You know what I miss? I miss the ABC Afterschool Special. Don’t you look at me like that. If you are of my generation, you watched it. You may not admit it, but you did. (Yes, you did! Quit arguing.)
I mean, where else could you find a teen drama that dealt with everything from racism to teen pregnancy to blending families and confused sexuality? Of course, it always offered the feel good advice that made it all better in the end. All questions were answered and everything was A-Okay by the time the credits rolled. (Let’s face it, this was probably the springboard for Lifetime Television movies. Right? Think about it. Generation X just got older and moved towards a more adult “afterschool special.”)
Even now, you can find references to these “specials” in movies and tv shows. Usually not in a positive way, though. (“Oh, please, this isn’t an afterschool special. Do we need the touchy feely talk?”)
The other day Kidlet Sr. asked me (upon hearing such a reference), “Mom, what is an ABC Afterschool Special?”
*shock*
No child should grow up without rolling his eyes when that familiar “Regularly scheduled programming will not be seen at this time so that we may bring you this ABC Afterschool special” followed by that super cheesy 70’s music. Outwardly you groaned, but inwardly you were glad (and secretly watch it anyway). What has happened to this world? See, this is why our country is messed up. We stopped airing the Afterschool Special. Bring those bad boys back and we will have world peace in under an hour.
What was your favorite episode? (And don’t say you don’t know what I am talking about if you are within 10 years of my age, you know.)
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