The White Shadow (1978–1981)A white former NBA professional retires from the pro game and gets a job as a basketball coach in a predominantly black inner-city high school. Creator:Bruce Paltrow |
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The White Shadow (1978–1981)A white former NBA professional retires from the pro game and gets a job as a basketball coach in a predominantly black inner-city high school. Creator:Bruce Paltrow |
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| Complete series cast summary: | |||
| Ken Howard | ... |
Ken Reeves
(54 episodes, 1978-1981)
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| Kevin Hooks | ... |
Morris Thorpe
(50 episodes, 1978-1981)
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Byron Stewart | ... |
Warren Coolidge
(50 episodes, 1978-1981)
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| Timothy Van Patten | ... |
Mario 'Salami' Pettrino
(50 episodes, 1978-1981)
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Joan Pringle | ... |
Sybil Buchanan
(47 episodes, 1978-1981)
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| Thomas Carter | ... |
James Hayward
(37 episodes, 1978-1981)
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Ken Michelman | ... |
Abner Goldstein
(36 episodes, 1978-1981)
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Ira Angustain | ... |
Ricky Gomez
(36 episodes, 1978-1981)
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Nathan Cook | ... |
Milton Reese
(35 episodes, 1978-1981)
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Erik Kilpatrick | ... |
Curtis Jackson
(34 episodes, 1978-1980)
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| John Mengatti | ... |
Nick Vitaglia
(32 episodes, 1979-1981)
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Ed Bernard | ... |
Jim Willis
(29 episodes, 1978-1980)
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Ken Reeves was a professional basketball player who had to retire because of injuries. Against his sister Katie's advice, Ken takes a job as the basketball coach at Carver High School in Los Angeles, a tough, mixed-race school. Jim Willis, Ken's friend, was the principal for the first two seasons and was replaced by Sybil Buchanan, the former vice-principal, in the third year. Written by J.E. McKillop <jack-mckillop@worldnet.att.net>
This had to be one of the most accurate portrayals of inner city life ever made. This show dealt with it all, drugs, gangs, sex and even death. The second season was to me its peak. You got to see the losers become winners, but not without paying a price. Thorpe infecting Coolige's girlfriend with syphilis (predating the AIDS crisis), a player dying of a brain hemorrhage during practice and the most heartbreaking moment, Jackson getting murdered on the eve of the team winning the city championship. But, the most amazing thing is that this would be the breeding ground for two of the finest directors around, Thomas Carter and Kevin Hooks. Bruce Paltrow not only was a genius director, but he was also a professor and his charges learned well and became great on their own.