Boston Public 2.0 FAQ
Is the title of 2.1 “Chapter 23” or “Volume 2, Chapter 1?”
Chapter 23.
Last season ended with Jeremy Peters’ mom tied up in the Peters basement. Will we see more of Jeremy this season?
Yes, Jeremy puts in an appearance in 2.1. And Marylin is still making inquiries about his mom.
Does Marylin ever find out what happened to Jeremy’s mom?
Jeremy’s mom will play a big role this season. Or at least most of her will.
What’s going on with Harry Senate?
In the teaser of 2.1, Harry has an old lawyer pal, Ronnie Cooke (“Voyager” vet Jeri Ryan), field Dungeon students’ questions about what she does for a living. When Senate has to break up a back-of-the-Dungeon fight in the middle of her visit, Senate decides to let them fight – sans spectators.
So Ryan’s character doesn’t begin the season as a teacher?
No. Only at the end of 2.1 does she admit to a tenacious ex-lover named Baskin (Billy Zane) that she’s thinking of quitting lawyering.
Does she invite the ire of administrators?
Actually, principal Steven Harper ultimately turns out to be one of Ronnie’s most committed defenders. Her real enemies are some of the other teachers, who feel threatened about a non-certified civilian doing their job. (Apparently the teachers were equally unhappy about Lisa Grier teaching last semester.) As one pro-Ronnie teacher puts it, “It’s not that Ronnie Cooke is a teacher. The real fear here is that she just might be good at it.”
Is Harry anti-Ronnie?
No. Nor is Lauren or Marylin.
When does Ronnie actually join the faculty?
2.2.
Does she fit in?
She’s a classic “Boston Public” character. Within her first minute in the classroom, she’s already discussing the merits of creationism versus evolution and debating the existence of the soul. When Harper questions her about the creationism, she brings reincarnation into her classroom. She’s a girl who cares more about making students think than keeping a job she doesn’t need.
Is Ryan’s the only new character introduced in 2.1?
No. There’s a twentysomething teacher named Danny Franzini. He’s a lot like Senate. He starts the season by admitting to a classroom full of pupils that he fantasizes about female Winslow students while masturbating.
Good Christ! Is Franzini fired immediately?
Against all expectation, he survives at least until 2.2, when he shares some very funny dialogue with Lipshultz during a meeting on Ronnie in the teachers’ lounge.
What’s doing with Lauren Davis?
In 2.2, Lauren will mentor a Catholic senior – whose ambition to attend Princeton may be imperiled by her unexpected pregnancy.
And Scott Guber?
Guber has begun seeing a therapist. Apparently he’s confused about the popularity contest he won at the end of last season.
Harvey Lipshultz?
In front of his history class, he refers to one difficult student as “a big dick.”
Does this get back to Guber?
Yes. And though Guber is livid, Lipshultz is hilariously unrepentant.
Marla Henricks?
Marla takes great offence when a cadre of female students asks her to be the faculty sponsor for their new club.
Why does Marla take offence? Does the club deal with sex or drugs or race?
No. She takes offence to the club’s name. Which has nothing to do with sex or drugs or race.
Is fabulous muckraking Webmistress Sheryl Holt back?
Sheryl graduated last season. But there’s a new sex column in the school paper…
Freeze, gopher!!
