Room 222 (TV Series) Funny Money (1970) User Reviews

Pete pays out of pocket

[dtucker86 · 10/10 · 4 November 2023]

Mister Kaufman has a real thorn in his side. It is a remedial English class taught by a nice elderly teacher who unfortunately has to deal with a bunch of hooligans who make Mister Kotter's sweat hogs look like the Vienna Boys Choir. Nover one to shy away from unorthodox methods, he actually gives one a quarter to read and finds himself with an empty wallet before lunchtime. He comes up with "Walt Whtman" money where dilligent students can buy cakes and treats prepared by Liz's loving hands (although Alice buys the donuts). The conservative PTA president doesn't like this but changes his mind when he sees the positive results and Pete's lecture about the importance of a good education. In the meantime, Mister Kaufman's diet leaves him in misery and we see Rob (Meathead) Reiner in an early role as one of the students.

Dixon Dollars are Excepted!!!

[thejcowboy22 · 4/10 · 30 April 2018]

After a weeks worth of torment at the hallowed halls of Elmont Memorial high School, I'll come home on a Friday evening and turn on the television and watch a program about High School. An oxymoron of escapism in the extreme. In the first place, Why would I watch a program about the problems of students in a school setting when my mind wants to get far away from my weekly experience of high school? The American Broadcasting company decided to bring a current day drama in the form of high school to television. The Viet Nam War, Civil Rights and Ecology all important issues of that time in history. America with the divide of teenagers and parents with the new found anti-establishment movement in our country melded together with a new generation of high school students with issues pertaining to today's problems and you have the TV Drama Room 222. The writers expose a human side to our teachers/ educators along with a mixture of colorful students from all races and socioeconomic backgrounds to create a current high school atmosphere . Our leading actor in this series is Lloyd Haynes who plays an Afro-American Social Studies teacher Pete Dixon in conservative dress. White shirt and dark tie is his signature appearance through out the run of the series. Haynes is a natural at this groundbreaking role showing his objectivity tempered with discipline and always looking out for the underdog student or being challenged by radical student Jason (Heshimu) during class.. His girlfriend/ Guidance counselor, Liz McIntyre (Denise Nicholas) who always seems to take the side of the students despite the objections of their dubious, grumpy but wise principal Seymour Kaufman (Michael Constantine), usually fielding problems during lunch period. Finally our perky and gullible student teacher learning the ropes and pitfalls of the teaching profession Alice Johnson played by Karen Valentine. In this episode Mr. Kaufman appoints Pete Dixon to take over a remedial reading class filled with roughhouse teens who lack motivation to learn. At the outset Pete is failing miserably, but has a trick or two up his sleeve to get those malcontents motivated. Seeing guest star Rob "Meat Head" Reiner playing a roughneck is laughable as the antagonist in this story.