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7 intriguing facts about 'The White Shadow'
The influential basketball drama has ties to ESPN, Gwyneth Paltrow, 'The Sopranos' and 'St. Elsewhere.'
Before Friday Night Lights, there was The White Shadow. From 1978 to 1981, the high school basketball drama dealt with serious issues in the guise of a sports soap opera. The series meant a lot of many people, and paved the way for topical shows like Degrassi. According to The New York Times, it even helped popularize the sport of basketball in Turkey. The work of Mary Tyler Moore's MTM Productions remains the third longest-running drama with a predominantly black cast.
You can catch an episode of The White Shadow, "A Christmas Present," on MeTV on December 1, as part of our A Very Merry MeTV. Here are 7 reasons to become a fan of The White Shadow.
1. Ken Howard was actually known as "The White Shadow" in high school
2. The show was created by Gwyneth Paltrow's dad
3. 'The White Shadow' crosses over with 'St. Elsewhere'
4. It was one of the earliest shows to kill off a major character
5. Characters appeared in some ESPN "This is SportsCenter" ads
6. Theme song legend Mike Post wrote the theme
7. Actors Thomas Carter, Kevin Hooks and Timothy Van Patten became accomplished directors
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2 Comments
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Rather interesting enough, Ken Howard had performed alongside Bruce Paltrow's wife, Blythe Danner, in the movie version of the Broadway musical "1776" and in the short-lived comedy "Adam's Rib".
There is NOTHING "unsung" about Mike Post. Anybody who knows anything about television theme songs knows, and admires, Mike Post.
Rockford Files
White Shadow
Hill Street Blues
The A-Team
L.A. Law
Magnum, P.I.
Quantum Leap
and the radio hit theme from Greatest American Hero ("Believe it or Not!")
Rockford Files
White Shadow
Hill Street Blues
The A-Team
L.A. Law
Magnum, P.I.
Quantum Leap
and the radio hit theme from Greatest American Hero ("Believe it or Not!")