The Best Episodes of ABC Afterschool Special
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179 voters
- 1
Please Don't Hit Me, Mom
January 19, 1983Please Don't Hit Me, Mom is a TV episode that was nominated for Outstanding Children's Program in the 34th Primetime Emmy Awards. - 2
Mom and Dad Can't Hear Me
April 05, 1978 - 3
Last of the Curlews
October 04, 1972 - 4March 30, 1983The Wave is a short made-for-TV movie directed by Alex Grasshoff, based on Ron Jones' The Third Wave experiment. Though more prominently featured as an episode of the ABC Afterschool Special series, this show debuted October 4, 1981, almost two years before being featured in the Afterschool Special series. It starred Bruce Davison as the teacher Ben Ross, a character based on Jones. A novelization of the film The Wave, was released in the same year. Ron Jones' writings and Johnny Dawkins' screenplay were also basis of the 2008 German film The Wave.
- 5
She Drinks a Little
September 23, 1981""She Drinks a Little"" ... or does she a lot, lot more? That's what Cindy's friends try to convince her as she denies that her mother may be a flat-out alcoholic. Eventually, Cindy sees that her mother indeed has a serious drinking problem and needs help. This ABC Afterschool Special showcases Alateen, the national support group for teenagers with alcoholic family members. - 6
Sara's Summer of the Swans
October 02, 1974 - 7
Tattle: When to Tell on a Friend
October 26, 1988 - 8
The Woman Who Willed a Miracle
February 09, 1983The Woman Who Willed a Miracle, is an ABC Afterschool Special starring Cloris Leachman, M. Emmet Walsh, Leif Green and Rosemary Murphy. It's executive producer was Dick Clark under the auspices of his company, Dick Clark Productions. It was produced by Preston Fischer, Sharron Miller, and Joanne Curley-Kerner, and was directed by Sharron Miller and written by Arthur Heinemann. It tells the extraordinary true story of Leslie Lemke, a blind, mentally retarded boy with cerebral palsy who was raised from infancy by a foster mother who stubbornly refused to let him die. Because of her love and dedication, he not only survived but was discovered to be a musical savant. - 9
The Great Love Experiment
- 10
Don't Touch
November 06, 1985A teen-aged girl named Karen Anderson suspects that Molly Stewart, the 6-year-old girl she is baby-sitting, is behaving quite strangely around an adult friend of the Stewarts. Turns out that the man is likely molesting Molly. Karen tries to bring the matter to the Stewarts' attention, but they only take action when it is almost too late. This special takes a look at child molestation and explores the warning signs people should notice. - 11
My Mother Was Never a Kid
March 16, 1981My Mother Was Never a Kid is an American television teen fantasy/comedy/drama that aired as an ABC Afterschool Special on March 16, 1981. It was based on the 1977 Francine Pascal novel Hangin' Out With CiCi, which in turn was the first teen novel in the "Victoria Martin" trilogy series. It was also the first of two Pascal teen novels that were adapted into Afterschool Specials for the network, the other being The Hand-Me-Down Kid. - 12
Summer Stories: The Mall (3)
April 16, 1992 - 13
The Crazy Comedy Concert
June 05, 1974 - 14
Tough Girl
October 28, 1981After juvenile delinquent Renie Lake is caught dealing drugs in a stolen van, she is court ordered to live with her father and rigid step-family. Despite living with a family that seems to dislike her, she re-enrolls in High School and befriends a hearing-impaired girl. - 15
Blind Sunday
April 21, 1976 - 16
The Terrible Secret
March 07, 1979 - 17
My Dad Lives in a Downtown Hotel
November 28, 1973Divorce, as seen through the eyes of a young boy. The youngster - whose father has been ordered out of the house and is forced to take up permanent residence in a downtown hotel - is traumatized by the imminent divorce, and it is up to his loved ones to help him cope. - 18
The Skating Rink
February 05, 1975 - 19
Andrea's Story: A Hitchhiking Tragedy
December 07, 1983 - 20
Getting Even: A Wimp's Revenge
March 19, 1986 - 21
Fast Forward
September 21, 1995 - 22
Hewitt's Just Different
October 12, 1977 - 23
It Isn't Easy Being a Teenage Millionaire
March 08, 1978 - 24
One of a Kind
September 27, 1978 - 25
One Too Many
May 01, 1985 - 26
The Incredible, Indelible Magical, Physical Mystery Trip
February 07, 1973 - 27
The Fawn Story
October 22, 1975Fawn Story is a 1975 episode of the ABC Afterschool Special, directed by Larry Elikann. - 28
Run, Don't Walk
March 04, 1981 - 29
It's No Crush, I'm in Love
September 28, 1983 - September 15, 1994A high-school sophomore has her reputation tarnished by some male students who scrawl malicious graffiti about her in the boys' restroom.
- 31
A Question About Sex
September 13, 1990A Question About Sex is a TV episode of ABC Afterschool Special. - 32
What Are Best Friends For?
March 19, 1980 - 33
The Magical Mystery Trip Through Little Red's Head
May 15, 1974 - 34
Winning and Losing: Diary of a Campaign
November 06, 1974 - 35
Amy and the Angel
September 22, 1982 - 36
The Gymnast
October 29, 1980 - 37
Francesca, Baby
October 06, 1976Semi-standard ABC Afterschool Special about Francesca James, a teenage daughter dealing with her alcoholic mother through the support group Ala-Teen. - 38
Very Good Friends
April 06, 1977 - 39
The Pinballs
October 26, 1977Three diverse kids with different outlooks on life are sent to a foster home until family problems can be worked out. - 40
Can a Guy Say No?
February 12, 1986 - 41
Where Do Teenagers Come From?
March 05, 1980Where Do Teenagers Come From? was an American television teen comedy/documentary that aired as an ABC Afterschool Special on March 5, 1980. The live action/animation program was produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and was a sequel to the 1977 program My Mom's Having a Baby. The special was notable for its signature song "Growing Up," written by Doug Goodwin. - 42
Pssst! Hammerman's After You
January 16, 1974A small-for-his-age sixth-grade student and his wild attempts to flee a bully after word gets around he thinks of him as a Neanderthal. - 43
The Runaways
March 27, 1974 - 44
Follow the North Star
November 01, 1972 - 45
William
January 03, 1973 - 46
My Mom's Having a Baby
February 16, 1977My Mom's Having a Baby is an American television teen comedy/documentary that aired as an ABC Afterschool Special on February 16, 1977. The program would be historic as it was the first television program of its kind in the United States to showcase the pregnancy process and conception to young people, using a combination of animation and live action. The program was a co-production between Dick Clark Productions and DePatie-Freleng Enterprises. - 47
Have You Ever Been Ashamed of Your Parents?
March 16, 1983 - 48
The Day My Kid Went Punk
October 23, 1987 - May 02, 1994
- 50
Bonnie Raitt Has Something to Talk About
March 16, 1995 - 51
Stoned
November 12, 1980 - 52
Santiago's Ark
December 06, 1972 - 53
I Want to Go Home
February 13, 1985 - 54
Just a Regular Kid: An AIDS Story
September 09, 1987 - 55
Through Thick & Thin
June 11, 1996 - 56
Rookie of the Year
October 03, 1973 - 57
The Bridge of Adam Rush
October 23, 1974 - 58
The Toothpaste Millionaire
November 27, 1974 - 59
The Secret Life of T.K. Dearing
April 27, 1975 - 60
A Movie Star's Daughter
October 10, 1979