Welcome Freshmen
Also known asSchool Students
GenreComedy
Created byRobert Mittenthal
Directed by
  • Scott Fishman
  • Tim Hill
  • Adam Weissman
  • Michael Berry
  • Ron Smith
  • Bob Lampel
  • Helen Smith
Starring
  • Rick Galloway
  • Chris Lobban
  • David Rhoden (1991–92)
  • Jill Setter (1991–92)
  • Jocelyn Steiner
  • Mike Speller
  • Arian Ash (1992-93)
  • Brock Bradley (1992-93)
  • Nicholas Caruso (1992-93)
Theme music composerPeter Lauer
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes52
Production
Producers
  • Woody Fraser
  • Angelika Bartenbach-Kidd
  • Lisa Tauger
  • Maureen Badger Schultz
Production locationsNickelodeon Studios, Universal Studios
Orlando, Florida
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkNickelodeon
ReleaseFebruary 16, 1991 (1991-02-16) 
February 19, 1994 (1994-02-19)

Welcome Freshmen is an American comedy series that aired on Nickelodeon from February 16, 1991, to February 19, 1994, with repeats until October 27, 1996. The show took place at Hawthorne High School with a group of high school students and a bumbling vice principal.

Seasons 1 and 2

The earlier episodes of the series consisted of comedy sketches that loosely followed a theme, each episode had two or three short skits about the gang's misadventures in high school. Some of the comedy routines involved a tortoise named Mortise teaching children about safety, a historian named Mr. History who talks about past generations of freshmen, the bumbling, freshman-hating, vice-principal Mr. Lippman imagining himself as a stand-up comedian telling really bad old jokes that insult freshmen, and a student named Billy Cushman who, though his appearance was occasional, provided not only a good example of how not to behave but also a good example of flatulence.

Recurring skits

  • Home-Room Announcements-Mr. Lippman, the vice-principal, doing the morning announcements (at the same time, imagining how he'd really like to say them as a stand-up format).
  • The Merv-U-Mentary-Merv's amateurish attempt at uncovering news and scandals at the high school.
  • Mr. History-featuring the gang as high school students of a past time period.
  • Mike Who-featuring close-ups of a sidelined high school basketball player driving the crowd wild with a single wave. Eventually cut after vice Principal Lippman said it was too distracting, resulting in a tense showdown between Lippman and Who.
  • Mortise the Safety Tortoise-a tortoise who teaches children about safety.

Seasons 3 and 4

In the later episodes, the sketch comedy format was abandoned and Welcome Freshmen became a standard sitcom.

In the third season, Kevin and Alex become sophomores except for Walter who flunked and was held behind. Merv and Tara left. Merv skipped the rest of high school, going straight to college. Tara and her family moved to a biosphere. New characters came in: Manny, Erin and Grant, by the end of the third season, Manny left. In the series finale, Walter becomes a sophomore, as the teachers all threatened to quit if they had him another year.

Production

The show's first television pilot was filmed in May 1990, featuring a group of local actors in the main roles, among them was future Backstreet Boys member Howie Dorough.[1] After the success of the pilot, the show was picked up, but the roles were recast, according to series creator Bob Mittenthal "Those kids did a good job, the proof is that the show was picked up as a series , but research told Nickelodeon it needed better-defined characters".[2]

According to Jocelyn Steiner, several actresses had auditioned for the role of Alex before she got cast, including Brittany Daniel who was a final contender for the role.[3]

Cast

  • Rick Galloway as Walter Patterson
  • Chris Lobban as Kevin St. James
  • David Rhoden as Merv (1991–1992)
  • Jill Setter as Tara (1991–1992)
  • Jocelyn Steiner as Alex Moore
  • Brock Bradley as Grant Kelly (1993–1994)
  • Arian Waring Ash as Erin Kelly (1993–1994)
  • Nicholas Caruso as Manny Barrington (1993–1994)
  • Mike Speller as Mr. Elliott Lippman
  • Veronica Alicino as Miss Topaz
  • Janis Benson as Miss Petruka
  • Nick Barnes as Billy Cushman
  • Phil Card as Mr. History
  • Tracy Frenkel as Coach Roach and Coach Rochelle
  • Jay Martel as Mr. Royd
  • Al Arasim as Al Patterson
  • John Parker Searles as Mr. Macbroom
  • Mark Sarto as Mortise, the Safety Tortoise

Characters

Main

  • Walter Patterson is the dimwitted, good-natured, optimistic, lazy laid-back, and geeky slacker of the group who loves eating. His stupidity and clumsiness are often the butt of jokes.
  • Kevin St. James is the cynical, selfish, and egotistical one of the group. He is a smooth talker, a terrible ladies' man, and often makes fun of his friends, especially Merv, Manny, and Walter. Mostly, he is troublemaker of the group.
  • Merv is the confident, outgoing nerd of the group. Merv is a nerdy guy.
  • Tara is the eco-conscious feminist activist of the group. Besides Walter, she is among the nicest of the group though she joins in making fun of others at times.
  • Alex Moore is a beautiful, popular and fashion-obsessed girly girl. Often vain, snobby, rude, and materialistic, she is obsessed with her status and has no issues manipulating others for personal gain.
  • Mr. Elliott Lippman is the tyrannical and incompetent principal of Hawthorne High. He often serves as an antagonist to the main characters' schemes though they do not take him seriously.

Additional

  • Grant Kelly is Erin's brother, a junior who becomes Alex's boyfriend. Introduced in the third season.
  • Erin Kelly is a musically talented freshman who often dresses in a grunge fashion. Introduced in the third season.
  • Manny Barrington is introduced in the third season, a naive and short-statured nerdy freshman. He befriends the main group who are a grade above him despite them treating him poorly and laughing at his expense.

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
113February 16, 1991 (1991-02-16)May 11, 1991 (1991-05-11)
213May 9, 1992 (1992-05-09)August 1, 1992 (1992-08-01)
3141992 (1992)1993 (1993)
4121993 (1993)1994 (1994)

Episodes

Season 1 (1991)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Express Yourself"Scott FishmanRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillFebruary 16, 1991 (1991-02-16)
22"Extra-Curricular Activities"Scott FishmanRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillFebruary 23, 1991 (1991-02-23)
33"Mind Games"Scott FishmanRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillMarch 2, 1991 (1991-03-02)
44"Knowledge is Power"Scott FishmanRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillMarch 9, 1991 (1991-03-09)
55"Growing Up"Scott FishmanRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillMarch 16, 1991 (1991-03-16)
66"Technology"Scott FishmanRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillMarch 23, 1991 (1991-03-23)
77"Money"Scott FishmanRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillMarch 30, 1991 (1991-03-30)
88"Authority"Scott FishmanRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillApril 6, 1991 (1991-04-06)
99"How We Look"Scott FishmanRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillApril 13, 1991 (1991-04-13)
1010"Careers in the Making"Scott FishmanRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillApril 20, 1991 (1991-04-20)
1111"Language"Scott FishmanRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillApril 27, 1991 (1991-04-27)
1212"What We Eat"Scott FishmanRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillMay 4, 1991 (1991-05-04)
1313"Getting Even"Scott FishmanRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillMay 11, 1991 (1991-05-11)

Season 2 (1992)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
141"Friends"Tim HillRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillMay 9, 1992 (1992-05-09)
152"Conformity"Tim HillRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillMay 16, 1992 (1992-05-16)
163"Choices"Tim HillRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillMay 23, 1992 (1992-05-23)
174"Bullies"Tim HillRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillMay 30, 1992 (1992-05-30)
185"The Grass is Always Greener"Tim HillRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillJune 6, 1992 (1992-06-06)
196"Holidays"Tim HillRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillJune 13, 1992 (1992-06-13)
207"Dating"Tim HillRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillJune 20, 1992 (1992-06-20)
218"Health"Tim HillRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillJune 27, 1992 (1992-06-27)
229"Ecology"Tim HillRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillJuly 4, 1992 (1992-07-04)
2310"Communication"Tim HillRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillJuly 11, 1992 (1992-07-11)
2411"Success"Tim HillRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillJuly 18, 1992 (1992-07-18)
2512"Competition"Tim HillRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillJuly 25, 1992 (1992-07-25)
2613"Secrets"Tim HillRobert Mittenthal & Tim HillAugust 1, 1992 (1992-08-01)

Season 3 (1992–93)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
271"Things Change"Michael BerryTim HillJanuary 2, 1993 (1993-01-02)
Kevin and Alex are sophomores; new freshmen Manny and Erin; Walter is held back.
282"The Harvest Ball"Michael BerryGena Van WinkleJanuary 9, 1993 (1993-01-09)
All look forward to the Harvest Ball.
293"To Walter's Dad with Love"Michael BerryMichael RubinerJanuary 16, 1993 (1993-01-16)
Lippman hires Walter's dad as a history teacher, Erin deals with other students calling her names.
304"The People vs. Walter"Ron SmithRob DinsmoorJanuary 23, 1993 (1993-01-23)
Lippman's portrait is vandalized, and Walter is blamed.
315"Othello the (Sopho)moor"Ron SmithAnne BernsteinJanuary 30, 1993 (1993-01-30)
Lippman is Iago in the school's "Othello".
326"Shiny Top"Bob LampelDavid PotortiFebruary 6, 1993 (1993-02-06)
Lippmann is taken for archcriminal Shiny Top.
337"I'm Dead"Ron SmithClifford FaginFebruary 13, 1993 (1993-02-13)
A senior wants to beat up Walter.
348"Manny in Love"Bob LampelVeronica AlicinoFebruary 20, 1993 (1993-02-20)
Manny has a crush on his baby sitter.
359"Requiem for a Lightweight"Bob LampelAlan LevyFebruary 27, 1993 (1993-02-27)
Erin wants to wrestle; Lippman breaks a chain letter.
3610"The Lippdromeda Strain"Adam WeissmanHoward Nemetz, Simon Rakoff, Tim Hill & Michael RubinerJuly 3, 1993 (1993-07-03)
The kids are quarantined at school.
3711"Hawthorne Confidential"Adam WeissmanRob DinsmoorJuly 10, 1993 (1993-07-10)
Alex uses gossip in a journalism class documentary.
3812"Erin for Office"Adam WeissmanGena Van WinkleJuly 17, 1993 (1993-07-17)
Erin runs for student-body president.
3913"Looking for Mr.Goodwrench"TBDTBD1993 (1993)
Walter crashes into Mr.Lippman's car.
4014"What Rhymes with Liar"Helen SmithRobert LeightonJuly 31, 1993 (1993-07-31)
Kevin says he knows a star (Shanice Wilson).

Season 4 (1993)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
411"Math, Lies & Videotape"Tim HillMichael Rubiner1993 (1993)
Erin helps Walter study; Kevin tries to cheat.
422"Drawn and Quoted"Tim HillStory by: Robert Leighton
Teleplay by: Rob Dinsmoor
1993 (1993)
Walter is a cartoonist for the school paper.
433"The Genius"Tim HillStory by: Robert Leighton
Teleplay by: Anne Bernstein
1993 (1993)
A child prodigy may attend Hawthorne.
444"The Stuff"Adam WeissmanRobert Leighton1993 (1993)
A science-class mishap results in a revolutionary glue.
455"Marathon Woman"Adam WeissmanStory by: Michael Rubiner & Jed Spingarn
Teleplay by: Jed Spingarn
1993 (1993)
Kevin coaxes Samantha to be his dance-marathon partner.
466"Reachin' for the Stars"Adam WeissmanStory by: Veronica Alicino & Michael Rubiner
Teleplay by: Veronica Alicino
1993 (1993)
Talent scouts come to Hawthorne High.
477"The Courtship of Walter's Father"Adam WeissmanJay Martel1993 (1993)
His father falls for Walter's least-favorite teacher.
488"Safety Last"Adam WeissmanTom Wargo1993 (1993)
Hawthorne must pass a safety inspection or close.
499"Seeds of Destruction"TBDTBD1993 (1993)
Erin insults Mr. Lippman.
5010"Rainy Day Women"TBDTBD1993 (1993)
Walter and Kevin vie for a girl's attention.
5111"Getting What You Want"Adam WeissmanTim Hill1993 (1993)
Mr. Lippman's philosophy: karma by points.
5212"Year's End"Adam WeissmanTim Hill1993 (1993)
The gang make their plans for summer as the academic year draws to a close.

References

  1. "Nick Is Testing Waters Of The Local Talent Pool". www.orlandosentinel.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  2. "NEXT ON NICKELODEON: 'WELCOME FRESHMAN' NEW SHOW'S CAST IS ALL HOME-GROWN". www.orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  3. "Interview with Jocelyn Steiner". www.youtube.com. September 16, 2013. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
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