Hull High

I remember this show from 1990. I saw the pilot episode that aired. It featured Carl Anthony Payne as one of the Hull High Devil Rappers (just after years of playing Theo's best friend Cockroach on The Cosby Show and before his role as the dimwitted Cole on Martin) and future Baywatch babe Nancy Valen as Donna Breedlove, who had one of the more memorable musical numbers on the first episode (if I didn't hit puberty yet, I did when I saw that). It aired around the same time Cop Rock hit the airwaves; but Cop Rock, for some reason, did better than Hull High. It also featured Gary Grubbs, who is best known for his role on Will & Grace as Harlan, Will's southern client and Jennifer Blanc who would go on to play Bailey's girlfriend during the first season of Party of Five. I hope this show gets released on DVD in the mere future.

I know this show ran in 1990, but it had an 80s-esque feel to me -- I always felt that 1990 was the tail end of the 80s anyhow, and what a way to cap off the decade of day-glo-miniskirts, new-wave music, NutraSweet, fruit snacks, flavored lip gloss, Pac-Man, and David Bowie.

This inventive show WAS the original high school musical and I enjoyed it immensely even though I was in college and technically an adult (22) at the time, for this was an entertainment that can transcend the prom-and-Clearasil-and SATs age bracket, with its brilliant writing and charming musical numbers and dance routines relevant to the storyline's subject matter.

And in the pilot episode, the locker-room shower scene where the guys were singing "You Really Got Me Going" -- man, that sure got ME going.

I think that Hull High could have been a hit if the Suits just gave it a chance

"Hull High" was an obscure summer replacement show in the '90s. In my area San Diego it ran on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 PM. I only saw about 5 episodes and then it was gone. Hull High was so well written. I felt like I was back in high school. The characters were so human and their pranks were so memorable. It has been nearly 20 years and it's the only TV show I would buy on DVD and Hull High, never really ran in a time slot for the general population to see it and appreciate the fantastic writing. The Drivers Ed teacher reminded me of the person who played the principal in 'The Breakfast Club'. My kids were always outside playing and I'd love for them to see what I was raving about. Anyway enough whining. If anyone ever finds out it's on DVD. I'd like to know. C

Whoa! Not a single user comment on this excellent series yet? Better rectify that! I've only seen a handful of episodes of Hull High, but what I saw stayed very firmly in my memory. This is generally an unusually well-written and acted high school show, which successfully breaks all the conventions. It is never stale - sometimes serious, sometimes comical, sometimes it has dialogue and sometimes musical numbers, and it delves into all aspects of teen life, incl. politics, day-dreaming, student and teacher intrigues, and much more. All in all a very attractive package. And speaking of attractive, you don't know the meaning of the word until you have experienced Nancy Valen as Donna Breedlove. She is one of the beautifullest actresses ever. Why she never had a bigger career I'll never know. Catch this show if you get the chance. It's far better than most other high school shows around.

My rating: 8 out of 10.

If anyone out there knows where I can get a copy of the TV show- Hull High, please let me know. The show came in 1990 and was fantastic, but I cannot find copies anywhere. It only lasted one season, which was a bummer! I loved Nancy Valen and her song, "Soft and round as a peach"!!! I also liked Will Lyman, who played a great teacher. It is to bad that the show lasted only one season, or actually, only 4 episodes I think. If anybody can help me finding a copy of the show, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks a lot!

Brad