tomloft2000 this show seemed better almost 40 years ago than it does now.the subject matter seems almost trite today,but was groundbreaking then.funny how things to my generation that seem quaint just seem old-fashioned to the younger crowd.oh well...this series ushered in a whole new generation of TV programming(sort of reality-like)with grownup plots(including one i recall-Bridget Loves Bernie-that dealt with a interdenominational marriage-wow).this time was ground zero for political and social activism,and much of this show dealt with these issues.Lloyd Haynes played the everyman History teacher who had a lot of wisdom to impart to his class,backed up by Denise Nicholas(who was his girlfriend on the show)and a mostly wacky Karen Valentine.the show was a bit on the unreal side(i didn't go to a school like that)but did what it intended to-bring TV into a new age.

Graham Pruss The creator James L. Books of Room 222 later became the executive producer of The Simpsons.In episode 281 season 13 of The Simpsons (first aired: Sunday, February 24, 2002) Bart's new idol, Buck McCoy, retells his history in television. During the flashback sequence, he mentions starring in police drama during the 60s which was recast as "Room 222" upon his leaving. This line from The Simpsons is clearly a reference to a show which James L. Brooks had created and most likely to its unfortunate obscurity.

dwbl My white, small-town mother planted her white, small-town children in front of the TV when shows like Room 222 were on. It was funny enough to keep our attention and serious enough to be worth it. In a time when the idea of civil rights was still considered something strange that many still had to ponder, Mom saw to it that her children saw a black man being respected, week after week, and we grew up believing there was nothing unusual about the notion. Good for Mom.Good for the people who made Room 222, as well. Lloyd Hanes had the gravitas and empathy to make Pete Dixon's students flock to him, and to make the kids watching listen to what he had to say. He did this without preaching at us (or seeming to), and he kept learning from the students, as well.One episode that still stands in my mind was when Mr. Dixon kept trying to get one particularly irresponsible student to grow up. After enough of this, the boy yelled that Mr. Dixon kept, "telling me how to live, how to live, how to live. How about telling me how to die?" Turned out that he was cutting classes to go walk through the park and think during the last days of his life. Mr. Dixon immediately set out to get to know the boy in a new light. In the last scene, the school reacted to the boy's death.

juliafwilliams This year marks the 35th anniversary of some influential 'bubble gum' shows. One such show marking the anniversary is 'The Brady Bunch'. Another is this underrated chestnut, Room 222.It was in an integrated setting trying to show the viewing public that with effort and communication, people of all races, religions and nationalities could get along peacefully.Here, in my opinion, is a classic that merits release of DVD with a group of other underrated classics.If not for Room 222, there would be no Boston Public.