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:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 7 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Series Cast Summary
| Ken Howard | ... |
Ken Reeves
(54 episodes, 1978-1981)
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| Kevin Hooks | ... |
Morris Thorpe
(54 episodes, 1978-1981)
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Byron Stewart | ... |
Warren Coolidge
(54 episodes, 1978-1981)
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| Timothy Van Patten | ... |
Mario 'Salami' Pettrino
(54 episodes, 1978-1981)
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| Joan Pringle | ... |
Sybil Buchanan
(53 episodes, 1978-1981)
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| Thomas Carter | ... |
James Hayward
(42 episodes, 1978-1981)
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Nathan Cook | ... |
Milton Reese
(40 episodes, 1978-1981)
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Ken Michelman | ... |
Abner Goldstein
(40 episodes, 1978-1981)
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Ira Angustain | ... |
Ricky Gomez
(40 episodes, 1978-1981)
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| Erik Kilpatrick | ... |
Curtis Jackson
(39 episodes, 1978-1980)
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| John Mengatti | ... |
Nick Vitaglia
/ ...
(34 episodes, 1979-1981)
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Ed Bernard | ... |
Jim Willis
/ ...
(33 episodes, 1978-1980)
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Russell Phillip Robinson | ... |
Manager Phil Jefferson
/ ...
(25 episodes, 1979-1980)
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| Larry Flash Jenkins | ... |
Wardell Stone
/ ...
(16 episodes, 1979-1981)
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Wolfe Perry | ... |
Teddy Rutherford
(15 episodes, 1980-1981)
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Stoney Jackson | ... |
Jesse B. Mitchell
(15 episodes, 1980-1981)
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| John Laughlin | ... |
Paddy Falahey
(15 episodes, 1980-1981)
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Art Holliday | ... |
Eddie Franklin
(15 episodes, 1980-1981)
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| Jerry Fogel | ... |
Bill Donahue
(10 episodes, 1978-1980)
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| Robin Pearson Rose | ... |
Katie Donahue
(9 episodes, 1978-1980)
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| Nicholas Mele | ... |
Tom Bellerini
/ ...
(7 episodes, 1979-1981)
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Mary Moon | ... |
Jenny
/ ...
(5 episodes, 1979)
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Jeffrey Bannister | ... |
Referee
/ ...
(5 episodes, 1979-1980)
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| Robert Costanzo | ... |
Mr. Pettrino
(4 episodes, 1979-1981)
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Wally McCleskey | ... |
Pickpocket
/ ...
(4 episodes, 1979-1980)
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| Roosevelt Grier | ... |
Rosey Grier
/ ...
(3 episodes, 1980-1981)
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| Lupe Ontiveros | ... |
Mrs. Gomez
(3 episodes, 1978-1980)
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Fran Myers | ... |
Kathy Plunkett
(3 episodes, 1980)
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| Lisle Wilson | ... |
Mr. Finniman
(3 episodes, 1979)
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| Deborah Lacey | ... |
Janine
/ ...
(3 episodes, 1979-1981)
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Dick Baker | ... |
Referee
(3 episodes, 1978-1981)
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Jonathan Ian | ... |
Jackie Hayward
(3 episodes, 1978-1981)
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Judy Sardo | ... |
Jeannie
/ ...
(3 episodes, 1979-1981)
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Jan Crawford | ... |
Student
/ ...
(3 episodes, 1980-1981)
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Teri Taylor | ... |
Charlene
/ ...
(3 episodes, 1979-1980)
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| James Whitmore | ... |
Jake Reeves
(2 episodes, 1980)
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| Robert Hooks | ... |
Dr. Luther Tucker
(2 episodes, 1980)
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Hilda Haynes | ... |
Mrs. Coolidge
(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
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S. Pearl Sharp | ... |
Ms. Jenkins
/ ...
(2 episodes, 1979-1981)
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Geese Ausbie | ... |
Geese Ausbie
(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
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Ellaraino | ... |
Louise Bradley
/ ...
(2 episodes, 1979-1981)
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| Carmen Zapata | ... |
Mrs. Alvarez
/ ...
(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
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| Peter Hobbs | ... |
Dr. McCabe
(2 episodes, 1980)
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Curley Neal | ... |
Curley Neal
/ ...
(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
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| James Cromwell | ... |
Art Commings
/ ...
(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
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| Rosanne Katon | ... |
Diana
(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
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Ron Pinkard | ... |
Clerk
/ ...
(2 episodes, 1980-1981)
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| Harry Danner | ... |
Mr. Leonard
(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
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Nate Branch | ... |
Nate Branch
(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
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Marilyn Coleman | ... |
Mrs. Hayward
(2 episodes, 1978-1981)
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See full cast and crew »
Production Companies
Distributors
- 20th Century Fox Television
- MTM Enterprises
- Teleantillas (Dominican Republic) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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 |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Can a straight shooter cut it with this bunch of rough, razor-sharp kids from the street? (season 1) See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Ken Howard was nicknamed "The White Shadow" while he played for Manhasset High School 's basketball team. He was the only white starter on his team. Howard based his performance on his high school basketball coach, Fritz Mueller. Carver's team colors, orange and blue, were based on the the colors of Howard's school, . See more » |
| Goofs | Ken Reeves' NBA career is referred to several times in the series, but the number of years and the teams he played on seem to change each time. For instance, he tells reporter Sally Adams in "The Offer" that he was in the Chicago Bulls' starting lineup for 10 seasons. In "Wanna Bet", street hustler Bobby Magum remembers Reeves playing for Chicago, Denver, and Milwaukee. Finally, in "Little Orphan Abner", he tells Abner Goldstein's grandparents he spent the last six years of his career with the Bulls. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into The White Shadow: A Series of Memories Preview (2006). See more » |
| Quotes |
Harold:
[after Ken Reeves has done a student reporter a favor]
Did you do that as a reward for me writing a positive article? Ken Reeves: No, I expect to get raked over the coals the next time we lose. See more » |