Saturday, January 6, 2024

Personal Foul 12

screen captures from the Jack and Mike
episode "Personal Foul," 1986

Shelley's third foray into series TV was Jack and Mike. It was about a married yuppie couple living in Chicago, trying to find time for each other in their busy schedules. Shelley played Jackie Shea, a star columnist at The Mirror, a widely-circulated Chicago paper. Her column was awaited by everyone every week. Her husband was Mike Brennan (played by Tom Mason), a successful restaurateur. Other cast members were: Nora Adler (Jacqueline Brookes), Jackie’s editor;  Anthony Kubecek (Kevin Dunn), Jackie's assistant; Carol (Holly Fulger), the head waitress at Mike's restaurant, Brennan's Grill; and Rick Scotti (Vincent Baggetta), an attorney who appears occasionally. In the episode "Personal Foul," a college professor is suspended for trying to flunk the school's star basketball player, and Mike is upset that Jackie's covering the story, since it's his alma mater and he's the team's No. 1 supporter. The episode was originally aired in September 30, 1986.

screen captures from the Jack and Mike
episode "Personal Foul," 1986

To continue, the next day, when Jackie arrives at The Mirror, she is surprised to see Lincoln U star player Andrew Taylor waiting for her at the entrance. Andrew confronts her about the article she wrote the day before regarding the college sports scene at Lincoln. He is visibly upset that he has been mentioned in the article. He tells her that she is ruining his chances at getting a shot at becoming a professional basketball player. Jackie tells him that she is open to getting his side of the story; and tells him that not everyone is lucky enough to get to play at the pros. Andrew tells her that the higher-ups take care of people like him and will not allow her to do this. He tells her that she should get out of the way or else. Jackie is unfazed but nonetheless concerned about Andrew's future. She just walks away.

screen captures from the Jack and Mike
episode "Personal Foul," 1986