Sixty minute specials, both dramatic and
documentary, for young people. Broadcast on occasional weekday
afternoons. After School Specials aired for more than 20 years
providing a regular dose of drama to pre-teens and teens during the
school year in the hours after school and before dinner.
The specials were TV movies that explored the
angst and problems that real kids experienced. They were little
morality plays that while not being preachy, showed that actions have
consequences.
Last Of The Curlews (4/10/72) An ecology-oriented cartoon
from Hanna-Barbera studios.
Rookie Of The Year (3/10/73) An Emmy Award-winner
starring Jodie Foster.
Cyrano (6/3/74) A Hanna-Barbera cartoon with the voices
of Jose Ferrer, Joan Van Ark and Kurt Kasznar.
Winning & Losing (6/11/74) A documentary about the
1974 South Dakota Senate race.
Santiago's America (19/2/75) With Ruben Figueroa (filmed
in Spanish Harlem).
The Secret Life Of TK Dearing (23/4/75) with Jodie Foster
as TK and Eduard Franz as Grandfather.
Me & Dad's New Wife (18/2/76) With Kristy McNichol as
Nina. Unbearable pre-teen nonsense about a young girl getting back
at her remarried dad by humiliating his new wife at school (the new
Mrs. is the girl's English teacher). Unstimulating, uneventful level
and boring. For Kristy fans, the youngster has a good crying scene
at the school dance!
Mighty Moose & The Quarterback Kid (1/12/76) With
Brandon Cruz as Benny Singleton, Alex Karras as Alex 'Moose' Novak,
and Dave Madden as Coach Puckett.
My Mom's Having A Baby (16/2/77) Starred Dr Lendon Smith
and Shane Sinutko. Told in flashback to his baby brother,
nine-year-old Petey Evans (Sinutko) explains the way he was born,
the impact it had on his life, and how real-life Obstetrician Dr.
Lendon Smith helped him deal with it. Considered controversial at
the time for videotaping a live birth, this ABC After School
Special was later praised for its honest explanation of how
babies are born.
Schoolboy
Father (14/10/80) with Rob Lowe.
Stoned (12/11/80) with Scott Baio.
The Woman
Who Willed
A Miracle (9/2/83) starring Cloris Leachman and Leif Green.
I Want To Go Home (13/2/85) with Lindsay Crouse, Seth
Greene and Maddie Corman.
Just A Regular Kid: An AIDS Story (9/10/87) featuring
Christian Hoff.
Taking A Stand (19/1/89) starring Timothy Collins.
ABC
After School Specials
