‘Boston Public’ Granted Tenure on Fox

With competition for prime time air becoming cutthroat within the major networks, David E. Kelley has proven yet again that his creativity and character development genius is currently unparalleled in the industry. Those tuning in early for Kelley’s smash hit, Ally McBeal, have been treated to a fresh and in-depth look into the lives of America’s educators and the students they are charged to teach. During its inaugural run, Boston Public has touched on such difficult topics as teenage violence, student-teacher sexual relationships, and racism, and has addressed each issue at its core, while remaining relevant to the entirety of its broad and growing audience. The show’s early success has clearly won the approval and support of top Fox executives. In a written statement released Monday, Fox Entertainment President Gail Berman lauded the show, saying, "Boston Public' is a solid hit delivering both ratings and critical acclaim. The stories are wonderfully compelling and the cast is superb.''

Some critics are crediting the show’s broad appeal to the fact that it addresses an aspect of teenage life in America that is usually not addressed: The Teachers. No one has more direct contact with America’s teens than their teachers and the faculty members of their schools. The pressures and trials that are so often addressed in shows geared for teens are addressed by Boston Public as well, but Boston Public also looks at the impact these pressures have on the teaching adults as well, which sets it clearly apart from other school-based dramas. The financial struggles of educators have been well documented and seem to be a constant debate at many legislative levels. Kelley and his writers have opened America’s eyes to the social and emotional realities of being poorly compensated for a job that outranks almost every other in importance and societal impact.