WHITE SHADOW, THE: A DAY IN THE LIFE {SERIES FINALE} (TV)
Summary
The finale of this series of dramas about Ken Reeves, a former professional basketball player who begins a new life as the basketball coach of Carver High, an inner-city high school in Los Angeles. A special alumni game draws closer; Coach Reeves and Thorpe lament the recent death of Jackson. Several of the alumni's lives after high school are examined. Reese is working as a taxi driver while trying to pursue a singing career. At the airport he encounters famous jazz singer Maxine Jeffries and offers her a ride. They strike up a rapport and he learns that she is in town for the funeral of her ex-husband and close friend Moose Terry, a saxophonist. Maxine has little else to do in town and Reese offers to spend the day with her, an idea she appreciates. Hayward attends college and is offered a job in a law firm in their legal library. However, he is reluctant to leave his old neighborhood and his friends. Gomez works as a mechanic and is married to a woman named Angela; she is heavily pregnant with his child and he struggles to support his family. Goldstein is home on leave from the marines and has no interest in attending the alumni game. He decides to get in touch with Jeannie Grode, a girl from his graduating class whom he had a crush on in high school but never had the courage to ask out. He learns that she works at a local café and decides to visit. Sybil talks to Coach Reeves, and he remarks on how much he appreciates his job and how he hopes he makes a difference in his student's lives. Gomez returns home from work and gets into an argument with Angela. She is suspicious of the time he spends away from her and believes he is contemplating cheating on her. Gomez denies this and goes out, frustrated with Angela's attitude. Maxine takes Reese to an old nightclub and talks about the jazz music scene when she was young. Hayward goes to a job interview with Mr. Barter, a lawyer, and they talk over lunch. He feels extremely uncomfortable in the lavish surroundings, especially since he notices there are no African-Americans working there. Goldstein meets Jeannie at work and they have a conversation. He works up the courage to ask her out to lunch when she gets off of work and she accepts. Reese looks on as Maxine attends Moose's funeral, and they take a moment to visit Jackson's grave as well. Hayward expresses doubts to Mr. Barter that he is right for the position, but Barter points out that everyone needs to start somewhere and asks Hayward to reconsider. Gomez apologizes to Angela and admits that while he is frightened of the responsibility that a family entails, he wants nothing more than to stay with her. She informs him that the baby is coming, and both of them are overjoyed. Goldstein goes on his date with Jeannie, admitting that he didn't talk to her in high school because he was too scared. He is surprised to learn that she felt insecure in high school as well. He invites her to go with him to the alumni game and she accepts. Reese and Maxine visit a restaurant and she sings "Do Nothing till You Hear from Me" while Reese accompanies her on piano. Hayward decides to take the job in the legal library after all. He thanks Barter for the opportunity. Reese returns Maxine to the airport and they say goodbye to one another. The day of the alumni game rolls around and the players reunite with each other, happy to see each other. Coach Reeves is happy to see them as well. The episode ends as the players get into something of a contest with each other on the court. Commercials deleted. (This program contains minor technical problems. This represents the best copy of this program currently available to the Museum.)
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: March 16, 1981 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:49:25
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:16794
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; African-American Collection - Drama
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1978-1981
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Bruce Paltrow … Executive Producer, Created by
- John Masius … Coordinating Producer
- Mark Tinker … Producer
- Scott Brazil … Associate Producer
- Victor Lobl … Director
- Joshua Brand … Writer
- Mike Post … Music by
- Pete Carpenter (See also: Peter Carpenter) … Music by
- Ken Howard … Cast, Ken Reeves
- Joan Pringle … Cast, Sybil Buchanan
- Kevin Hooks … Cast, Morris Thorpe
- Byron Stewart … Cast, Warren Coolidge
- Timothy Van Patten … Cast, Mario "Salami" Pettrino
- Larry Flash Jenkins … Cast, Wardell Stone
- John Mengatti … Cast, Nick Vitaglia
- Wolfe Perry … Cast, Teddy Rutherford
- Stoney Jackson … Cast, Jesse B. Mitchell
- John Laughlin … Cast, Paddy Falahey
- Art Holliday … Cast, Eddie Franklin
- Ella Fitzgerald … Cast, Maxine Jeffries
- Dennis Holahan … Cast, Mr. Baxter
- Thomas Carter … Cast, James Hayward
- Nathan Cook … Cast, Milton Reese
- Ken Michelman … Cast, Abner Goldstein
- Ira Angustain … Cast, Ricky Gomez
- Marilyn Coleman … Cast, Mrs. Hayward
- Judy Sardo … Cast, Jeannie
- Luisa Leschin … Cast, Angela Gomez
- Eda Reiss Merin … Cast, Mrs. Goldstein
- Martin Garner … Cast, Mr. Goldstein
- Jonathan Ian … Cast, Jackie Hayward
- Ira Grubman … Cast, Cabbie
- Arthur Adams … Cast, Waiter
- Gerald Castillo … Cast, Monty
- Margie Samuels … Cast, Secretary
- Reginald T. Dorsey … Cast, Ronald
- Hal Hawkins … Cast, Sticks
- Marilyn Jones … Cast, Waitress