Today's Special

1982

Seasons & Episodes

  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
8| 0h30m| en| More Info
Released: 14 September 1982 Ended
Producted By:
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

Today's Special was a Canadian children's television show produced by Clive VanderBurgh at TVOntario from 1981 to 1987. It also ran on Nickelodeon and the Faith and Values Channel/Odyssey as well as many PBS stations throughout the United States. It was set in a department store, based on the flagship location of the now defunct Simpson's in Toronto. Many sequences for it were shot at the Queen Street West and Yonge Street store after hours.

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Reviews

Scanialara You won't be disappointed!
MusicChat It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.
DipitySkillful an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.
Stephanie There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
jootsyfruit Today's Special is an under-rated, top quality children's show, the likes of which are not exposed to today's children which is a shame. I remember watching this in the 1980s and although I made fun of it as a kid (only to look cool while watching it) I liked it then and in retrospect, I see how excellent this show is.The show consisted of Jeff (mannequin), Jodie (department store display builder), Sam (night watchman) and Muffy Mouse (rhyming mouse resident). Jeff Hyslop was a triple threat star, with a marvelous singing voice and dancing ability. The fact he starred in this makes this show above what is offered on TV today. Directed at children, the dialogue and stories never talked DOWN to them and dealt with issues like moving, disability, honesty and even alcoholism with sensitivity and respect to kids. As a Canadian, I especially liked the references to our country's culture too. I can still sing the songs and the only regret I would have is that this show is not available for my future kids. I hope someone at TVO will wake up and resurrect Today's Special.My favorite memories include Jeff taking a bite out of a lemon and when Muffy's butterfly, Hazel died. By the way, the dialogue was incredibly witty... some truly funny moments occurred throughout the 7 year run!
derekb27 I'm serious when I say that too. I'm a 23-year-old male college student and there is no other children's show I want on DVD as badly as I want this one. Let's fight for a DVD release; it just needs to happen. If you haven't yet, please go to www.tvshowsondvd.com to vote for a release of this show (in season sets). This show has a small but devout cult following and that's something else that makes it great. It was one of the most magical things that I have ever seen. Everything from the songs and dances to the original storyline was amazing. I used to have most of these episodes taped when I was little, but I do not have those anymore. In the good old days Nickelodeon had great shows like these (and "You Can't Do That On Television"). I've always liked the quirkier children's show.
Madmatthew im a little young to be reminiscing about old nick shows, im 17, but i vividly remember some of these shows from some of my earliest memories. i can hardly remember "pinwheel," but i remember the brightly colored title screen. i can remember the opening title scenes for "today's speacial," where they toss a manaquine a hat and he turns into this really geeky lookin guy, and this ugly woman in a pink suit, and this huge puppet riding an escalator. i remember "you can't do that on television" when they slimmed everyone and frequently got people wet, and the introduction to the opposites. i remember some british mouse. i remember "wild and crazy kids." i remember "hey dude" vividly because it was my favorite show.(remember, i am a child of the early 90's) i remember "salute your shorts," and that became my favorite show. i remember "roundhouse," where they all sang in sort of a snl format, and this dude rolled around in a motorized and electonosized(made up word)la-z-boy. I remember "welcome freshmen" was right before "seventeen." i loved welcome freshmen, but i would never watch seventeen. "double dare" and "family double dare" and "celebrity double dare" where they always had a buch of pro wrestlers and athletes come and play with a bunch of kids, and mark sommers was the host, he now works on food tv.Old Rock of Ages, it looks like we got us a war. A slam-bang, gut bustin', mother-lovin' Navy war.
LisaMob I can most definitely be counted among those who were obsessed with this show as a kid, have fond but fuzzy memories of it, and see nothing of its caliber on children's television today. As more than one user as noted, few children's programs have the desire to tackle the real emotions that kids face in a realistic and educational way. This show delt with taboo kids issues such as illness, sadness, death, and disabled children (I distinctly remember the episode with a child who was in a wheelchair and had an electronic table that he communicated with--I was three when I was watching this show and was able to grasp this concept!)...yet it was by no means depressing--on the contrary, Today's Special was a very upbeat and touching show to watch! Jody is the patient teacher and mentor, while Muffy is the lovable rhyme speaking mouse that everyone dotes on...Sam is the oft-dimwitted yet equally lovable security guard whose gigantic, "cutting edge" (it is literally the size of a refrigerator) computer TXL saves his job more often than not. Jeff is the most crucial to the show, however, as he is the character that sees the world as a child does, and he is learning all about the way the world works. The whole concept of this show seems so brilliantly simple, yet I've never seen it done before or since.We have only one episode on tape, and it is the one with Hazel the butterfly. In this episode, you not only learn all about butterflies and friendship through Muffy and Hazel's special relationship, but about death...she is just a butterfly I realize, but she dies in the end and it is very touching, but not an overwhelmingly sad thing for a child to watch. Just about every episode could be applied to some ordeal, big or small, that a kid is going through--Muffy breaks her leg and has to go to the hospital, Muffy has the mooching cousin Mort who overstays his visit and eats all her cheese, for shame!! If and when I have children, you can bet that I will be tracking down every episode of this classic, wonderful series.

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