Mr. Novak

Mr. Novak

Mr. Novak is an American dramatic series starring James Franciscus in the title role, which aired on NBC for two seasons, from 1963 to 1965.

Drama

Seasons

1. First year,First Day

Air Date: 1963-09-24

A brilliant student with a good business - an auto body shop - wants to quit school. He challenges Novak to give him a good reason for continuing his education.

2. To Lodge and Dislodge

Air Date: 1963-10-01

Julie Dean, a blind student at Jefferson High, develops a crush on Mr. Novak.

3. I Don`t Even Live Here

Air Date: 1963-10-08

When Mr. Otis was conducting the English class, all the students were raking in As - but Novak can't seem to get the same caliber of work out of them.

4. X is the Unknown Factor

Air Date: 1963-10-15

Mike Daniels is being considered for an important science scholarship, but he's having problems in Novak's literature class. Dr. Frank Baxter, TV educator, appears as Dr. Gagan.

5. A Single Isolated Incident

Air Date: 1963-10-22

A black student, Marcy Desmond, is violently accosted by a gang of youths who let her know that she's not welcome at Jefferson High.

6. The Risk

Air Date: 1963-10-29

Novak helps a former teacher and mentor obtain a position at the school. The instructor is a recovering alcoholic, while his much-younger wife is still afflicted with the disease.

7. Hello Miss Phipps

Air Date: 1963-11-05

Maude Phipps, a teacher for some 40 years, is sharply outspoken and is the object of various complaints -- including those of irate parents who don't like the idea of her teaching social hygiene to their children.

8. To Break a Camel's Back

Air Date: 1963-11-12

Novak clashes with Holly Metcalfe, a rebellious senior who doesn't like to follow rules.

9. A Feeling for Friday

Air Date: 1963-11-19

It's a hectic Friday and Novak is very pleased to get an invitation to spend the weekend at his former sweetheart's family estate.

10. Pay the Two Dollars

Air Date: 1963-11-26

A father holds Novak responsible for roughing up his son. It all happened when Novak broke up some student horseplay.

11. Love in the Wrong Season

Air Date: 1963-12-03

Novak, who's dating a teacher, has some competition from one of her students.

12. The Boy Without A Country

Air Date: 1963-12-10

Novak and Vane prepare a hero's welcome for a new student, a Russian defector, who's quick to show that he's not easy to get along with.

13. A Thousand Voices

Air Date: 1963-12-17

Novak defends the members of an off-campus car club, who have run into trouble.

14. My Name is not Legion

Air Date: 1963-12-24

Novak is interested in Arnold Frazer, a new student who shows signs of brilliance and trouble adjusting to school life.

15. He who can Does

Air Date: 1963-12-31

Novak invites a famous novelist to address the school's Literary Club - despite protests of Miss Pagano who feels that the writer's unorthodox views will be a bad influence.

16. Song of Songs

Air Date: 1964-01-07

An overly strict father takes the school, and Mr. Novak to task, when he finds the subject matter read aloud in class by his daughter to be highly erotic.

17. The Exile

Air Date: 1964-01-14

Charlie Payne, who dropped out three years ago, now has nothing better to do than spend his time hanging around the school grounds.

18. Sparrow on the Wire

Air Date: 1964-01-21

A member of Novak's debating club makes some anti-Semitic remarks during an intra-squad debate.

19. The Private Life of Douglas Morgan Jr.

Air Date: 1964-01-28

Campus clown Doug Morgan decides he can attract attention - and get excused from compulsory ROTC classes - by claiming to be a conscientious objector.

20. Death of a Teacher

Air Date: 1964-02-04

The death of a teacher brings forth a variety of reactions and emotions from the students and faculty at Jefferson High.

21. I`m on the Outside

Air Date: 1964-02-11

A student named Steve Acero tells Principal Vane that Mr. Novak is prejudiced against him because he is of Mexican extraction.

22. Chin Up, Mr. Novak

Air Date: 1964-02-18

Novak's having problems with a literature class - until it's taken over by Margaret Mumsley, a 75-year old exchange teacher from England.

23. Fear is a Handful of Dust

Air Date: 1964-02-25

Novak tries to help shy, introverted Sue Johnson by encouraging her to develop her talent for caricature.

24. How Does Your Garden Grow?

Air Date: 1964-03-03

An inexperienced and frightened substitute teacher has trouble with her first class at Jefferson High.

25. The Tower

Air Date: 1964-03-10

After numerous complaints that an elderly geometry instructor is no longer an effective teacher, Vane is forced to retire her.

26. One Way to Say Goodbye

Air Date: 1964-03-17

Novak finds himself attracted to Jenny Peterson, a former Jefferson High student.

27. Day in the Year

Air Date: 1964-03-24

A girl in Novak's homeroom collapses from an overdose of narcotics.

28. Moment Without Armor

Air Date: 1964-03-31

School grounds are quiet in the evening, and darkness was the accomplice of the unknown assailant who attacked assistant principal Jeanne Pagano.

29. Fare Thee Well

Air Date: 1964-04-07

Miss Cathy Williams is going to become a mother, but she wants to graduate with her senior class and she doesn't want to tell her parents about her condition.

30. Senior Prom

Air Date: 1964-04-14

The senior prom at Jefferson High is going to be a flop this year - unless student chairman Gail Andrews starts taking interest in the preparations.

1. Moonlightning

Air Date: 1964-09-22

After Mr. Vane arranges for Mr. Novak to suddenly fly to Pennsylvania to visit his ailing father, the good, but completely broke son returns with a pile of hospital bills to be paid off, somehow.

2. With a Hammer in his Hand,Lord,Lord!

Air Date: 1964-09-29

Industrial arts teacher Carl Green conducts classes like a shop foreman, which provokes student Lee Darragh into taking violent action.

3. Visions of Sugar Plums

Air Date: 1964-10-06

Musical vagabond Charlie O'Rourke decides to settle down after fifteen years of roaming and begins teaching. But his unorthodox ways bring consternation to the administrators of Jefferson High. Novak steps in to broker a compromise.

4. Little Girl Lost

Air Date: 1964-10-20

Troubled co-ed Edie transfers to Jefferson and her rebellious attitude soon turns off her teachers. But Novak detects a spark of interest from her in drama and manages to change Edie's attitude.

5. One Monday Afternoon

Air Date: 1964-10-27

Young Donan has a promising future as the quarterback of Jefferson's football team. When the teen dies after an intense scrimmage his parents blames the rigorous workouts of the coach Lou Meyer.

6. Let`s Dig a Little Grammar

Air Date: 1964-11-10

JoJo and Ray are students who seemed to have vastly different futures. Novak decides to get involved and help both teenagers realize their potential.

7. The People Doll

Air Date: 1964-11-17

One of Novak's promising students plans on dropping out and get married. The teacher does his best to change a few minds

8. Boy Under Glass

Air Date: 1964-11-24

Wayne Brice is a promising pitcher on the school team with a future as a professional. But Wayne is flunking Novak's class and he won't play unless his grade improves. Despite pressure Novak holds firm on an education's value.

9. Born of Kings and Angels

Air Date: 1964-12-01

The big debate tournament is out of town and advisor Novak is along for the trip. The team captain Verne is normally overconfident of his abilities but becomes withdrawn. Novak must learn why before the event.

'A' Is for Anxiety

10. 'A' Is for Anxiety

Air Date: 1964-12-08

Karen Parker is a brilliant student with a promising future. When Karen is up for a scholarship the pressure her parents put on their daughter becomes too much forcing Novak to intervene.

11. Johnny Ride the Pony

Air Date: 1964-12-15

Novak steps in as advisor to an off campus boys club. But Novak is unprepared for the teen's rowdy behavior leading to a showdown with the young men.

12. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Air Date: 1964-12-22

It's discovered that a young girl who has just transferred to Jefferson High was tried and acquitted of killing her parents. The other students ostracize her and she becomes the subject of a whispering campaign, even among some of the teachers.

13. Love Among the Growns Ups

Air Date: 1964-12-29

Anonymous letters are sent to the school administrators accusing Novak of having an affair with Ellen Westfall, a married teacher. Novak must find the perpetrator of the unsigned notes and have them repudiated.

14. From the Brow of Zeus

Air Date: 1965-01-05

Pre-teen Michael Brown is academically ready for high school but lacks the social skills of his fellow students. His classmates haze him including running his pants up the flag pole. Novak tries to help Michael's adjustment.

15. An Elephant is Like a Tree

Air Date: 1965-01-12

Chris Herrod, a student blind for a year as the result of an accident, tries to return to his studies but finds the strain too great.

16. Enter a Strange Animal

Air Date: 1965-01-19

17. Beat the Plowshares,Edge the Sword

Air Date: 1965-01-26

When Mr. Novak uncovers a tight knit group of four male students secretly living together in an unusual arrangement, he must also take on the person enabling the minors.

18. Faculty Follies (1)

Air Date: 1965-02-02

Novak is assigned to direct the year's edition of the faculty variety show. He expects smooth going until an instructor objects, considering the show unbecoming for Jefferson Highs teachers.

19. Faculty Follies (2)

Air Date: 1965-02-09

Despite the controversy of putting on the teacher's variety show Novak perseveres. The dedicated, instructor is determined to stage the best show possible.

20. The Silent Dissuaders

Air Date: 1965-02-16

Exchange instructor Javid arrives from Iran and is excited to work with American students to prepare them for college. To her dismay some of her brightest pupils would rather drop out to get married.

21. Mountains to Climb

Air Date: 1965-02-23

Administrator Albert Vane learns that Joe Stillman is running for state superintendent. Believing him ill suited for the job Vane resigns his position at Jefferson and runs against Stillman, not knowing how ruthless his opponent can be.

22. May Day,May Day

Air Date: 1965-03-02

The teacher evaluations are due and most instructors are eager to keep their jobs by getting a good report. Bud Walker is the exception as he goes about his business already sure he'll be terminated at school's end.

23. Where is There to go but up,Billie?

Air Date: 1965-03-09

Novak develops a romantic interest in Jean Corcoran, the new substitute teacher. But to his dismay Jean seems more invested in her new hobby of skydiving.

24. The Tender Twigs

Air Date: 1965-03-16

Social Studies teacher Frank Menlow and Novak join forces to conduct a student model United Nations. What started as a learning experience becomes divisive as the instructors are accused of promoting communism.

25. Honor - and All That

Air Date: 1965-03-23

A student gets carried away with the traditional rivalry with a neighboring school. A violent riot results at a basketball game.

26. The Student Who Never Was

Air Date: 1965-03-30

As a prank student Dick Sullivan invents the perfect student. The faculty all rave about the non-existent teenager giving the kids,a good laugh on their elders.

27. There's a Penguin in my Garden

Air Date: 1965-04-06

The school clock is ticking: Sister Gervais has three months to solve a multi-million dollar under-age problem, a dilemma that can't be accomplished from her convent.

28. The Firebrand

Air Date: 1965-04-13

Paul Ryder, a member of the debate squad, decides to take a side in a school bond issue. He becomes passionate in his advocacy and galvanizes the other students to action.

29. And Then I Wrote

Air Date: 1965-04-20

When a charismatic student receives a scholarship to a space academy, his rosy future takes a turn when he realizes his father's unattainable dreams are more important than his own.

Once a Clown

30. Once a Clown

Air Date: 1965-04-27

Hank Nelby is more interested in making his fellow students laugh than getting good grades. After his mother Mrs. Nelby is notified about his failing, the prominent attorney blames the school and threatens legal action.

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Rating

6.5/10

Release Date

1963-09-24

Episodes

60 (2 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast

Production Companies

MGM Television

MGM Television