall season beginning in September 1991. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football....
. The series was co-produced by Kid'n'Graph Productions in association with Columbia Pictures Television
Columbia Pictures Television
Columbia Pictures Television was the second name of the Columbia Pictures television division Screen Gems . The studio changed its name on September 4, 1974.-1974-1982:...
for CBS.
Synopsis
Teech stars Phill LewisPhill Lewis
Phill Lewis is an American film and television actor,director and comedian, often seen in comedic roles. He is best known for his role as Mr. Moseby on Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and its spin-off, The Suite Life on Deck. He also played T.C...
as "Teech" Gibson, an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
music instructor (and the "coolest teacher") at Winthrop Academy, a prestigious, predominantly-white prep school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
. Teech loved music and his students and had tremendous appeal even to troubled, disruptive students. Teech also had appeal to Cassie Lee (Maggie Han
Maggie Han
Maggie Han is an American actress who has appeared in numerous films and television productions. Her career began with modeling jobs in the United States and France, and progressed to acting in a broad range of roles. Among other roles, Han played Yoshiko Kawashima in the movie The Last Emperor...
), the sexy assistant headmaster who had hired him. Headmaster Alfred Litton (Steven Gilborn
Steven Gilborn
Steven Neil Gilborn was an American television and film actor.Gilborn was born in New Rochelle, New York. He attended Swarthmore College, where he was awarded a bachelor's degree in English and earned a Ph.D...
) 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
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and discrimination.
Scheduled opposite NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Top 20 hit Unsolved Mysteries
Unsolved Mysteries
Unsolved Mysteries is an American television program, hosted by Robert Stack, from 1987 until 2002, and later by Dennis Farina, starting in 2008...
, Teech drew low ratings and was pulled from the lineup after only four episodes had aired.
Cast
- Phill LewisPhill LewisPhill Lewis is an American film and television actor,director and comedian, often seen in comedic roles. He is best known for his role as Mr. Moseby on Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and its spin-off, The Suite Life on Deck. He also played T.C...
as David "Teech" Gibson - Curnal Achilles Aulisio as George Dubcek, Jr.
- Steven GilbornSteven GilbornSteven Neil Gilborn was an American television and film actor.Gilborn was born in New Rochelle, New York. He attended Swarthmore College, where he was awarded a bachelor's degree in English and earned a Ph.D...
as Alfred W. Litton - Maggie HanMaggie HanMaggie Han is an American actress who has appeared in numerous films and television productions. Her career began with modeling jobs in the United States and France, and progressed to acting in a broad range of roles. Among other roles, Han played Yoshiko Kawashima in the movie The Last Emperor...
as Cassie Lee - Josh Hoffman as Kenny Freedman
- Kevin Lawrence Johnson as Boyd Askew
- Jason Kristofer as Alby Nichols
- Jack Noseworthy as Adrian Peterman
Production notes
The series was created by David FrankelDavid Frankel
David Frankel is an American director, screenwriter and executive producer. He is the son of Max Frankel, a former executive editor of The New York Times...
and Norman Steinberg. Teechs theme song "Teach Me" was performed by B.B. King.
Episodes
| # | Title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot | September 18, 1991 |
| 2 | "Stool Daze" | September 25, 1991 |
| 3 | "Carnival Knowledge" | October 2, 1991 |
| 4 | "Teech Vs. Dubcek" | October 16, 1991 |
| 5 | "Nervously Virgin on a Woman Breakdown" | Never aired |
| 6 | "Sink or Swim" | Never aired |
| 7 | "Understudy" | Never aired |
| 8 | "Life's Little Lessons" | Never aired |
| 9 | "The Candidate" | Never aired |
| 10 | "Pizza My Heart" | Never aired |
| 11 | "Loosiers" | Never aired |
| 12 | "In Charm's Way" | Never aired |
| 13 | "Members Only" | Never aired |