S1 E1 • Back to School

Out-of-work musician Steve Hightower becomes an inner-city music teacher, and soon discovers someone from his past is also at the school. - - - With his career as frontman for music group ""Steve Hightower and the Hi Tops"" no longer supporting him, Steve Hightower arrives at Chicago's, Booker T. Washington High School. Steve's best friend, Cedric Jackie Robinson, the school's physical education teacher and coach, has arranged a teaching job for Steve. Steve enters the office and is greeted by a student, Stanley Kuzsnacki. Stanley tells Steve his friends call him ""Bullethead"" because he has a bullet in his head. Cedric enters the office to find Steve and introduces him to the principal, beautiful Regina Grier, explaining they are friends from college. Principal Grier is unimpressed and demands Steve enter her office. Attempting to break the ice with Regina, Steve jokes that the last time he was in the principal's office, he was being reprimanded for taping a sign to a fat girl's ba

Première diffusion : 25 août 1996

S1 E2 • Dead Dog Walking

Bullethead is at the end of his rope when his dog gets impounded and he doesn't have the cash to bail him out. Meanwhile, Cedric gets the boot from his mama's apartment and looks to Steve for a place to live. - - - When Steve gets his first paycheck, he is shocked and wonders just how he'll be able to live on his teacher's salary. Cedric has problems of his own: living at home with his mother and her new boyfriend is getting very difficult. However, Regina isn't interested in hearing about Steve's financial problems and only wants him to finish the personal profile he's supposed to write for the PTA newsletter. Meanwhile, Steve gives the kids an assignment to write a blues song. Although they initially object, Steve shows them just how easy it can be when, on the spot, he creates the ""Teacher with a Teeny-Weeny Paycheck Blues."" Romeo comes up with his own song, but Bullethead refuses and walks from the classroom. Steve goes after him to find out what is wrong, but Bullethead will

Première diffusion : 15 septembre 1996

S1 E3 • Mr. Hightower's Opus

As he and Cedric struggle to work out their differences as roommates, Steve bets Regina he can put together a school band in fewer than five days. - - - After running into the school board president at a local restaurant, Steve promises a performance by the school band at an upcoming banquet. Though excited by the chance to make a good impression, Steve is stunned to learn, due to budget cuts, the school no longer has a band. Steve bets Regina he put a band together before the banquet. If Regina wins, Steve must wear Bermuda shorts and sing ""I Will Survive"" while gardening in Regina's yard. Should Steve succeed, Regina will dress up in a black cocktail dress and serve him dinner while doing a sexy dance. Having agreed on the conditions, Steve sets out to assemble a band. Cedric and Steve face constant growing pains as they get used to being roommates. Cedric tells Steve he has invited a few friends, 80 to be exact, to the apartment for a party that evening. Steve objects because

Première diffusion : 22 septembre 1996

S1 E4 • The Rock

Rumors of an on-going affair sweep the school when Sara and Romeo are caught hiding in a closet while trying to avoid Principal Grier. Meanwhile, Cedric goes way overboard vying for Teacher of the Month honors. - - - After being overlooked for four years running, Cedric is determined to be selected Teacher of the Month. Dressed in a fine suit, Cedric is playing the part, too. Schmoozing Regina, Cedric discusses his new plan for diversified physical education, until he realizes Regina doesn't cast a vote for Teacher of the Month. Steve's latest lesson plan covers improvisation. When Cedric interrupts the class, hoping to win a few votes, Steve enlists him to help with the improv. Seeking a topic from the students, Sophia suggests they are two lobsters in a fish tank, at dinnertime in a seafood shack. When Sara shows Sophia that Romeo is surrounded by a group of girls, Sophia confronts him. Romeo appeals for Steve for help explaining his talking to other women doesn't mean he is che

Première diffusion : 29 septembre 1996

S1 E5 • Brush with Greatness

Romeo paints himself into a corner by falsely taking credit for the winning entry in a poster contest, for artwork that was actually done by Sophia. Meanwhile, Cedric receives a platinum card and goes on a spending spree, until he gets his bill. - - - Excited, Cedric catches up with Steve in the hallway to show off his new platinum credit card. Steve can't understand how a company would give Cedric the card given his bad credit history. Cedric tells him he's a new man and the bad credit is behind him. During art class, Romeo's still life of a fruit bowl is terrible. On the other hand, Sophia's painting is quite good. Just as Steve is about to examine their work, Sophia switches paintings with Romeo. Thinking he's discovered an unknown artistic talent, Steve encourages Romeo to enter the painting in the Teen Arts Poster Contest. Uncomfortable, Romeo declines. Regina arrives at Steve's classroom looking for his help on the school newsletter. He agrees to help on one condition: they

Première diffusion : 6 octobre 1996

S1 E6 • Loose Lips Sink Friendships

The homecoming dance is approaching, and no one, including chaperone Steve, is happy with their dates. Romeo and Bullethead turn to Steve for help with the homecoming dance; Cedric joins a video dating service. - - - Steve enters the office to find Cedric attempting to pick the lock to the supply cabinet. Cedric explains he needs to borrow the video camera to record a tape for the new video dating service he has joined. Steve promises he can use the camera the in apartment. Although he's upset by the cost of this year's homecoming dance, Romeo won't let Sophia help him out with some money. Instead, he works extra shifts in order to make enough money to pay for the dance. Bullethead searches for the nerve to ask Sara, but when he can't muster the courage, Steve offers a few pointers. Sara, the other hand, hopes to go with football star Dexter King. Despite Steve's advice, Bullethead is too late when Dexter asks Sara and she accepts. Regina tells Steve he will be a chaperone at the

Première diffusion : 13 octobre 1996

S1 E7 • Papa Don't Take No Mess

Romeo's old-school father enrolls him in vocational-training classes, much to Romeo's dislike. Meanwhile, Steve and Cedric try to catch a mouse running loose in their apartment. - - - Cedric loses his composure when he discovers a mouse in the kitchen cabinet. Despite his brave front, Steve turns tail from the kitchen when the mouse jumps from the cabinet. To combat the unwelcome guest, Cedric and Steve agree to get a cat to take care of the problem. Cedric heads to his mother's house to pick up Freddy the Cat. Upon getting his best grade ever on an exam, Romeo's excitement is short-lived when Regina announces his father is moving him from the college prep curriculum into vocational training. While his friends are upset, Romeo convinces them wood shop classes aren't too bad. However, it is clear Romeo's carpentry skills leave much to be desired when no one can identify his project as a spice rack. In private, Romeo tells Steve he hates his new schedule and asks for help getting i

Première diffusion : 27 octobre 1996

S1 E8 • The Play's Not the Thing

Sophia wins the role of Juliet in the school's production of ""Romeo and Juliet,"" but Romeo is not chosen to play opposite her as his own namesake. Now Romeo must deal with watching another man play Romeo to Sophia's Juliet. - - - When auditions for the school's production of Romeo and Juliet are announced, Sara, Sophia and Bullethead all plan to audition for lead roles. With some encouragement from Sophia, Romeo agrees to audition for the part of Shakespeare's Romeo, too. As Steve and Regina watch the auditions, the performances do not seem to be going well. Cedric agrees to take care of his infant niece, Denise, thinking it won't be difficult. Steve is surprised to find the infant with Cedric when he arrives home. All goes well until Steve and Cedric are kept awake all night by the baby's crying. With the auditions complete, the kids learn the results: Sophia is Juliet, but Romeo, expecting to be the male lead, discovers their charming, handsome classmate, Lawrence, has won the

Première diffusion : 19 janvier 1997

S1 E9 • Big Brothers

Cedric volunteers to be a ""big brother"" to a fatherless teenage boy and tries to get Steve involved in the organization. - - - Cedric has volunteered to be a ""big brother"" to a fatherless teenage boy. As Cedric speaks the virtues of opening one's heart to a child in need, Steve makes it clear has no intention of being a big brother. However, when Cedric's ""little brother,"" Junior, arrives with his friend, Vincent, Steve discovers they are both big fans. Cedric and Junior have tickets to a big wrestling match, leaving Steve to entertain young Vincent. At school, as Romeo passes out invitations to his birthday party, Sara and Bullethead suggest he invite Sophia. Apparently, Romeo has mixed feelings about their recent breakup, so he extends Sophia an invitation. In the office, Regina receives flowers from a secret admirer. The card leads her to believe Steve is the sender, but he denies it until Regina says flowers make her melt. Cedric enters with Vincent and Junior, who have dropp

Première diffusion : 10 novembre 1996

S1 E10 • High Top Reunion

Steve reunites with his old singing group, ""The Hi-Tops,"" to perform on an awards show. But when a band member gets injured, Cedric is the only available substitute. - - - When Regina gets Romeo a tutor, he refuses. When Nicole, a gorgeous college student, arrives saying she will help Romeo, he jumps on board. A local nightclub schedules a 70's music night and Steve's band, the Hi-Tops, are asked to perform. At their first rehearsal, Steve discovers former bandmate T-Bone still harbors a grudge over how badly he was treated. Still, it doesn't take long for Steve, T-Bone, Clyde and Pretty Tony to recall their old routines. But when Cedric tries to get in on the fun as well, he's shut out. When Regina begins warning Steve his extracurricular activities with the Hi-Tops are effecting his job, Steve disagrees. He explains he is only having some fun on the side. Steve invites Regina to club to watch them practice. Once the band arrives at the club to rehearse, they begin to fall apart

Première diffusion : 17 novembre 1996

S1 E11 • That's My Mama

Steve gets Regina to help trick his visiting mother into believing that they are a couple. Meanwhile, Romeo makes two dates for the same night & decides to see them both at the same restaurant at the same time. - - - Bullethead looks on while Romeo charms a classmate, Tomika, into accepting a date for Saturday night. Bullethead criticizes his style, saying he can do better. As Bullethead approaches a beautiful blonde, Steve and Romeo watch him in action. Bullethead is also successful in winning the attentions of the young woman. Cedric is not happy to learn Steve's mother will be visiting because she does not like him. Steve reminds him he killed Mother Hightower's dog, Mr. Peanut, and despite the fact it was an accident, she has good reason to dislike Cedric. On the other hand, Regina is thrilled to hear about the visit, as she was always fond of Steve's mother. Steve invites her to stop by the apartment to say hello. While Cedric hopes Mother Hightower is willing to let bygones

Première diffusion : 24 novembre 1996

S1 E12 • Pool Sharks Get Bit

A newly-hired office assistant shows an extreme amount of interest in Steve. Meanwhile, Bullethead and Romeo hope to pocket some cash hustling pool, but the tables are turned on them and they wind up holding the short end of the stick. - - - Cedric and Steve can't help but stare at the beautiful, newly-hired office assistant, Juanita. Although Cedric turns on the charm, Juanita makes it clear she is interested in Steve and later she even finds an excuse to drop by their apartment to get Steve's autograph. While visiting, she drops a photo from Steve's apartment in her purse. Meanwhile, the students try to raise money for a field trip by selling candy. Bullethead hatches a plan to earn some fast money and asks Romeo to help. They meet at the local billiards hall, where Bullethead's prowess with the cue stick convinces Romeo they can raise money all the money they need and more if only they had a larger amount to bet. Steve asks Romeo, as treasurer of the Fine Arts Club, to deposit t

Première diffusion : 15 décembre 1996

S1 E13 • Coming to Chicago

When Steve scores hard-to-get tickets to a concert, Regina agrees to go out with him. Meanwhile, Sara reluctantly agrees to go out on a date with Bullethead. - - - Sara and Sophia are working on some computer data entry for Regina when the computer crashes. Bullethead will fix the problem on one condition - Sara must go on a date with him. Reluctantly, Sara agrees and when Bullethead repairs the problem she is grateful. With Steve's old friend and singing sensation Brian McKnight in town, Cedric visits Steve to find out if he was able to hook him up with tickets to the show. As promised, Steve delivers Cedric a set of nosebleed seats. Steve's seats are front row center. Despite Cedric's taunts, Steve asks Regina to be his date for the concert. Regina has a policy of not dating co-workers, but considering she can't get tickets on her own, she breaks her rule just this once and agrees to go. However, their plans are disrupted when, having recently left her wealthy husband, a former

Première diffusion : 12 janvier 1997

S1 E14 • African-American Me

On his way to play the piano at regina's church, Steve gets arrested and thrown in jail with Cedric. - - - Steve lets Regina down by failing to proofread the school's newsletter before it is printed. Remorseful, Steve must find a way to make amends. When her church pianist runs off on the eve of a performance, he offers to fill in. Yet, unwilling to trust him, Regina refuses and continues looking for someone else. Making matters worse, Cedric is angry with Steve because he won't share the apartment's lone parking space. After his 15th parking ticket, Cedric waits for Steve to move his car, then parks in the space. Unwilling to give it up, Cedric is reduced to walking, cabs and public transportation. Meanwhile, as part of a social studies project, the students pair off in a marriage experiment. Romeo is matched with Sara and Bullethead with Sophia. Desperate for a pianist, Regina finally asks Steve to cover at the church. He agrees. As Steve leaves for the church, only then does h

Première diffusion : 2 février 1997

S1 E15 • When the Funk Bites the Dust

The Hi-Tops' ex-manager gets engaged and the group gathers for a bachelor party at Steve's apartment. Meanwhile, the students are assigned the task of creating a short film for a contest. - - - Steve brings his personal video camera to school to give his students lessons on its operation. The kids have been assigned the task of creating a short film for a contest, documenting life at Booker T. Washington High. The school submitting the winning film will win a complete audiovisual system. At the request of its old road manager, Doc, the Hi-Tops agree to assemble at Steve's for an important announcement. While suspecting it could be about a reunion tour, they are surprised to learn that Doc is getting married and wants them to be in the wedding. However, Cedric is less than happy to learn the bride is his ex-fiance, a former back-up singer Doc stole from him during the band's heyday. Steve brings his personal video camera to school to give his students lessons on its operation. The

Première diffusion : 9 février 1997

S1 E16 • Big Daddy's Baby Girl

A 19-year-old woman steals into Steve's life claiming to be his daughter, the outcome of a long-ago romantic liasion. Meanwhile, Bullethead is suddenly popular when everyone learns that he has a pair of floor seat tickets to a Chicago Bulls game. - - - Steve and Cedric's friendly game of dominoes is interrupted when the doorbell rings. A girl introduces herself as Ashley Hawkins…his daughter. Dumbfounded, Steve faints on the spot. Revived, Steve does his best to deny it. However, when shown a collection of some old love letters to her mother and a locket he hasn't seen in many years, he has a hard time denying Ashley Hawkins is whom she claims to be. The next day, Steve arrives in class to find all the students showering Bullethead with compliments. Bullethead explains his sudden popularity with the pair of floor seats to the Chicago Bulls basketball game. Ashley visits Steve to announce she's decided to leave and not cause any further trouble. Steve doesn't want here to go and a

Première diffusion : 16 février 1997

S1 E17 • I Do, I Don't

Snoop Doggy Dogg and producer Sean ""Puffy"" Combs visit the school to talk to Steve's class about the rumored rivlary between East and West Coast rappers. Meanwhile, Regina's parents also visit to renew their wedding vows for their 40th anniversary. - - - As Steve attempts to focus his students on their lessons, they prefer to discuss whether Steve plans to let rapper Sean ""Puffy"" Combs sample his Hi-Tops song ""When the Funk Hits the Fan."" As Steve again tries to re-focus the class, the lesson is interrupted when Snoop Doggy Dogg enters the classroom. Apologetic for his intrusion, he asks Steve if they can talk after class. Steve agrees. The students warn Steve of the potential problems he could face should he choose to give only one of the rival rappers access to his music. With her parents coming to Chicago to renew their wedding vows for their 40th anniversary, Regina asks Steve to provide the music for the affair. After also agreeing to pick them up at the airport, he arrives

Première diffusion : 23 février 1997

S1 E18 • Guess Who's Not Coming to Dinner?

Since Regina's sorority sister is visiting from out of town, Regina decides to impress her by lying about having a wealthy handsome boyfriend, and enlists Steve to help her out with her deceit. - - - Steve explains to the students the rules for their upcoming field trip to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Steve is uncomfortable with the trip because the Hi-Tops have received numerous nominations, but have never been inducted. A visit from her college rival, Tiffany, has Regina upset, especially since the principal has lied about having a wealthy doctor for a husband and her skill as a gourmet cook. To help Regina to impress Tiffany (who is also a successful author with a high-priced lawyer for a husband), Steve agrees to pose as the doctor while Cedric promises a delicious home-cooked meal for her guests. Steve promises he will be back from Cleveland in time for dinner, but on the day Tiffany and Sterling are to arrive, Steve is snowed in at the airport. When Steve can

Première diffusion : 27 avril 1997

S1 E19 • The Roof is on Fire

Steve tries to put some ""sparks"" into Regina's dull party -- and proceeds to set the roof on fire. Then, he offers to let her stay at his place. - - - As Regina invites Steve and Cedric to her annual ""Spring Fling,"" Cedric recalls last year's boring party. Regina hires Sophia, Bullethead, Romeo and Sara to work as servers, but Romeo plans on taking advantage of the situation and turning his friendly relationship with Sara into a romantic one. After hitting it off with Rochelle, a woman he met at the car wash, Cedric is ready to go to Regina's party. Once Steve arrives with Cedric and his date, he finds that the party's staid atmosphere is even worse than expected. Steve offers to liven things up. As Romeo showers Sara with compliments, it appears things might turn in Romeo's favor after all. But as Steve sends the party's guests into a dancing frenzy, Cedric discovers his new girlfriend is married to Scar, a former Navy SEAL presently a SWAT sharpshooter. When Bullethead and Soph

Première diffusion : 4 mai 1997

S1 E20 • Love with Interest

A smooth-talking bank officer shows an interest in Regina. Also, Romeo, Sara, Bullethead and Sophia parrot-nap a rival school's mascot. - - - Sophia, Sara, Romeo and Bullethead steal the mascot - a talking parrot - from rival Coolidge High before the big basketball game. Before last years' big game, students from Coolidge stole their mascot. Cedric tells Steve he has decided to go undercover as a janitor at Coolidge so he can watch their basketball practices. Steve replies that scouting the opposition won't help. Discouraged, Cedric exits. Steve decides it is time to buy a new car. The loan officer from his bank, Trent Underwood, drops by school to have him sign the loan papers. After admitting he is an old Hi-Tops fan, Trent and Steve trade stories about their prowess with women. Trent tells Steve his surefire plan with the ladies: first, send them a single rose, then take them to a Shakespeare play and, finally, cook them dinner. When Regina drops in, Steve realizes he's learne

Première diffusion : 11 mai 1997

S1 E21 • Can't Buy Me Love

Steve gives a birthday gift to Regina on her birthday, to show her he cares. But Regina also gets a gift from another admirer, an expensive gift, and believes the expensive gift is from Steve. - - - Regina reminds Steve his supervision of two junior high students, participating in a Fine Arts exchange program, begins today. Steve is excited at the prospect of shaping two new minds until he discovers Junior and Vincent, boys whom he and Cedric mentored in the Big Brother program, are the students. Upon their arrival, Junior makes it clear he has a crush on Regina. Steve warns the two youngsters they are in for a tough day, only to find they are better prepared to discuss the lesson than are his own students. Meanwhile, Romeo and Bullethead try to save a frog from a biology class experiment. Cedric wins a cooking contest when he enters his chocolate chip cookies. The victory results in a local television appearance, which he hopes will launch a new business venture. While Vincent,

Première diffusion : 18 mai 1997