The Paper Chase (1978)
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Robert C. Thompson — Director
Episodes 3
The Seating Chart
The ""Paper Chase"" meets ""I love Lucy:"" as the weekend approaches, Hart gets a special, paying assignment to index Kingsfield's new book of essays, due Monday – an impossibly difficult deadline. On top of that, Ernie, his employer, asks him to manage the tavern for the weekend while he's away. Meanwhile, Willis Bell, the portly, disorganized member of the study group who's always perceverating about his 200+ page property outline becomes obsessed with his goofy picture on Kingsfield's seating chart. He believes that it's why he always gets called on first in each class and sets about to get his picture changed. When Kingsfield's secretary declines to change it without his approval, Bell arrives on the hair-brained scheme to break into Kingsfield's office and change it. While everything possible is going wrong at Ernie's and the index is still looming large, Hart inexplicably agrees to accompany Bell in this ill-fated mission becoming the Ethyl to Bell's Lucy. Of course, even thoug
Read MoreThe Man in the Chair
A new student, Paul Chandler, joins the class mid semester. He is wheelchair bound yet athletic and handsome. The study group welcomes him in and in their interactions we gradually see that contrary to the good initial impression Chandler makes, he is manipulative, takes advantage of his situation, and is highly competitive. We also learn that through his mother he is friends (on a first name basis) with Kingsfield.
Chandler's competitive nature reveals its dark side when he sets his sights on Hart. He tries to seduce Logan, thinking that she is Hart's girlfriend, he applies to a need-based scholarship that Hart is trying hard to win, and both he and his mother try to use their relationship with Kingsfield to win the scholarship. Finally, in Kingsfield's office, he experiences a life changing moment where he sees himself as what he is and turns over a new leaf.
Read MoreA Case of Detente
Although this was not the last episode shown, as the production numbers tell, it was the last one produced. I remember that the last episode was about Hart falling in love with a Russian gymnast. John Houseman did not appear as Kingsfield in this episode. I heard that, because the network had caused the scripts to be ""dumbed"" down to this level, that Houseman refused to be in it. A visiting professor played by Pernell Roberts had to help Hart with his love life. I also understand that Houseman refused to do the Showtime seasons unless it was understood that this episode would never be reshown.
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