White Shadow-Season 2 (1979)

"Ken Howard is so good in The White Shadow, it's hard to understand why he never went on to major stardom.  Brendan Babish, DVD Verdict

Editor's Note Created by producer Bruce Paltro (ST. ELSEWHERE) in the late 1970s, THE WHITE SHADOW refers to newly sidelined Chicago Bulls player Ken Reeves (Ken Howard), whose injuries have forced him into retirement. He takes a job at a rough, mixed-race inner city school as a basketball coach, and acquires an eclectic group of charges that he guides through many trials and tribulations. The heartwarming but street-smart saga addressed problems of racism, drugs, gangs, class, homosexuality, and learning disabilities, while Reeves also had to deal with the vice principal (Sybil Buchanan) who didn't much like his methods. This collection includes the entire second season of the show.

	Jason Bernard
	Joan Pringle
	Ken Howard
	Timothy Van Patten
	Allen M. Davey - Cinematographer
	Bruce Paltrow - Director
	Bruce Paltrow - Executive Producer
	Chuck Arnold - Cinematographer
	David Assael - Writer
	Frank Denson - Original Music By
	John Heath - Editor
	John Masius - Producer
	Joshua Brand - Writer
	Pete Carpenter - Original Music By
	Thomas Carter - Director
	Tony de Zarraga - Editor

DVD Talk 8 of 10
Although many of the episodes are entirely formulaic and frequently rather predictable, there's a rough-hewn toughness to the program that indicates a bold and sincere effort beneath the surface. Executive producer Bruce Paltrow (yes, the late father of Ms. Gwyneth) was clearly interested in tackling some hot-button issues, and The White Shadow did not shy away from stories full of anger, intolerance, and racism. The messages were always kept on a "TV-safe" level, but many of them were also pretty daring. - Scott Weinberg