History Series / Webster

'''''Webster''''' was Creator/{{ABC}}'s answer to the long-running Creator/{{NBC}} sitcom ''Series/DiffrentStrokes'' ... especially with its showcase star and even down to the basic concept (a young African American child being adopted by a white family).

Other regulars were Henry Polic [=II=] (as Katherine's male secretary and Webster's confidant, Jerry Silver) and Eugene Roche and Cathryn Damon (as Bill and Cassie Parker, who lease the Victorian house the Papadopoulous family lives in from the second season on; George and Katherine buy the house outright in a 1986 episode, after which the Parkers move offscreen to Florida).

Other regulars were Henry Polic [=II=] (as Katherine's male secretary and Webster's confidant, Jerry Silver) and Eugene Roche and Cathryn Damon (as Bill and Cassie Parker, who lease the Victorian house the Papadopoulous family lives in; George and Katherine buy the house outright in a 1986 episode, after which the Parkers move offscreen to Florida).

* MissingMom / DisappearedDad: Webster's biological parents, Travis and Gertrude Long, died of injuries in a car accident. Webster actually does not learn of their deaths until the fifth episode, where George finally realizes he has to explain the heartbreaking news to the tyke. Prior to this, Webster believes his parents are merely [[NeverSayDie "away"]].

* PoorlyDisguisedPilot: In the episode "Almost Home", Webster visits Jack, a close friend of his father who never appeared in any other episode. Jack, played by country musician Mac Davis, is a country musician who now works at a foster home. The whole episode revolves around the people at the foster home and Webster is an extra.

The show was created and executive produced by Stu Silver and was produced throughout the run by Creator/{{Paramount}} and Georgian Bay, Ltd., Karras and Clark's production company. After the third season ended, Emmanuel Lewis Entertainment Enterprises, Inc. was established and became a third production company. This was actually part of an agreement between Karras and Clark, Paramount, and ABC, in which Emmanuel Lewis would get production credit alongside them in order for ABC to stop making the story lines be "all Webster, all the time."

The showcase star on ''Webster'' was Emmanuel Lewis, who played the title character. At 4-foot-3, the 12-year-old Lewis easily passed for 6 or 7 (the character's age at the start of the series in 1983), which was Webster's age when he was adopted by George and Katherine Papadopoulos ([[RealLifeRelative real-life couple]] Alex Karras and Susan Clark) in the series' pilot. Webster, you see, was the son of a professional football star (Travis Long), who was teammates and best friends with George ... until one tragic day when Travis and his wife, Gert, are killed in a car accident. George and Katherine take in the now-orphaned Webster and become one happy family. The series was set in [[TheWindyCity Chicago]], where retired-from-the-gridiron George worked as a sportscaster, while Katherine was a {{socialite}} from a rich family working as a psychologist.

Other regulars were Henry Polic [=II=] (as Katherine's male secretary and Webster's confidant, Jerry Silver) and Eugene Roche and Cathryn Damon (as Bill and Cassie Parker, who lease the Victorian house the Papadopoulous family lives in; George and Katherine buy the house outright in a 1985 episode).

* CrossoverFinale: With, of all things, ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. The series finale, "Web Trek", is framed as an extended DreamSequence in which Webster teaches Mr. Worf about human emotions by way of a ClipShow. While Data would seem a more obvious choice for this role, presumably, they really wanted Michael Dorn.

* ChannelHop: From ABC to first-run syndication.
* ExecutiveMeddling: The show was originally going to be called ''Another Ballgame'' and center around the romantic relationship between George and Katherine. But when ABC execs decided they wanted [[FollowTheLeader their own version]] of ''Diff'rent Strokes'', the show was reworked into a vehicle for Emmanual Lewis.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Jerry. He was snobbish and snarky, but he absolutely adored Webster and Webster affectionately called him Uncle Jerry.

* ChannelHop

* {{Balloonacy}}: The show's opening credits included a sequence of still photos showing Webster being lifted by a bunch of balloons and then caught by the Papadopouloses.

The showcase star on ''Webster'' was Emmanuel Lewis, who played the title character. At 4-foot-3, the 12-year-old Lewis easily passed for 6 or 7 (the character's age at the start of the series in 1983), which was Webster's age when he was adopted by George and Katherine Papadopoulos ([[RealLifeRelative real-life couple]] Alex Karras and Susan Clark) in the series' pilot. Webster, you see, was the son of a professional football star (Travis Long), who was teammates and best friends with George ... until one tragic day when Travis and his wife, Gert, are killed in a car accident. George and Katherine take in the now-orphaned Webster and become one happy family. The series was set in [[TheWindyCity Chicago]], where George was a former football player turned sportscaster, while Katherine was a {{socialite}} from a rich family working as a psychologist.

'''''Webster''''' was [=ABC=]'s answer to the long-running [=NBC=] sitcom ''DiffrentStrokes'' ... especially with its showcase star and even down to the basic concept (a young African American child being adopted by a white family).