Boston Public

Principal Steven Harper runs Winslow High School as best as he can while dealing with the demands of the faculty, the students and their parents.

Boston Public (2000-2005) is an American network drama series created by David E. Kelley for FOX. Chi McBride stars as Principal Steven Harper, who runs Winslow High School in Boston while contending with demanding faculty, restless students and anxious parents. Anthony Heald plays fellow administrator Scott Guber, and Loretta Devine, Sharon Leal and Fyvush Finkel fill out the staff room. The engine of the series is the daily grind of a public school, where each episode brings a new crisis to the principal's office, from classroom conflicts to family pressures and institutional red tape. Across four seasons it works as a case-of-the-week ensemble rather than a single serialized story, with recurring staff relationships giving the episodes continuity. Its tone is earnest and humane, mixing sharp workplace comedy with social drama about race, class and the limits of public education in an urban setting. Fans of Hill Street Blues, Degrassi: The Next Generation and Glee will find resonance in its blend of institutional life and ensemble character work.

Critics broadly praise the ensemble cast and Chi McBride's lead performance, while finding the issue-of-the-week plotting sometimes heavy-handed.

• Hill Street Bluesworkplace drama in a public institution with ensemble staff and case-of-the-week social issues
• Degrassi: The Next Generationschool setting with ensemble of teachers and students and social issues
• Gleeschool setting with ensemble of educators and students and musical-free but emotionally earnest drama

Created by

David E. Kelley

Release Date

2000-10-23

Episode runtime

44 min

Rating

7.3 / 10 (53)

What is Boston Public about?

A Boston high school principal juggles the demands of teachers, students and parents at Winslow High.

What is Boston Public like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Boston Public as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Boston Public violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Boston Public as mild.

What did critics think of Boston Public?

Critics broadly praise the ensemble cast and Chi McBride's lead performance, while finding the issue-of-the-week plotting sometimes heavy-handed.

Which shows are like Boston Public?

Shows with a similar feel include Hill Street Blues, Degrassi: The Next Generation, and Glee.

How long is Boston Public?

Boston Public: 4 seasons, 81 episodes.

Is Boston Public still running?

No, Boston Public has ended.