The show, set in Chicago, revolved around Webster Long, a seven-year-old African-American orphan (Emmanuel Lewis) whose biological parents were recently killed in a car accident. He is then taken in by retired football star George Papadopolis (Alex Karras), with whom his late father played professional football in the 1970s, and his wife Katherine (Susan Clark), a blue-blooded socialite with no housekeeping skills whatsoever. Webster also had an uncle, played by Ben Vereen, who had issues with Webster living with a white couple and sought to adopt him and take him to live in Chicago's South Side.

Webster Cast

Cast & Characters
  • Emmanuel Lewis as Webster Long
  • Alex Karras as George Papadapolis
  • Susan Clark as Katherine Calder-Young Papadapolis
  • Henry Polic II as Jerry Silver
  • Heather O'Rourke as Melanie (1983)
  • Eugene Roche as Bill Parker (1984–1986)
  • Cathryn Damon as Cassie Parker (1984–1986)
  • Ben Vereen as Uncle Phillip Long (1984–1985)
  • Jack Kruschen as "Papa" Papadapolis (1985–1987)
  • Chad Allen as Rob Whitaker/Joiner (1985–1986)
  • Carl Steven as Roger (1986–1987)
  • Danny McMurphy as Timmy (1986–1987)
  • Gabe Witcher as Tommy (1987)
  • Nick DeMauro as Benny (1987)
  • Corin Nemec as Nicky Papadopolis (1987–1988)

Broadcast History

 Webster First Telecast: September 16, 1983
Last Telecast: September 11, 1987
Original Network:  ABC
Number of Seasons: 6
Number of Episodes: 150
Original Primetime TV Schedule:
  • September 1983- March 1985, ABC, Friday 8:30-9:00pm
  • March 1985- March 1987, ABC, Friday 8:0-8:30pm
  • March 1987- April 1987, ABC, Friday 8:30-9:30pm
  • May 1987, ABC, Friday 8:00-8:30pm
  • June 1987- August 1987, ABC, Friday 9800-8:30pm
  • August 1987- September 1987, ABC, Friday 9:30-10:00pm

Theme Song Lyrics & Opening Credits
"Then Came You" by Steve Nelson and Madeline Sunshine.

Set in my ways
losing track of the days
Only me to live for.
Had no need to give more
Than I wanted to.
Spending my time
just holding the line
Never getting caught up.
Love was never brought up
It’s not the thing to do.
It was you,
Then came you.
You made me leap without taking a look.
It was you,
Then came you.
You reeled me right in line, sinker, and hook.
Never thought forever was the best I could do.
Then came you.
It was you
Then came you.
It was you. 		Listen to theme song:
Me and you.
Then came you.