Ken Reeves and Sybil Beaucanon: Friends? Enemies? Unsure? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jack1000 · 03-30-2006, 05:39 PM

Guys,

I really like the mixed feelings between Sybil and Ken where you are often unsure about how they felt about each other as professional people. There were things that each liked and hated about the other, where you often didn't know how the other would react when push came to shove!

I think she REALLY hated Ken in the beginning because Sybil saw Ken as "undermining her authority." (i.e the "newcomer" trying to change HER system.) But, remember that Sybil was only a vice-prinicple in the first two seasons. Jim Willis was real supportive of Ken as a friend, but never seemed to override Sybil. I think Sybil was controlling and opinionated. But as time wore on, she and Ken realized how much they cared about helping the kids who were getting into trouble, but they would often have strong diamentricly opposed views concerning how to help them. They each wamed up to each other and BOTH were able to stand their ground with some both serious, hilarious, and tragic moments.

Even Ken as a teacher with the players. He could be the toughest S.O.B when warented, but he was a master at teaching and getting respect from the kids who wasn't afraid of the beurocratic challenges that Sybil and other administrators would put in front of him and his players. These characters were so multi-dimensional and emotionally powerful that it gave even greater testiment to how great this series was. It just felt so......REAL!

Jack

Ireneparalegal · 03-30-2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack1000

Guys,

I really like the mixed feelings between Sybil and Ken where you are often unsure about how they felt about each other as professional people. There were things that each liked and hated about the other, where you often didn't know how the other would react when push came to shove!

I think she REALLY hated Ken in the beginning because Sybil saw Ken as "undermining her authority." (i.e the "newcomer" trying to change HER system.) But, remember that Sybil was only a vice-prinicple in the first two seasons. Jim Willis was real supportive of Ken as a friend, but never seemed to override Sybil. I think Sybil was controlling and opinionated. But as time wore on, she and Ken realized how much they cared about helping the kids who were getting into trouble, but they would often have strong diamentricly opposed views concerning how to help them. They each wamed up to each other and BOTH were able to stand their ground with some both serious, hilarious, and tragic moments.

Even Ken as a teacher with the players. He could be the toughest S.O.B when warented, but he was a master at teaching and getting respect from the kids who wasn't afraid of the beurocratic challenges that Sybil and other administrators would put in front of him and his players. These characters were so multi-dimensional and emotionally powerful that it gave even greater testiment to how great this series was. It just felt so......REAL!

Jack

Sybil kinda reminds me of Claire from The Cosby Show. Bitchy, controlling, her opinion was FACT, ETC. I prefer Sybil over Claire any day though. Being like that at work is one thing, being like that at home with your family is another. We only saw Sybil and Ken at work, so I think most of their dealings of course, had to deal with school and students. So, looking back on it now, I can see why she was that way. Back in the days, I hated the way she treated Ken. It irked me. Now that I am older, i can see why she did act that way. It was work related, not personal. don't get me started on that Claire witch now.

Jack1000 · 03-31-2006, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Sybil kinda reminds me of Claire from The Cosby Show. Bitchy, controlling, her opinion was FACT, ETC. I prefer Sybil over Claire any day though. Being like that at work is one thing, being like that at home with your family is another. We only saw Sybil and Ken at work, so I think most of their dealings of course, had to deal with school and students. So, looking back on it now, I can see why she was that way. Back in the days, I hated the way she treated Ken. It irked me. Now that I am older, i can see why she did act that way. It was work related, not personal. don't get me started on that Claire witch now.

LOL!!! If you wanna start a Hate Claire thread at The Cosby Show board, may I be first to join the club! hahaha

Jack

vashti1999 · 03-31-2006, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Sybil kinda reminds me of Claire from The Cosby Show. Bitchy, controlling, her opinion was FACT, ETC. I prefer Sybil over Claire any day though. Being like that at work is one thing, being like that at home with your family is another. We only saw Sybil and Ken at work, so I think most of their dealings of course, had to deal with school and students. So, looking back on it now, I can see why she was that way. Back in the days, I hated the way she treated Ken. It irked me. Now that I am older, i can see why she did act that way. It was work related, not personal.

I'm surprised at you Irene. You're not saying a strong minded, strong willed woman is a bitch, are you?

I didn't see Sybil as bitchy at all. Controlling and steadfast in her belief in what she thought was right, but for me, never bitchy. She always seemed to explain her position well, and gave good reasons even if it didn't always seem to benefit the student in an obvious way.

Ireneparalegal · 04-01-2006, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vashti1999

I'm surprised at you Irene. You're not saying a strong minded, strong willed woman is a bitch, are you?

I didn't see Sybil as bitchy at all. Controlling and steadfast in her belief in what she thought was right, but for me, never bitchy. She always seemed to explain her position well, and gave good reasons even if it didn't always seem to benefit the student in an obvious way.

Nooooo, reread my post. I thought that THEN. Now, being older, I see it differently. Just like I see Claire differently. I see Claire as a stupid you know what. Sybil, I NOW SEE why she was the way she was. Besides, she was like that at work, it wasn't personal. she had to be that way with the struggles of running a predominantly black school, albeit the minorities were the majority. So, I hope this clarifies my post. You know I love Sybil. I hate Claire.

jamesanthony · 04-02-2006, 07:11 PM

Whatever happened to Jim Willis anyway? I saw the first year 3 show and I don't recall any mention of either he or Sybil's baby (Sybil was pregnant at the end of year 2).

Sybil was an good character. Probably the first really well developed black female in a drama series up to that point.

There is one show where Ken comes to her house when she is sick with the flu to discuss a student's problem and another with Brian Stokes Mitchell as a punk that everyone wants to expel who tries to rape Sybil. Sybil lets Ken take his personal file home. That seems pretty weird. The show was well done, but those are a couple examples of dramatic license.

Jack1000 · 04-18-2006, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesanthony

Whatever happened to Jim Willis anyway? I saw the first year 3 show and I don't recall any mention of either he or Sybil's baby (Sybil was pregnant at the end of year 2).

Sybil was an good character. Probably the first really well developed black female in a drama series up to that point.

There is one show where Ken comes to her house when she is sick with the flu to discuss a student's problem and another with Brian Stokes Mitchell as a punk that everyone wants to expel who tries to rape Sybil. Sybil lets Ken take his personal file home. That seems pretty weird. The show was well done, but those are a couple examples of dramatic license.

Yes,

I have praised this series for its outstanding acting and perhaps the most realistic basketball scenes ever filmed. But as far as Sybil allowing Ken to take Lucious' (the bad kid's) file home with him, that would not be allowed. Such records would not leave school grounds because if something happened to a student's files, there could be liability issues involved. Such files would always stay on campus. Only Sybil or Jim Willis would be allowed access to those files. Or a school counsoler with either of their consents. Perhaps Sybil or Jim could have made copies of the files for Ken to see and take home. But not an original record.

Jack

03-30-2006, 05:39 PM	#1
Jack1000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2001 Posts: 2,055	Ken Reeves and Sybil Beaucanon: Friends? Enemies? Unsure? Guys, I really like the mixed feelings between Sybil and Ken where you are often unsure about how they felt about each other as professional people. There were things that each liked and hated about the other, where you often didn't know how the other would react when push came to shove! I think she REALLY hated Ken in the beginning because Sybil saw Ken as "undermining her authority." (i.e the "newcomer" trying to change HER system.) But, remember that Sybil was only a vice-prinicple in the first two seasons. Jim Willis was real supportive of Ken as a friend, but never seemed to override Sybil. I think Sybil was controlling and opinionated. But as time wore on, she and Ken realized how much they cared about helping the kids who were getting into trouble, but they would often have strong diamentricly opposed views concerning how to help them. They each wamed up to each other and BOTH were able to stand their ground with some both serious, hilarious, and tragic moments. Even Ken as a teacher with the players. He could be the toughest S.O.B when warented, but he was a master at teaching and getting respect from the kids who wasn't afraid of the beurocratic challenges that Sybil and other administrators would put in front of him and his players. These characters were so multi-dimensional and emotionally powerful that it gave even greater testiment to how great this series was. It just felt so......REAL! Jack

04-02-2006, 07:11 PM	#6
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	Whatever happened to Jim Willis anyway? I saw the first year 3 show and I don't recall any mention of either he or Sybil's baby (Sybil was pregnant at the end of year 2). Sybil was an good character. Probably the first really well developed black female in a drama series up to that point. There is one show where Ken comes to her house when she is sick with the flu to discuss a student's problem and another with Brian Stokes Mitchell as a punk that everyone wants to expel who tries to rape Sybil. Sybil lets Ken take his personal file home. That seems pretty weird. The show was well done, but those are a couple examples of dramatic license.