Shark Bytes
This show was just about as good as it gets. Everyone in it was so well cast and the acting was of the highest level. Devane was utterly brilliant, and Light (as the mother) acted her part very well indeed. The son Louiso was touchingly funny and Goethals, who whilst might not have looked so much like a tennis player (and who the hell cares anyway) was just sweet and lovely. But, the star of the show was definitely little Ashley Johnson who was so endearing and hilarious in the way she delivered her lines. What a gem. The script was good and the whole show was brilliant. It was never shown again, yet they show old shows over and over again and put them out on tapes and DVDs as if people want the whole series to see time and again. Those of you who criticise this show. You’re all insane - do you know that
The brother (I forgot his name) was strange. Not in an annoying way strange, but in a funny way. I tuned in to see what he would do next
This was another cute show that was never really given a chance to catch on. The premise (aspiring kid-tennis star) was different, the characters were likable, the scripts were a bit weak but showed great room for improvement. I guess, as the theme song said, Phenom was caught between "The Promise And The Prize"... but never escaped.
William Devane was very outspoken about his dislike of the show as he mentioned on several occasions that he never had faith in it from the beginning.
PHENOM was a real tragedy foisted upon us by ABC. The paper-thin premise of the mother of a budding tennis star and her demanding coach was never developed to full advantage and the show wasted the talents of two very gifted actors, Judith Light and William Devane. In regards to the above poster who said Judith Light has no talent, is obviously unaware that Ms. Light, long before she starred in WHO'S THE BOSS? won two Daytime Emmys for her remarkable role as Karen Wolek on ONE LIFE TO LIVE and has turned in powerful performances in several TV movies. I also have to agree with the another poster who said the daughter didn't look the least bit athletic. As longtime fans of Light and Devane, it pains me to say that this show jumped the shark from day one.
From the beginning when William Devane and Judith Light fought over who should getting the starring credits. Notice that neither got any credit that is how ABC "solved" the problem.
I liked the show- it had an interesting premise. The super-sarcastic coach was really funny. I just wish it had been on longer.
I used to watch this show because there was really nothing else on during this time slot for those of us who just had basic cable. I've seen worse shows but I didn't like it to much. The tennis matches were never real, they could have made that part of the show more realistic since the main topic was the girl being a tennis phenom. And the guy who played her manager or scout or whatever he was did some terrible acting in this show lol This was the same guy who played the Mayor in Out of this World, but he acted better in that role over this one. Judith Light is a great actress so I'm surprised she took a role like this. It had a good concept but bad acting and horrible writing, this show jumped at the start.
Day 1. Why would they choose an actress with such little acting talent and NO athletic ability what so ever? I always hating watching the opening credits when she was at her tennis matches where she was supposed to be the biggest up and coming tennis star. She sucked! I am sure some one in Hollywood must have had more talent than that girl!
Interesting note: as of now, Judith Light has shaved her head and is playing in a stage show about a leukemia patient. Anyway, it should be funnier than this show was, or even the curiously long-running Who's the Boss (or more importantly, Who Cares). When that play closes, she can do the King and I 
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