Gourt Home::Gourt :: Herman's Head
Herman's Head was a TV series on the FOX network that aired from 1991 to 1994. As FOX was a relatively young network, they were able to experiment with the show's format, allowing for a unique device: whenever Herman, the main character, had an important decision to make, the TV audience would be shown a "Greek chorus" style dramatization of his thought process featuring four actors representing differing aspects of his psyche.
Though the show suffered from poor ratings and many viewers felt that the quirky format was exhausted after two seasons, the show will be remembered for its unique device. Additionally, the show launched the TV careers of several of its stars, including Hank Azaria, Jane Sibbett, and Yeardley Smith.
The show was also shown on Channel 4 in the UK between 1993 and 1994, and M-Net in South Africa.
The Psyche
The characters acting out Herman's emotions each represented a different aspect of his personality. As they were supposed to be one-sided, they often were lacking in other areas of their character, which led to frequent squabbles between the individual aspects. The concept of inner conflict within a person is a common psychological concept; it is explored in Sigmund Freud's concepts of Ego, Superego and Id, and Eric Berne's Transactional analysis.
- Angel represented his sensitivity As the only female character in his brain, Angel also represented his feminine side, and sometimes used this fact to manipulate the male characters.
- Animal represented his lust or hunger. He was an archetypal fratboy, and possibly derives his name from Animal House. He usually bullies Wimp.
- Wimp represented his anxiety. He was a paranoid hypochondriac.
- Genius represented his intellect and logic and because of this he clashes with the naive nature of Angel and stupidity of Animal.
Cast
- William Ragsdale - Herman Brooks
- Hank Azaria - Jay Nichols
- Jane Sibbett - Heddy Newman
- Yeardley Smith - Louise Fitzer
- Jason Bernard - Mr. Paul Bracken
- Molly Hagan - Angel
- Ken Hudson Campbell - Animal
- Rick Lawless - Wimp
- Peter Mackenzie - Genius
See also
- Both Hank Azaria and Yeardley Smith are cast members of The Simpsons, which debuted on FOX two seasons earlier.
- The Numskulls
Trivia
- Herman's Head is referenced in The Simpsons, when Lisa (voiced by Yeardley Smith) is asked what she is laughing at in one episode. Her response is that she has just remembered "Something I saw on Herman's Head". In an episode years later, when trying to revive old television shows, Comic Book Guy exclaims America "needs the wisdom of Herman's Head now more than ever." Further, Lisa is revealed to have a Herman's Head-like Chorus of her own, seen when she's processing feelings of jealousy over Marge's publishing a novel.
- The Simpsons was also referenced in Herman's Head when Louise (Yeardley Smith) is annoyed when someone on the phone thinks she "sounds like that Lisa Simpson character on TV".
- A cast of characters representing the five types of personality from transactional analysis was featured in The Dream Team, a 1989 movie with Dennis Boutsikaris as the Adult, Peter Boyle as the Nurturing Parent, Christopher Lloyd as the Critical Parent, Michael Keaton as the Rebellious Child and Stephen Furst as the Adaptive Child.
- The actors who portrayed Herman's psyche all had guest spots in Herman's "Outside" world. Ironically, the characters they portrayed in the outside world were exact opposites of their regular roles.
- A running gag in the show was the "Research Scene"...when somebody calls Louise's desk and says "Research," Mr. Bracken then comes out of his office and the two begin relaying data simultaneously.
- The show still has fans among the healthy multiple personality community, who believe Herman's four people can be seen as a good introduction to the concept.
External links
Fox network shows | 1990s TV shows in the United States | Sitcoms | Television series by Buena Vista Television
"Herman's Head"