Theres nothing quite as cheesy and moving as one of those very special moralityinfused sitcom episodes from the 1980s. With all those girls on the cusp of adulthood at the eastland academy on the facts of life, it was inevitable that at least one of them. This very special dvd release includes 10 of the most memorable episodes from the first two seasons of this groundbreaking and influential tv series. Rate 5 stars rate 4 stars rate 3 stars rate 2 stars rate 1 star popular quizzes today. The title of the episode is a reference to very special episodes, a trend in tv shows, normally dramas and sitcoms, of releasing an episode that tackles a major social issue. Very special episodes were commonplace in the 80s, and even into the 90s, touching on everything from national news to issues like sexual abuse and racism. As we all know, very special episodes are episodes of certain shows namely sitcoms where the episode focuses on a serious or controversial issue. The irony of seinfeld and the insult comedy of everybody loves raymond curdled into the glibness of two and half men and its ilk, but those types of shows never forced a studio audience to cut tension by. Jun 04, 2015 the cheesiest very special episodes of 80s and 90s sitcoms. The cheesiest very special episodes of 80s and 90s sitcoms. Sitcoms in the 80s and 90s were rich with very special episodes, plotlines where your favorite comedy would take a break from the laughs and warn you that the. You could see the soft vulnerable side of archie his heart was broken.
Join us as we look back at how our favorite tv families. A very special episode steven universe wiki fandom. They cover the iconic jessie spano drug freakout episode of saved by the bell, kimmys drinking problem on full house, gun violence on the fresh prince of bel air and family matters, and get their minds blown by an early 70s abortion storyline on maude. Some tv shows are custommade for very special episodes. As seen on tv from the late 70s to the mid 90s, very special episodes typically mean special as in after school special some hollywood screenwriting teams got a lesson to teach you, and they dont care if they have to break the fourth wall to do it, either. Out of nowhere, silly, innocuous sitcoms would suddenly have dead serious stories about drug abuse or strangerdanger as part of some hamfisted program of public service. The very special episode trope as used in popular culture.
Despite often being cheesy or feeling like episodes that are tonally off from the regular series, people loved these episodes because they thought they were making a difference. The most notorious one was probably the diffrent strokes. Do you remember all the very special episodes from your favorite 90s family sitcoms. Join us as we look back at how our favorite tv families chose to deal with some of the heaviest issues of the day. Sitcoms bring us together with jokes and drawnout romances, but dont forget they can also awkwardly shoehorn in serious is. Very special episodes were a television meme prominent in the 1980s and 1990s, where an episode in an established series frequently a sitcom dramatically highlighted some perceived social ill such as drug abuse or bullying. Sitcoms didnt stop getting serious on occasion, but they stopped getting serious in the jarring fashion of the very special episode. What about the big trend of very special episodes in the 80s. A collection of funny moments from some of tv s most memorable very special episodes.
But this is an 80s90s sitcom and neverbeforeseen grandparents have only one purpose on 80s90s sitcoms. A very special episode about very special episodes. So, if anyone can think of any, what some of the best and worst very special episodes of a tv show. A very special episode in television parlance is one with a much darker or serious storyline than usual, especially if the series is a situation comedy or a lighthearted drama. The best sitcom episodes of the last 25 years part 1. Sitcoms bring us together with jokes and drawnout romances, but dont forget they can also awkwardly shoehorn in serious issues. Weirdest very special episodes of tv shows screenrant. Although by its very nature professional wrestling does not have very special problem plots in the vein of most sitcoms and such, wwe has aired very different types of very special episodes, most notably after the death of a prominent current member of its roster or after a notably tragic event. Many television shows have an episode themed around christmas some shows present their christmas episodes with speciallymade versions of the shows opening sequence examples including tiny toon adventures and pinky and the brain, or without the regular opening sequence at all such as hey arnold. Sitcoms in the 80s and 90s were rich with very special episodes, plotlines where your favorite comedy would take a break from the laughs and warn you that the world was a scary place.
Nov 20, 2018 very special episodes were commonplace in the 80s, and even into the 90s, touching on everything from national news to issues like sexual abuse and racism. By comparison, very special episodes of classic sitcoms, schmaltzy and heavyhanded as they may have been, brought ideas that were radical at. It certainly made me appreciate the 90s with irreverent fare like seinfeld, which never had a serious moment much less a very special episode. Jordan and cara take a look back at some very special episodes of sitcoms past. A very special episode, but maybe not so precious the new york.
What happened to those very special episodes of tv we. To teach us what steps to take if we got touched in a funny place by our drunkle dave. But a very special cosby show meant something a little different than a similar episode on one of its sitcom. These will most commonly be sitcoms and animated shows, with episodes that fall into the very special episode category, if. From the creepy bicycle man to alex keatons alcoholic uncle, here are some of tvs most memorable teachable moments. Very special episodes were a jokenow theyre the whole sitcom. Learn more about the dangers of pedophilia, empty refrigerators, and.
One day at a time and other recent sitcoms just say yes to episodes confronting drug use and consciously try to avoid the corny trappings. List of christmas television episodes christmas specials. Twentyfirst century sitcoms like the goldbergs, bojack horseman and family guy have mined the conventions of the drugfocused very special episode in order to poke fun at them. But in its broadest sense, the very special episode is simply a television program that. Ask me another comedian judy gold talks about coming out to her audience, her podcast kill me now, and we quiz her on strange episodes of classic sitcoms. Mar 17, 2020 what about the big trend of very special episodes in the 80s. With a cast of wacky characters and a brand of effective yet honest humor, blossom resonated with audiences and a primetime hit was born which lasted 5 highlyrated seasons. Jun 21, 2019 by comparison, very special episodes of classic sitcoms, schmaltzy and heavyhanded as they may have been, brought ideas that were radical at the time not only about acceptance, but visibility and. A friendly bald man sexually abuses at least one young boy, a process which involves wine, pornographic cartoons, and pretending to be a horse. From child molestation on diffrent strokes to wills emotional deadbeat dad rant on the fresh prince of belair, the very special episodes of 80s and 90s sitcoms introduced young. The cheesiest very special episodes of 80s and 90s. In fact, every episode of a drama could be considered a very special episode. That being said, sometimes sitcoms masquerade as dramas. The most ridiculous very special sitcom episodes of all time.
Judging by the name of this twopart episode of heavily punctuated late70s sitcomtime capsule whats happening you might suspect it features. Often they wrapped up with the cast addressing the camera, explaining how serious the issues were. The series is still remembered for its very special episode, a my name is alex, where alex struggled to accept the sudden death of his friend. When the cosby show got very special slate magazine. What was the most disturbing very special episode of a.
The five most very special episodes from 1980s sitcoms. A very special episode, but maybe not so precious the new. Very special edpisodes is a series where i discuss single episodes of tv shows that center around eating disorders, dieting, and body image. Coming out of the 1970s social awareness which turned into popular after school specials and dramatic miniseries events, the early 80s spawned an endless stream of very special episodes in sitcoms, which continue to plague shows as some of. And yet, for decades, tv forced very special episodes down viewers throats. Weird, out of place episodes of tv shows page 15 rpgnet. You had three jokes a page on sitcoms, only dealt with fluff, and even the more. She was traumatized and archie for the first time didnt know how to handle this devastating. Those of us with an affinity for classic sitcoms all remember very special episodes. Do you remember all the very special episodes from your favorite 80s and 90s family sitcoms. Join us as we look back at how our favorite tv families chose to.
Or spontaneously catch fire while watching an rrated movie. Join us as we look back at how our favorite tv families chose. No hope with dope, but jessies song is especially special for its overthetop portrayal of the effects of. Tv shows include saved by the bell, family matters, full house, fresh prince of belair, home improvement. Join us as we look back at how our favorite tv families chose to deal with some of the heaviest issues of the day in season 3 of a very special episode. What happened to those very special episodes of tv we used to. A definitive ranking of full houses very special episodes. Very special episode is an advertising term originally used in american television promos to refer to an episode of a sitcom or drama series which deals with a.
Aug 09, 2019 the very special episode rose to prominence in the 70s, the 80s, and 90s the latter decade being when they truly came into their own. The very special episode rose to prominence in the 70s, the 80s, and 90s the latter decade being when they truly came into their own. What happened to those very special episodes of tv we used. Some sitcoms thrived on it seemed like every episode blossom was very special. Mar 28, 2019 do you remember all the very special episodes from your favorite 90s family sitcoms. Such an episode would typically be prepended with an announcement in which a serious and deep voice warned the audience that tonights episode is a very special. Jul 20, 2015 from child molestation on diffrent strokes to wills emotional deadbeat dad rant on the fresh prince of belair, the very special episodes of 80s and 90s sitcoms introduced young. For a regularly scheduled program, airs at a time other than its regular. And when you add the modifier very, youve got something else entirely. You could see the soft vulnerable side of archie his heart was broken excellent portrayal by both characters. Very special episodes comedian judy gold talks about coming out to her audience, and her podcast kill me now, where celebrities reveal what makes them angry. Dec 19, 2019 unfortunately, shows tend to take better advantage of a halloween theme than they do with the winter holidays, too often opting to make heavy, very special episodes versus a jokestuffed feast.
So in this, a very special episode of vultures secret history of television, we take a. The first one that comes to my mind is the body episode of buffy. Jun 20, 2008 very special episodes were there to help us. Aug 01, 2008 theres nothing quite as cheesy and moving as one of those very special moralityinfused sitcom episodes from the 1980s. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, television sitcoms and dramas, particularly those for which the target audience shopped at claires and bought clearasil in. A very special episode, but maybe not so precious the. Very special episodes of sitcoms 365 things that annoy me. An odd trend in the sitcom universe, very special episodes were episodes about social issues, usually with an uncharacteristically serious tone, and often with a preachy message sometimes delivered out of character tacked on at the end. Superior donuts, a gentle comedy that unfolds like an extended episode of a 1970s sitcom, is a warm bath of a play that will leave broadway. Also, these particular episodes are often only aired. The very special episode used to be a staple of television. Saved by the bell jessies song other very special episodes of saved by the bell offered heavyhanded lessons about ecological issues pipe dreams and its oilslicked dead duck and hypocritical potsmoking teenage actors thenamesaysitall. Log in or sign up to leave a comment log in sign up.
What ever happened to very special episodes in tv sitcoms. See the tough issues tv sitcoms have tackled in the past. The most bizarre very special episodes of classic sitcoms. For a regularly scheduled program, airs at a time other than its regular timeslot. The cosby show, which premiered 30 years ago this week, ran its share of vses. It is generally acknowledged that the first very special episode was an episode of diffrent strokes that involved a child molester soon after that show and the associated ratings hike, it became all the rage for sitcoms to do very special episodes. Sep 12, 2018 throughout the 1980s and 90s, television sitcoms and dramas, particularly those for which the target audience shopped at claires and bought clearasil in bulk, had these very special episodes in. When i was a kid, the promo would come on for a certain sitcom very often it was a sitcom with teenagers in it like whos the boss, the facts of life, or blossom and it would say tonight, on a very special episode of i knew right away that this was not going to be a funny. Unfortunately, shows tend to take better advantage of a halloween theme than they do with the winter holidays, too often opting to make heavy, very special episodes versus a. Director dashiell driscoll starring dashiell driscoll. Very special episodes comedian judy gold talks about coming out to her audience, and her podcast kill me now, where celebrities. Very special episode is an advertising term originally used in american television promos to refer to an episode of a sitcom or drama series which deals with a difficult or controversial social issue.
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