Series synopsis
The White Shadow is an American drama family television series that premiered on CBS on November 27, 1978. It ended on March 16, 1981. It was created by Bruce Paltrow. It stars Ken Howard, Kevin Hooks, Byron Stewart and Tim Van Patten.
The White Shadow is an American drama television series that ran on the CBS network from November 27 1978, to March 16 1981.
Premise
The White Shadow is an American drama television series that ran on the CBS network from November 27 1978, to March 16 1981.
Premise: Can a straight shooter cut it with this bunch of rough, razor-sharp kids from the street?
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Ken Howard as Ken Reeves
- Kevin Hooks as Morris Thorpe
- Byron Stewart as Warren Coolidge
- Tim Van Patten as Mario 'Salami' Pettrino
- Stoney Jackson as Jesse B. Mitchell
- Ed Bernard as Jim Willis
- Erik Kilpatrick as Curtis Jackson
- Nathan Cook as Milton Reese
Supporting cast
- Ira Angustain as Ricky Gomez
- Ken Michelman as Abner Goldstein
- Joan Pringle as Sybil Buchanan
- Jason Bernard as Jim Willis
- Wolfe Perry as Teddy Rutherford
- Alfre Woodard as Sandra Wilcox
- Shavar Ross as Herbert
- Willie Tyler as Willie Tyler
- Fred Holliday as Newscaster
- Bill Russell as Bill Russell
- Michael Winslow as Lee
- Lynne Moody as Luann Mackey
Guest cast
- Alfre Woodard as Sandra Wilcox
- Shavar Ross as Herbert
- Willie Tyler as Willie Tyler
- Fred Holliday as Newscaster
- Bill Russell as Bill Russell
- Michael Winslow as Lee
- Lynne Moody as Luann Mackey
- Ella Fitzgerald as Maxine Jefferies
- Bethel Leslie as Mrs. Lawrence
- Jenny Sullivan as First Flight Attendant
- Dennis Haysbert as Basketball Player
- Lupe Ontiveros as Mrs. Gomez
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 55 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 1 | ||
| Season 1 | 15 | November 27, 1978 | April 9, 1979 |
| Season 2 | 24 | September 17, 1979 | April 1, 1980 |
| Season 3 | 15 | October 16, 1980 | March 16, 1981 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interview with Ken Howard, All About the Show |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
(pilot) Ken Reeves, a forward with the Chicago Bulls, is forced to retire after suffering a serious knee injury. His old friend and high school teammate, Jim Willis, who is principal of Carver High near L.A., drops by to offer him a job as basketball coach. Reeves is reluctant, but agrees. Among the challenges he faces with the school and the team include a female vice principal who doesn't like him and a player, James Hayward, who has a lot of potential, but also is fatherless and may have to drop out of school to go to work and take care of his mom and little brother. |
November 27, 1978 |
| 2 |
Here's Mud in Your Eye Coach Reeves and the team discover liquor in Jackson's locker, and fear he may have a drinking problem. |
December 4, 1978 |
| 3 | The Offer | December 11, 1978 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
On the Line The second season begins with Jackson, wanting to make some extra money, gets unknowingly involved with sports bookies. Things get especially difficult when they start offering him big money to shave points at Carver's games. |
September 17, 1979 |
| 2 |
Albert Hodges Coach Reeves begins teaching a class on sex education, but comes under fire when he makes joking comments that Albert Hodges, a new black student who is very racially sensitive, interprets as insulting to blacks. Hodges then tries to rally the black players on the team against Reeves. |
September 24, 1979 |
| 3 |
Cross-Town Hustle A rival coach from a predominantly white high school in the area tries to convince Reese to transfer. |
October 1, 1979 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Reunion (1) The third season begins with Coach Reeves visiting the town where he grew up and reuniting with old friends, including an old high school teammate, an old girlfriend, and his father, whose health is failing. |
October 16, 1980 |
| 2 |
Reunion (2) Coach Reeves heals his strained relationship with his dying father, breaks things off once and for all with Paula, and returns to Carver for the new school year, where some new players have joined the team: Wardell Stone, Mitchell, Rutherford, Paddy Falahey, and Eddie Franklin |
October 23, 1980 |
| 3 |
Georgia on My Mind getting fed up with high school coolidge tries out for the harlem globetrotters |
October 30, 1980 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | CBS |
|---|---|
| First aired | November 27, 1978 |
| Last aired | March 16, 1981 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Monday |