The network has a definite winner at 10 p.m. Tuesdays. "GTO," which stands for Great Teacher Onizuka, should secure Takashi Sorimachi's reputation as one of the small screen's top leading men. He obviously seems to be enjoying his role in this funny manga tale of a teacher who gets results despite his methods. It is a rare chance to play an original character. Onizuka is the most unconventional teacher the "school drama" genre has ever seen. He is the '90s answer to Tetsuya Takeda. He's the "kireru Kinpachi Sensei." While Takeda's Kinpachi Sensei oozed dedication and empathy, Sorimachi's Onizuka is always ready to "snap" (kireru) into action if the need arises. It took Onizuka seven years to graduate from a third-rate university, the principal complains, but his tactics, like having his former motorcycle gang rough up two belligerent students, do get results and his best pal is the cop at the police box.

There are lots of ironic observations on the current state of Japanese education here as well as a few funny insider jokes for avid TV fans. Nanako Matsushima, who plays his love interest in "GTO," has a poster of her idol, Yutaka Takenouchi, hanging in her room. Takenouchi, of course, is Sorimachi's "Beach Boys" costar and main rival for the title of national heartthrob. I chuckled too when Onizuka's motorcycle gang introduced him with a parody of the Mito Komon line: "Don't you know who this is?" 

WINNER OF BEST DRAMA of 1998!!!

STARRING: Sorimachi Takashi, Matsushima Nanako, Kirari, Kubozuka Yosuke, Ikeuchi Hiroyuki, Nakamura Aimi, Tokuyama Hidenori, Yamazaki Yuta, Oguri Shun, Kuroda Miki, Fujiki Naohito, Nakao Akira, Mabuchi Erika, Shirakawa Minami, Shirakawa Yumi, Katase Nana, Asami Reina, Hosokawa Shigeki, Kimura Tae, Enjouji Aya, Kondo Yoshimasa and more.
NETWORK: FUJI TV
THEME SONG: "Poison" by Sorimachi Takashi
DURATION: July through August 1998, 1 special and also a movie
REVIEWS:

[From Hiroshi] This is one of the best dramas I have ever seen! It's so different from "3-nen B Gumi Kinpachi Sensei" and Sorimachi does a great job playing a different type of teacher. Also, the drama that hooked Sorimachi and Matsushima together (they got married not too long ago!)