PR Paul

I had forgotten that, I must confess. I haven't seen the rest of the seasons since I was a kid when they came out.

I could never pick a favourite between Doris, Leroy and his puppy dog eyes or Bruno.

I wondered about this myself. I think there is one reference in the first season to him being a *senior* already, which would not only make him older than the rest of the kids, but conveniently get rid of him early. But I always suspected that the gay characterization from the film had something to do with exiting the character. He's not written gay at all in the series (making at least one play for one of the hotter females in one episode), but it probably still wasn't a mainstream thing to be, even in the 80's.

Hmmm
It would be interesting to find out for sure ... I have never heard nor seen in print anything in relation to why P.R. Paul left the series ... he did however come back for the final ever episode in Season 6 (as did many of the old favourites - best EVER cast reunion for a final episode of any series ... in my opinion)
I do think most likely that the producers had something to do with his exit ... if you watch the show closely, he really doesnt have an awful lot to do ... yes his in most episodes, but mostly as someone for Doris to bounce off (well actually in reflection, he had more to do then that) BUT Montgomery was very limited, in that he didnt play an instrument, wasnt a dancer nor really a singer ... (and YES I am aware, nor was Danny, but they still showed him dancing and singing ... actually maybe thats alot to do with it ... Montgomery and Danny were quite similar)
As for the gay theme ... not sure that it was ever even intended to be an issue for the series charactor ... as nothing ever alluded to it ... althou the series was toned down, this was TV after all !! I think the only tie in with the movie was the name, Montgomery
And lastly ... casts need to shed some people to introduce some more ... I think Mongomerty leaving was a way to bring in Mr Readon in Series 2 ... now theres a 'what happen ever happened to' ... Mr Readon was a Series regular in Season 2 ... guest starred in Season 3 (the actor even wrote an Episode that Season) ... did one episode in Season 4 ... and then was never mentioned again, nor did he return for the Series finale !!

The character of Montgomery was diluted from the Montgomery in the movie and PR Paul was about as exciting as bath water so I wasn't the least bit surprised that he was fired after the first season. And the subject of Montgomery's sexuality brings up the main thing that always bothered me about this show: Considering the subject matter and setting of this show, it was completely unrealistic that not one male character on the show was gay. I am gay and I was a theater major in college, a school that operated very much like the school in this series and I could count on one hand the number of men in the theater department who were heterosexual. This is a reality of show business, the theater in particular that was just ignored, I'm assuming, in an attempt to make this show more viewer-friendly and accetable for mainstream audiences. I learned well into the run of the show that Gene Anthony Ray, who played Leroy was gay in real life, but they made Leroy straight too. This is a reality of theater and dance that was glossed over on this show. This show was set in a theatrical school in the middle of New York City and there was not a single gay character on the show? C'mon now...