Pop Culture | TV | 80s | 70s | Retro
10 Insane Afterschool Specials That Might Explain Why We're All So Weird
ABC Afterschool Special was a series that the network ran from 1972 to 1997, aimed pretty squarely at teaching kids what they thought were important lessons. While some episodes were pretty great, others were just straight up weird, with these 10 being especially strange.
It Isn't Easy Being a Teenage Millionaire (1977)
It was about the dangers of letting money control your life after you've won the lottery. Somehow we get the feeling not many kids really related to this one.
High School Narc (1985)
A 22 year old police officer (because those TOTALLY exist) has to pretend to be a student to expose who's dealing drugs in the local high school (it turns out to be Viggo Mortenson).
The Late Great Me! Story of a Teenage Alcoholic (1979)
A 15-year-old girl starts drinking to impress a boy, but then basically becomes an alcoholic overnight. The message kind of gets lost in how insane it is.
Pssst! Hammerman's After You! (1974)
A kid has to face his bully after school, complete with every possible cliche for this kind of story that you could possibly think of.
Trust me, these specials get weirder from here...
Daddy Can't Read (1988)
Joey Travolta (brother of John) stars as the titular dad who has to make the painful revelation to his daughter that he's actually illiterate.
My Dad Lives In A Downtown Hotel (1973)
If the title didn't make it obvious, this is a special about a kid dealing with his parents' overly intense divorce. His dad is played by Beau Bridges, brother of Jeff.
Schoolboy Father (1980)
Rob Lowe gets his teenage girlfriend (life imitates art, eh?) pregnant and then demands that he be allowed to raise it rather than have it given up for adoption.
My Dad Can't Be Crazy... Can He? (1989)
Wil Wheaton's dad has undiagnosed schizophrenia, which his mother constantly denies. It's up to him to save him, because who better to diagnose mental illness than an elementary school child!
Mom's On Strike (1984)
A mother gets sick of her husband and children taking her for granted, so she goes on strike outside of her own house. Kinda seems like a simple family discussion might've worked better. Also, her kids are total brats.
I Want To Go Home (1984)
Two children (one of whom is played by a young Seth Green) are taken on vacation by their mentally unstable mom, only to find out she's abducted them from their father. Yeesh.