MovieChat Forums > The White Shadow (1978) Discussion > How did this show do in the ratings when...

How did this show do in the ratings when it originally aired?

posted 16 years ago by girlof80s
19 replies | jump to latest

As I stated in another post, this show was before my time but I am really into it these days. I was wondering how it did in the ratings when it originally aired. Does anyone know? Like approximately how many viewers tuned in each week to watch it? Also, I know many of you would be against it, but I really wish they would do a movie version of this show. They could skip the whole team coming together to win a championship storyline since I know how cliched that is. Just focus on some of the characters from the show making it in life despite facing difficult obstacles in life. At least then you would have somewhat of a marketable film.

[–] TWS_Fan 16 years ago

I not sure the specifics, but I know it wasn't a ratings smash. It got moved around a couple times if I'm not mistaken.

The episode "Globetrotters" was the first to make it into the top 10 (#9)

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[–] marbleann 16 years ago

I think it did pretty good in the ratings if I recall.

[–] marbleann 16 years ago

I loved this show. I am not sure of the exact ratings but everybody I knew looked at it. It did pretty good. it was one of those shows that people talked about in school the next day if that is any indication, and I was in college. This came on the heels of Welcome Back Kotter which started a few years earlier. Inner city students and their antics. But The White Shadow was more serious. I still remember some of the episodes. But it had the same cast as far as ethnicity and age and sex, just different names. Those were very popular shows with the high school and college crowd.

[–] nathan_the_clipper_webb 16 years ago

Not sure of the exact ratings but it did move around the CBS Schedule, between Monday and Tuesday nights. I would like to see a reunion movie myself, though I'd really love to see a network like ESPN or the CW do a remake of the White Shadow. ESPN did a great job I thought with "Playmakers" a few years back so I would think they could do a great job with a remake of "White Shadow".

[–] jayhn1111 16 years ago

I don't know about a remake. Remakes are always horrible. The thing I enjoy most about the series was that it took place in the 70's. Before the days of cellphones, gangsta rap, baggy pants, and all this god awful slang the kids use these days.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] jayhn1111 11 years ago

Such an intelligent and articulate response. You got me there

[–] girlof80s 16 years ago

I appreciate you guys trying to provide me with information for how this show did in the ratings. I was just wondering how many millions of viewers tuned in each week. Also, I do not want anybody to do a remake of the show on T.V. It might end up reality based. That's how someone would remake The White Shadow these days. So instead of having that real feel to it, it would feel fake. No thanks. I would rather see someone do a big screen version of it to try to get a new generation of fans interested in it even though I'm well aware that there have been way too many sports movies made over the years.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] sweet1310452 14 years ago

I don't know what the ratings were exactly, but I did read somewhere that the second season was a "hit" (whatever that means). That year had 24 episodes, in comparison to the others that only had 15 each. The show was moved around a bunch of times though, that I do remember.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] prettyD2368 13 years ago

Well I know for sure the ratings in the second season were pretty good. I would say it did better than the only other dramatic show featuring blacks that lasted for over a year on regular network television Fame. That show never did well in the ratings till it went into syndication.

[–] threadman80 12 years ago

It was one of those shows that was well done, but always up against it ratings wise. At one point it competed against Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley. I can't tell you what a challenge that was, if you weren't a tv viewer back then.

The White Shadow as great, just had a time slot against two giants of the day.

[–] jaystarstar 11 years ago

It was never really a big 'hit' but its ratings were OK for a couple of seasons. One problem was that while its ratings were very good for males under 24 (teens and young adults) they were NOT good for females in the same age group. None of the players were real sex symbol heartthrobs like Travolta on 'Welcome Back Kotter,' and of course Howard himself was too old to attract teenage girls, so basically 'TWS' had real good ratings for young adult males, it was about a zero for young adult females.

================

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[–] wordsatplaytoday 8 years ago

its ratings were very good for males under 24 (teens and young adults) they were NOT good for females in the same age group.

Figures since it's more of a guy show.

It's marathon playing on the Decades channel. I was excited to see it but my girlfriend didn't care since she never got into it.

[–] mph1-3 8 years ago

Some females-like me-watched it growing up and still love it. I've been watching the marathon all day.

[–] kapnkirk 8 years ago

I was trying to look up the ratings but they only give the top 30 shows for some reason and it was never in that category from 1978 - 1981. The shows in the high 20s and 30 averaged 14-15M viewers.

No! That's not true at all, Elvis takes 50% of everything I earn!

Col. Tom Parker

[–] oneleggedman 8 years ago

I watched the whole marathon. brought back memories. loved it.

[–] baran_erik 8 years ago

It never made the top 30 any of the three seasons. They'd have needed a little more than 14 million viewers to crack the list.

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