The White Shadow
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.
- 1978-1981
- 3 seasons
- 20th Century Fox Television
- Drama, Sports
- TV-PG
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.
Season 2 Episode Guide
24 Episodes 1979 - 1980
Episode 1
On the Line
Mon, Sep 17, 1979 60 mins
Witherspoon writes for Carver's newspaper. While covering the basketball team he finds out Jackson is involved in a betting ring. Witherspoon must decide between exposing Jackson or repressing the truth.
Episode 2
Albert Hodges
Mon, Sep 24, 1979 60 mins
After wrongfully being imprisoned, Albert Hodges wishes to finish high school, but is mistrusting of all white people. He is forced to face that his own fears are his worst problem.
Episode 3
The Cross-Town Hustle
Mon, Oct 1, 1979 60 mins
Reese is scouted by another school that has some perks Carver doesn't offer. However, Reece learns a lesson most teens have to learn the hard way there are no greener pastures.
Episode 4
Sudden Death
Mon, Oct 8, 1979 60 mins
Reeves convinces the parents of an academically gifted student to let him join the team. Although good at basketball, young Randy seems to lack endurance. Unbeknownst to everybody he has some internal problems causing his death.
Episode 5
A Silent Cheer
Mon, Oct 15, 1979 60 mins
Jeff Simpson joins the team. For a time he is able to hide a big secret, he is deaf. The players assume his lack of social participation is a stuck up attitude. Its only a matter of time before the truth shows itself.
Episode 6
No Place Like Home
Mon, Oct 29, 1979 60 mins
Due to a house fire, Coolidge is forced to spend a few weeks with Coach. Coolidge is enjoying the roommate atmosphere and finds the coach less strict than his mother he does begin to wear thin his welcome with the coach.
Episode 7
Globetrotters
Mon, Nov 5, 1979 60 mins
When the team begins to dominate, they believe they're too good for community service. Coach aligns with the Harlem Globetrotters to server "Humble Pie" to the Carver 10.
Episode 8
Me?
Mon, Nov 12, 1979 60 mins
Coach Reeves teaches sex education and the subject is VD. The startling reality hits home when two of the basketball team's leading players may be infected after encountering the same girl. Friendships and confidence is tested.
Episode 9
Needle
Mon, Nov 26, 1979 60 mins
Hayward's cousin dies from a fatal overdose of heroin. Hayward decides to take the matters into his own hands by getting revenge on the drug dealer who was responsible for his cousin's death.
Episode 10
Sliding By
Mon, Dec 3, 1979 60 mins
Mack Wade, a "can't-miss" basketball prospect, transfers to Carver to finish out high school. Wade has tons of scholarship offers from colleges, both academic and athletic. However, when Wade starts having troubles in the classroom, Coach Reeves realizes Mack has been passed through because of his basketball potential, even though he's a group two functional illiterate.
Episode 11
Delores, of Course
Tue, Dec 18, 1979 60 mins
Jackson is thrilled when his former girlfriend, Dolores, returns to town, but he is unaware that she is now working as a prostitute.
Episode 12
A Christmas Present
Tue, Dec 25, 1979 60 mins
Christmas is approaching. Sybil Buchanan is pregnant and ready to reunite with her husband. While he isn't a bad man, he isn't quite as strong on commitment as a husband and father needs to be. Some very important decisions are made.
Episode 13
Feeling No Pain
Tue, Jan 1, 1980 60 mins
When Salami hurts his knee in a pickup basketball game he is prescribed some painkillers. Word gets out to a school drug distributor that he has then he becomes pressured to sell some. When busted, he blames Salami.
Episode 14
Artist
Tue, Jan 8, 1980 60 mins
Thorpe is forced to consider that his high school basketball dominance isn't likely to reach a large college and even less so to reach the NBA. The art teacher suggests his future may be in painting.
Episode 15
Salami's Affair
Tue, Jan 15, 1980 60 mins
Salami is struggling in history and that's threatening to get him suspended from the team. His teacher, an attractive lady of about 30, tutors him but the tutorial session leads to an unexpected and inappropriate affair.
Episode 16
Links
Tue, Jan 22, 1980 60 mins
Coach Reeves is invited to golf at a country club. He sees it as a chance to show a few members of the team not only golf, but also refinement. Unbeknownst to Reeves the exclusive country club is racial. An unexpected lesson is learned.
Episode 17
The Stripper
Tue, Jan 29, 1980 60 mins
Reeves begins dating a highly respected teacher. It turns out she moonlights an an exotic dancer. Reeves and the administration are fearful that her second job will damage her integrity as a teacher.
Episode 18
Gonna Fly Now
Tue, Feb 5, 1980 60 mins
During a party a drug pusher slips PCP in Jeffers' drink. Coach Reeves and a woman who is a narcotics cop work together to figure out who is behind this ring.
Episode 19
Out at Home
Tue, Feb 19, 1980 60 mins
Coach urges players with the basketball season winding down, joining the baseball team is a good way to keep fit. A few guys agree particularly 'New York' but the baseball manager is burned out with the job and only remains for a paycheck.
Episode 20
The Russians Are Coming
Tue, Feb 26, 1980 60 mins
A high school team from the Soviet Union decides to make a stop and Carver and play the team in an exhibition game. There is some tension, but the two teams warm up to one another and establish a friendship, especially Hayward and one of the Soviets. However, when that player decides to defect and Hayward decides to help him it almost causes an international incident.
Episode 21
The Hitter
Tue, Mar 4, 1980 60 mins
Reeves finds himself in a difficult position when he suspects that Gomez is being physically abused by his father but cannot prove it.
Episode 22
The Death of Me Yet?
Tue, Mar 11, 1980 60 mins
The team celebrates making it to the city basketball finals. Unfortunately, the celebration is short lived when Jackson is shot and killed during a liquor store hold up. The team must then decide whether or not to postpone the game or to cancel altogether. Also, Reeves receives an offer from another high school in a more affluent area.
Episode 23
Coolidge Goes Hollywood
Tue, Mar 18, 1980 60 mins
Coolige gets bitten by the acting bug when he is offered the role of Stanley Kowalski in Carver's production of "A Streetcar Named Desire". However, he is also offered a role in a television series which in which the main character is a white principal at a predominantly black high school (sound familiar). Unfortunately, Warren's sudden success goes to his head and he alienates his fellow teammates, who think he is fast becoming a sellout, or worse an Oreo cookie. However, Warren soon comes back to earth when he reads a script he finds demeaning. Now he must make amends to the guys before its too late.
Episode 24
A Few Good Men
Tue, Apr 1, 1980 60 mins
As graduation approaches, Hayward begins the process of applying for various scholarships with little success. In the meantime, Goldstein gets awarded a scholarship but for some reason refuses it. Goldstein then makes a very important decision that will change his life for a few years even without going to college. Also, Ken is invited to go on a tour of Europe with several of his fellow teachers, but when he finds out that the first week of the tour coincides with the US Open golf tournament he cancels out even though it means he might mess up his relationship with his girlfriend.
