7.2/1033 votes#1 - Chapter Forty-Five
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 10/21/2002
A new year arrives at Winslow High and new tensions immediately arise. Brooke is caught in the middle when a group of students plan a walkout because the administration has been unable to handle crucial issues such as toxic mold in the bathrooms and overcrowded classrooms. Harper and Guber try to talk to the students, but the students see it as another weak attempt to appease them. And when the students stage the walkout, a riot quickly ensues. Meanwhile, Marla finds a newborn baby in the toilet and discovers that her student Amy had just given birth and left the baby in the bathroom. Amy insists that she wanted her baby and was coming back to get her. Marla rationalizes that Amy was in shock and was coming back immediately. To protect Amy, Marla tells the police that her baby was on the floor. This prompts Danny, who is highly suspicious, to tell Harper and Guber, who are then forced to notify the authorities that evening. Senate runs into his student, Trina, while taking a drive in R
Director: Jonathan Pontell
Writer: John J. Sakmar, Kerry Lenhart
- 7.3/1035 votes
#2 - Chapter Forty-Six
Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 10/28/2002
Temporary synopsis from TV Guide: Harsh echoes resound from the student riot; the Danny-Marla confrontations lead to racist allegations against her; a drug deal entraps one of Guber's prized pupils.
Director: Arlene Sanford
Writer: David E. Kelley, John J. Sakmar, Kerry Lenhart, Douglas Steinberg
- 6.9/1033 votes
#3 - Chapter Forty-Seven
Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 11/4/2002
Temporary synopsis from TV Guide: Misconduct charges target Guber, who's up against a new superintendent; race issues fester between Marla and Danny; reckless student driving sparks reproach.
Director: Mike Listo
Writer: David E. Kelley, John J. Sakmar
- 7.8/1033 votes
#4 - Chapter Forty-Eight
Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 11/11/2002
A sex scandal among teens rocks Winslow and prompts a mock trial of the accused instigator, a clean-cut senior who's defended, prosecuted and judged by his peers.
Director: Peter MacNicol
Writer: David E. Kelley, John J. Sakmar
- 7.4/1028 votes
#5 - Chapter Forty-Nine
Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 11/18/2002
Senate's erratic behavior rattles Ronnie and prompts a telling showdown with Harper; pupil misconduct provokes a new teacher, whose youth belies grit.
Director: N/A
Writer: David E. Kelley, John J. Sakmar, Kerry Lenhart
- 7.5/1033 votes
#6 - Chapter Fifty
Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 11/25/2002
Violence and compassion commingle in this insightful episode. In the main plot, a rebellious, Irish-American teen squares off against an offended, African-American classmate in a racially incited brawl that distresses their caring teacher and leads to a more contentious fray with principal Harper. In other storylines, Winslow teachers undergo peer evaluations where Ronnie reluctantly grades Zach, with whom she has a somewhat romantic involvement; and Marla seeks to arrange medical help for a hearing-impaired student, whose parents aren't receptive.
Director: Jeannot Szwarc
Writer: Jason Katims
- 7.7/1033 votes
#7 - Chapter Fifty-One
Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 12/2/2002
A jailed Harper faces a manslaughter charge in the death of a student's father; a rebellious teen receives unsolicited help from Hanson, who uncovers the youth's dark secret.
Director: Mike Listo
Writer: Douglas Steinberg
- 7.7/1037 votes
#8 - Chapter Fifty-Two
Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 12/16/2002
This holiday episode is enriched by dramatic confrontations, romantic complications and poignant reconciliations. For openers, the tense situation in a previous installment involving a parish priest and an altar boy yields a startling revelation from Hanson. In other storylines, Guber and Marylin are partnered in an off-campus dance class; Ronnie and Zach are increasingly frustrated in their zealous search for a secret trysting place; and Lipschultz is predictably discomforted---especially by an invitation to attend his black son's family gathering on Christmas Day.
Director: Elodie Keene
Writer: Jason Katims
- 7.7/1033 votes
#9 - Chapter Fifty-Three
Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 1/6/2003
A teen's pregnancy sensitizes Guber; a gang slaying deeply affects Kimberly and her prize student; romantic liaisons have differing impacts on Ronnie and Hanson.
Director: Joe Napolitano
Writer: Kerry Lenhart
- 7.0/1033 votes
#10 - Chapter Fifty-Four
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 1/13/2003
Anne Archer plays willful and sultry Patricia Emerson, whose daughter Becky is a student in an English class taught by Colin Flynn. At a home-tutoring session for Becky, Mrs. Emerson comes on to Flynn. It's an attempted seduction that really heats up when Emerson---who says she's related to the poet-essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson---begins interpreting Emily Dickinson's ""The Sea"" for him as a poem rich in sexual metaphors. Elsewhere, Winslow's basketball coach denies charges that he illegally recruited a star player---who's enamored of Harper's daughter.
Director: Michael Zinberg
Writer: Jason Katims, John J. Sakmar
- 7.2/1031 votes
#11 - Chapter Fifty-Five
Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 1/20/2003
Moral and ethical dilemmas surround Flynn's adulterous affair; the college recruitment of Winslow's basketball star; and the plight of a pregnant teen.
Director: Steven Robman
Writer: Jason Katims, Douglas Steinberg
- 7.0/1029 votes
#12 - Chapter Fifty-Six
Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 2/3/2003
Guber's speech team star has an issue, Russell decides on a college, while mixed signals rattle Colin as his affair comes to a close.
Director: Mike Listo
Writer: Jason Katims
- 6.8/1032 votes
#13 - Chapter Fifty-Seven
Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 2/10/2003
Valentine's Day marks the arrival of Guber's watchful mother; awakens a troubled coed's feelings for Kimberly; and trifles with romances among Winslow faculty members.
Director: N/A
Writer: Constance M. Burge
- 7.4/1037 votes
#14 - Chapter Fifty-Eight
Season 3 Episode 14 - Aired 2/24/2003
American Idol songbird Tamyra Gray, who lost the competition but won the hearts of TV audiences, makes her TV dramatic debut. Gray plays a shy Winslow student named Aisha, whose solo in an empty study hall overwhelms Marylin. So she persuades Aisha to audition for the upcoming school musical. The tryout's a disaster, but, thanks to Marylin's confidence-building, Aisha gets another shot. In other storylines, the battering of a gay teen prompts Guber to take a stand for tolerance; and a quickening crush on a fellow student ruffles a schoolgirl genius---who's 12.
Director: Jonathan Pontell
Writer: N/A
- 7.8/1036 votes
#15 - Chapter Fifty-Nine
Season 3 Episode 15 - Aired 3/10/2003
Anxiety besets Winslow staffers, scrutinized by the mayor's spy; a teacher's sex scandal is grist for the mill of student TV-journalists; boyfriend-related tensions affect school-musical star Aisha.
Director: Bethany Rooney
Writer: Jason Katims, John J. Sakmar, Kerry Lenhart
- 7.5/1031 votes
#16 - Chapter Sixty
Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 3/17/2003
Emotional Marla imperils a promotion; rattled Hanson tends to a 4-year-old niece; conflicted Aisha (Tamyra Gray), recast in the school musical, confronts her jealous boyfriend.
Director: Mel Damski
Writer: Jason Katims
- 7.4/1037 votes
#17 - Chapter Sixty-One
Season 3 Episode 17 - Aired 3/24/2003
Tensions surface over Ronnie's new post; Aisha's participation in the school musical and her relationship with J.T.; Harvey's required recertification; and Danny's care for his niece.
Director: Sheldon Larry
Writer: N/A
- 7.0/1032 votes
#18 - Chapter Sixty-Two
Season 3 Episode 18 - Aired 3/31/2003
Courtroom drama energizes Ronnie, who's defending two teens in a murder arraignment; high test scores by poor students prompt Guber's undercover investigation.
Director: Jonathan Pontell
Writer: Jason Katims
- 7.1/1029 votes
#19 - Chapter Sixty-Three
Season 3 Episode 19 - Aired 4/7/2003
Sudden fame heartens Ronnie, credited for high exam scores posted at Winslow, yet she's also facing a romantic crisis with Zach; a student-council election tests a shy, awkward teen.
Director: Duane Clark
Writer: Jason Katims
- 7.4/1031 votes
#20 - Chapter Sixty-Four
Season 3 Episode 20 - Aired 4/28/2003
Aisha (Gray) is shocked when her father, a one-time famous musician but now an alcoholic, makes a surprise visit to Winslow High. He is seriously ill and leaves Aisha a tattered song manuscript. She puts words to the melody, which becomes her rendition of ""Dance With My Father"" (Luther Vandross' biographical song to be released in June). Meanwhile, motherhood troubles Marcie, who's taking a parental-training course, and fears for his niece's welfare preoccupy Danny, whose sister is still using drugs.
Director: Michael Schultz
Writer: Jason Katims
- 8.1/1034 votes
#21 - Chapter Sixty-Five
Season 3 Episode 21 - Aired 5/5/2003
Hanson, looking for a way to increase his chances in adopting his niece, makes a sudden proposal to Claire (Missy Yager). Meanwhile, Guber challenges a student (rap star GQ guest stars) who wants to use rap music to show why Shakespeare ""sucks""; and Marilyn doesn't trust a record producer (hip-hop star/actor Method Man guest stars) who's pushing to sign Aisha to a recording deal. Also of note for this episode, the band Lifehouse (""Hanging by a Moment"") will perform at Doyle's Bar.
Director: Mike Listo
Writer: Jason Katims
- 8.1/1039 votes
#22 - Chapter Sixty-Six
Season 3 Episode 22 - Aired 5/12/2003
When a student writes a letter to Whitney Houston asking her to attend the prom with him, faculty and students are amazed that she accepts. Houston's attendance at the prom causes Aisha, who is set to perfrom, to get stage fright. Meanwhile, Harper presents a radical way to prevent the firing of teachers for budget reasons; and Danny asks Claire's father's permission to marry her.
Director: Jonathan Pontell
Writer: Jason Katims
The Best Episodes of Boston Public Season 3
Every episode of Boston Public Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Boston Public Season 3!
Principal Steven Harper runs Winslow High School as best as he can while dealing with the demands of the faculty, the students and their parents.
Genre:Drama
Network:FOX
Season 3 Ratings Summary
"Chapter Forty-Five" is the best rated episode of "Boston Public" season 3. It scored 7.2/10 based on 33 votes. Directed by Jonathan Pontell and written by John J. Sakmar, Kerry Lenhart, it aired on 10/21/2002. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Chapter Forty-Six".