Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

About Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper is an American television sitcom that first aired on ABC from September 22, 1992, to August 30, 1997. The series was created by Jeff Franklin and revolves around Mark Cooper, an NBA player turned high school teacher/gym coach. The sitcom's primary focus is Mark's interactions with his family, friends, and students.

Making / Production

The production for the series was helmed by Jeff Franklin Productions, co-produced along with Miller Boyett Productions, and Lorimar Television. Distributed by Warner Bros. Television, the series ran for a total of five seasons and 101 episodes.

Actors

• Mark Curry played the main character Mark Cooper, a charismatic and funny man who made a career change from a professional basketball player to a high school teacher and gym coach.
• Holly Robinson Peete portrayed Vanessa Russell, Cooper's high school sweetheart and eventual wife. Her character was complex and multi-faceted, bringing humor and heart to the series.
• Raven-Symoné joined the cast as Nicole Lee, a charming and wise-beyond-her-years character who was taken in by Mark and Vanessa.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The main character's name, Mark Cooper, is a nod to both the profession of basketball player (Mark) and teacher (Mr. Cooper).
• Despite being set in Oakland, California, the show was actually filmed in Warner Bros. Studio, Burbank, Los Angeles.
• Raven-Symoné joined the show in the third season, marking one of her first major roles after The Cosby Show.

Quotes

• "One thing you've got to learn in life, Christie, is that you always play the hand you're dealt." - Mark Cooper
• "I'm not just a pretty face, Cooper. I've got a mind too... and I know how to use it." - Vanessa Russell
• "You're the best teacher I've ever met, Mr. Cooper. Thanks for being there." - Tyler Foster

Music / Soundtrack

• The main theme music of the show and much of the incidental music was written and composed by Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy.
• The show's intro changed for every season. The first two seasons' intro was performed by En Vogue, while the third and fourth seasons' intro was performed by cast member Holly Robinson Peete featuring Dawnn Lewis.

Awards

Holly Robinson Peete was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series" for her work on Hangin' with Mr. Cooper.