October 4, 1972 (1972-10-04) – January 23, 1997 (1997-01-23)
ABC Afterschool Special is an American anthology television series that aired on ABC from October 4, 1972, to January 23, 1997, usually in the late afternoon on weekdays. Most episodes were dramatically presented situations, often controversial, of interest to children and teenagers.[1] Several episodes were either in animated form or presented as documentaries. Topics included illiteracy, substance abuse and teenage pregnancy.[2] The series won 51 Daytime Emmy Awards and four Peabody Awards during its 25-year run.[3][4]
In 2004 and 2005, BCI Eclipse and Sunset Home Visual Entertainment issued six DVD collections of episodes from the series that had been produced by Martin Tahse, each collection containing four episodes. A boxed set, in the shape of a school bus, was also released containing all of the DVD releases, with a detailed information booklet of all the specials on the set and including an extra DVD of two specials that had previously not been released on DVD.
An imaginative, determined 14-year-old Puerto Rican boy builds a boat in which to sail around Central Park. Co-starring Bill Duke and René Enríquez. Followed in 1975 by the sequel Santiago's America.
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"William: The Life, Works, and Times of William Shakespeare"
Special introducing William Shakespeare to young people through sketches, readings and music.
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"The Incredible, Indelible, Magical Physical, Mystery Trip"
Original teleplay by Guy Fraumeni and Larry Spiegel [citation needed]
February 7, 1973 (1973-02-07)
Animated special about two youngsters who are miniaturized and travel through their uncle's body to understand more about his health. Features the first appearance of Timer, a character later featured in ABC's Time for Timer shorts.
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"Alexander"
Original teleplay by Jan Hartman and Larry Spiegel[9]
11-year-old Sharon Lee (Jodie Foster) encounters opposition when she joins her brother's Little League baseball team, which happens to be all male. (1972 was when girls were first allowed on Little League teams.) Co-starring Steve Gustafson.
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"My Dad Lives in a Downtown Hotel"
My Dad Lives in a Downtown Hotel by Peggy Mann Houlton[11]
November 28, 1973 (1973-11-28)
Joseph Grant, Jr. (Ike Eisenmann) is shocked when his parents announce their decision to separate. Beau Bridges portrays Joe, Sr.
Long-nosed Cyrano de Bergerac (voice of Jose Ferrer, reprising his Oscar-winning title role) helps an army officer woo Roxanne (voice of Joan Van Ark), the woman Cyrano himself loves, in this Hanna-Barbera Productions-animated episode.[13]
Animated musical. Timer (Lennie Weinrib) shrinks down two youngsters, Larry (Ike Eisenmann) and Carol (Diane Murphy) and shows them around their teenage sister Little Red's (Sarah Kennedy) head, to discover how the mind works.
A Puerto Rican boy is invited to a prestigious conference in Los Angeles. With no money, he re-builds a broken taxi to get there. Bill Duke and René Enríquez reprise their roles.
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"The Secret Life of T.K. Dearing"
The Secret Life of T.K. Dearing by Jean Robinson[23]
April 23, 1975 (1975-04-23)
12-year-old T.K. (Jodie Foster) invites her grandfather to join a "secret" club. Co-starring Tierre Turner.
Eric (Alfred Lutter), 13-year-old boy, has a crush on Lisa (Vicky Dawson), a cheerleader at his school, and dreams up creative ways to try to impress her.
Siblings Jenna, Toby, and Louisa McPhail (Kristy McNichol, Poindexter Yothers, and Karen Obediear) discover a wounded deer and nurse it back to health. Co-starring Gordon Jump; Yothers is the brother of Corey and Tina.
Despite his failing health, a Native American medicine man is determined to teach his great-grandchildren the traditions of the Apache nation. Starring Dehl Berti.
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"The Amazing Cosmic Awareness of Duffy Moon"
The Strange, but Wonderful, Cosmic Awareness of Duffy Moon by Jean Robinson[27]
Original teleplay by Arthur Barron and Fred Pressburger [29]
April 21, 1976 (1976-04-21)
In order to better understand his blind girlfriend, teenage Jeff (Leigh McCloskey) spends an entire day blindfolded. Co-starring Robert Ridgely (as Jeff's dad), Cindy Eilbacher, and Corbin Bernsen.
Teenage Carrie Wasserman (Susan Lawrence) takes up writing an advice column for her school newspaper. Co-starring Al Eisenmann as Carrie's brother Jeff.[a]
Teenager Francesca James (Carol Jones) deals with her alcoholic mother Lillian (Melendy Britt) by joining the support groupAlateen. Co-starring Jody Britt (Melendy's real-life daughter).[a]
A delivery boy and the President's son (Lance Kerwin in a dual role) meet, see that they are exact doubles, and decide to swap identities for mutual amusement. Co-starring Harry Kerwin and Rosalind Chao.
When 14-year-old Melissa Harrington (Victoria Paige Meyerink) wins the lottery, she thinks she'll never need to worry about money—or anything else—again. Unfortunately, fate has other plans.[42]
Original teleplay by Irma Reichert and Daryl Warner[45]
April 5, 1978 (1978-04-05)
Teenage Charlie Meredith (Rosanna Arquette) is used to acting as the ears of her Deaf parents, but she's ashamed when she introduces her peers to them; because of their reactions, the elder Merediths come off as being out-of-touch.
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"It's a Mile from Here to Glory"
It's a Mile from Here to Glory by Robert C. Lee[46]
May 5, 1978 (1978-05-05)
After Early McLaren (Steve Shaw), a high school track star is disabled in a near-fatal accident, he must learn to depend on others for day-to-day living. Anthony Kiedis has a role as Jimmy.[a]
Carrie Williams (Diane Baker), a free-spirited woman realizes her daughter Lizzie (Stephanie Brown) is no longer a child and experiments with giving her more independence. However, the girl is puzzled by this sudden lack of attention and feels as if her mom is pushing her away.
A young New York boy knows his mother misses her Puerto Rican homeland. Accordingly, he becomes an errand boy for a small-time hood, in order to earn enough money so she can move back to the Caribbean. Co-starring Danny De La Paz.[a]
Overweight teenager Susan "Dinky" Hocker (Wendie Jo Sperber) is obsessed with food and cannot stop eating. Finally she turns to a friend who helps her change her eating habits. Co-starring June Lockhart and Alan Oppenheimer as Dinky's parents.
High school students (James Carroll, Janina Mathews, Alexa Kenin, Bea Bevis, Lonny Price, David Paymer and Amy DeMayo) take a marriage course where they are coupled up and must complete assorted everyday tasks that go with married life. Co-starring Janina Mathews of The Electric Company fame.
After teenage Bobbie Marston (Linda Grovenor) commits a hit and run, guilt takes its toll on her everyday life. Co-starring Michael Biehn and Dan Monahan.
Wealthy-but-lonely Calvin Brundage (Robbie Rist) is granted seven wishes by a genie. Calvin uses them in an effort to impress Melanie Gamble (Cynthia Nixon), the most popular girl in his school. But things don't work out the way he anticipated. Co-starring Christopher Hewett and Butterfly McQueen.
When shy teenager Dena (Trini Alvarado) enrolls in a new school, she doesn't make friends easily until they discover that her father is famous actor Hal McKain (Frank Converse). Overnight, she becomes the most popular student in school—but this brings its own problems.
Peter, a 14-year-old basketball player (Stephen Austin) shows a real talent for ballet and wants to pursue dancing, but he worries what friends and family will think of his decision. Co-starring real-life brothers Al and Ike Eisenmann. Directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman[a]
Geri Peters (Maia Danziger), a 15-year-old girl takes up drinking to impress a boy named Dave Townsend (Charley Lang); instead, she soon develops a serious problem.
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"The Heartbreak Winner: One Girl's Struggle For Olympic Gold"
Ambitious teenage figure skater Maggie MacDonald (Melissa Sherman) learns what champions are truly made of when she meets a paraplegic youngster. Directed by Bruce Malmuth[a]
Two inseparable 12-year-old girls (Melora Hardin, Dana Hill), each one the daughter of a separate divorcing couple, are determined to keep their friendship alive despite the odds. Directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal[a]
When high school senior Charles Elderberry (Rob Lowe) discovers that his summer girlfriend has given birth to his child, he decides to fight for custody. Co-starring Dana Plato, Sharon Spelman, and Nancy McKeon.[a]
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"The Gymnast"
Original teleplay by Ann Beckett, Len Janson and Durrell Royce Crays[62]
October 28, 1980 (1980-10-28)
Holly Gagnier stars as 16-year-old Ginny Coker, who's determined to become a world-class athlete.
Teenager Lisl Gilbert (Karlene Crockett) must find the inner strength to deal with her mother Jean's (Rosemary Forsyth) impending death from cancer. Co-starring Rob Lowe. Adapted from the book by Roni Schotter.[a]
A teenage girl does not know how to deal with being in a wheelchair, after an accident leaves her paralyzed. Then she befriends a boy in the same situation, and the future suddenly looks brighter for both of them. Starring Toni Kalem, Scott Baio, Dee Wallace, and Hal Williams.
Teenager Victoria Martin (Mary Beth Manning) is convinced that her mother Felicia (Holland Taylor) does not understand the younger generation. Mysteriously, she is sent back in time and meets her mother as a teenager.
16-year-old Cindy Scott (Amanda Wyss) and her younger brother Brett gradually wise up to their single mother Miriam's (Bonnie Bartlett) drinking problem. Cindy wonders if she should join Alateen for help. Directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman[a]
An aspiring teen folk singer (Trini Alvarado) is torn whether to continue her singing or to accept an educational scholarship. Co-starring Lee Curreri.
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"Tough Girl"
Will the Real Renie Lake Please Stand Up? by Barbara Morgenroth[68]
October 28, 1981 (1981-10-28)
A streetwise teenager from inner-city Los Angeles (Karin Argoud) is sent to live in the suburbs with her father's new family. Laurence Lau also appears.[a]
Amanda Plummer portrays a 15-year-old who's stunned to discover that her "deceased" father is very much alive, and that's just the beginning of the story. Co-starring Barbara Feldon and Danny Aiello.
Retta Rollins (Mallie Jackson), a 12-year-old girl assumes responsibility for her two younger brothers Johnny and Roy (Jason Lively and Jason Hervey), after their mother passes away.[a]
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"Sometimes I Don't Love My Mother"
Original teleplay by Carolyn Miller and Daryl Warner[72]
April 7, 1982 (1982-04-07)
After her father's death, teenager Dallas Davis (Melinda Culea) struggles with her mother Ellen's (Patricia Elliott) total dependency on her.
Original teleplay by Bruce Harmon and Harold Peters[73]
September 22, 1982 (1982-09-22)
Depressed 17-year-old high-schooler Amy Watson (Helen Slater) is visited by aspiring guardian angel Oliver after wishing she had never been born. As with George Bailey and Clarence in It's a Wonderful Life, Oliver shows Amy how important she is to the people in her life, particularly her divorced mom, her paternal grandfather (David Huddleston), and her best friend (who's a lot more troubled than Amy realizes). The twist is that Oliver himself committed suicide and, as a punishment, was forced to roam the world for years afterward, witnessing the repercussions of his action. Now senior angel Gabriel (James Earl Jones) is giving Oliver a chance to redeem himself by making sure Amy doesn't make Oliver's mistake. Also starring Matthew Modine and Meg Ryan.
Susan Adams (Karlene Crockett) is a teen violinist is torn between her musical career and her boyfriend. Co-starring Robert Reed, Lance Guest and Barbara Tarbuck.[a]
Teenager Kristin Sorenson (Lori-Nan Engler) is shocked when a former boyfriend Greg Pscharapolus (Zach Galligan) tells her he has gonorrhea. Not only does she get tested, she must tell her current boyfriend Eddie Burak (John Didrichsen) to get tested as well.
Teenager Nancy Parks (Nancy McKeon) stumbles upon a case of child abuse. It turns out her new boyfriend's (Lance Guest) younger brother is regularly beaten and emotionally abused by their overworked mom (Patty Duke, whose real-life son Sean Astin portrays the victimized little boy).
High school teacher (Bruce Davison) decides to conduct a social experiment, asking his students to take part. What they don't know is that the experiment is on mind control. (Previously broadcast on ABC in October 1981 as a standalone special.)
A high-school girl (Cynthia Nixon) has a crush on a soap-opera star and believes she's in love with him. At school, her new English teacher (Mark LaMura) closely resembles the soap star.
Original teleplay by Arthur Heinemann and story by Franklin Thompson[85]
March 7, 1984 (1984-03-07)
Real-life brothers River and Leaf Phoenix star in this tale of a 13-year-old boy who has reading problems which his teachers attribute to laziness. It is ultimately discovered that he has dyslexia.
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"The Hero Who Couldn't Read"
Original teleplay by Johnny Dawkins and Adoley Odunton[86]
April 18, 1984 (1984-04-18)
A teacher discovers that one of his students, the school's star basketball player, is illiterate and makes it his mission to teach him to read. Starring Clarence Williams III; with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Dorn.
An aspiring teenage dancer gets the chance to try out for a dance troupe, but fear of failure might keep her from auditioning. Terry Donahoe stars as Lisa Williams.
Meanwhile, Back At the Castle by Hope Campbell[89]
October 24, 1984 (1984-10-24)
A family inherits a house on a tiny island between Canada and the United States, outside the jurisdiction of either country. Sarah Jessica Parker stars.
Tom Junior and Mary Sanders (Seth Green, Maddie Corman) go on the run with their divorced mom Louise (Lindsay Crouse), then realize that she is kidnapping them from their dad Tom Senior (John Getz).
A group of high-school students take part in a parenting class where their first assignment is to 'parent' an egg. Starring Justine Bateman, Jimmy McNichol, Chris Hebert, and Helene Udy.
Actor Peter Horton directed this tale of four high-school friends (Lance Guest, Val Kilmer, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Mare Winningham) who find their lives changed forever when one of them drives drunk with devastating results. This special was originally shown in prime-time.[93]
Anson Williams co-wrote and directed this tale of two terminally ill boys who hit it off in a hospital ward. One makes the ultimate sacrifice to give the other a fighting chance at life. Co-starring Betty Thomas, Jeff Cohen and Ajay Naidu.
After a teenage babysitter discovers that her young charge is being molested by a family friend, harrowing memories of her own past molestation by her uncle resurface. Co-starring Blair Brown, Corey Parker, John Glover, Lisa Bonet and Danielle Carin; featuring real-life brothers Joey and Matthew Lawrence.
A 17-year-old student learns how deceiving looks can be when he befriends the prettiest girl in school and discovers that her beauty compensates for unhappiness and low self-esteem...or does it? Starring Steve Antin, Heather Langenkamp, Christa Denton, Khrystyne Haje, and Beau Bridges.
Tired of being bullied at school, Jeffrey Childs (Jon Rothstein) starts drawing a master scientist. He begins to imagine what it would be like, as the scientist, standing up to the bullies at school. Directed by James Scott and starring Adolph Caesar, Michael Storm and Marisa Berenson.
When his best friend dies by suicide, a stunned teenager is left with one unanswered question: Why? Based on Eve Bunting's novel Face at the Edge of the World; co-starring Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Rob Stone.[a]
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"Wanted: The Perfect Guy"
October 1, 1986 (1986-10-01)
Sensing that his widowed mom Ellie (Madeline Kahn) is lonely and looking for companionship, 13-year-old Danny Coleman (Ben Affleck) places a personal ad for "The Perfect Guy". Co-starring Keith Szarabajka.
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"Teen Father"
October 22, 1986 (1986-10-22)
Actor Kevin Hooks directed this tale of a college-bound 18-year-old (Corey Parker) whose life is turned upside-down when his 16-year-old girlfriend announces that she is pregnant.
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"The Gift of Amazing Grace"
November 19, 1986 (1986-11-19)
A teenager (Tempestt Bledsoe) is frustrated about being the only member of her gospel-singing family who cannot carry a tune. When she writes a song about her problems, she discovers that she's got musical talent after all, just not where she or anybody else suspected. Co-starring Della Reese.
15-year-old struggles through the politics of divorce as his parents split up. Written by Donald Margulies.
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"Class Act: A Teacher's Story"
March 18, 1987 (1987-03-18)
A wealthy businessman returns to teaching after conquering the stock market. He inherits a class of underachievers and sets out to make them winners. Starring Ralph Garman.
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"Read Between the Lines"
June 3, 1987 (1987-06-03)
When an illiterate toy maker has the right to his invention stolen, his grandson and the Harlem Globetrotters team up to get them back.
Hard-working 16-year-old Julia (Katherine Kamhi) does not realize that her mother Eleanor (Beth Howland) - who alternately harasses and ignores Julia, while doting on lazy younger daughter Katie (Ita DeMarco) - is being emotionally and verbally abusive. But when Julia gets the lead in a school play directed by popular Randy (Ian Ziering), she realizes she's every bit as worthy of Eleanor's support and encouragement as is her pampered sister.
In this recollection of Ordinary People, a family must come to grips with the sudden death of their eldest daughter (Sherilyn Fenn). With Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker; also featuring Judith Barsi, Rob Stone, Ricki Lake, Rhea Perlman, and Tonya Crowe. This special was originally shown in primetime under the name "ABC Family Theater",[98] and was dedicated to Judith Barsi.[99] Barsi (who portrayed Billie Foster, a little girl struggling with the idea of why God would take her elder sister's life) was murdered 25 July 1988, less than three months before the episode debuted.
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"Tattle: When to Tell on a Friend"
October 27, 1988 (1988-10-27)
Maggie (Allison Smith), Colleen (Tammy Lauren), Sandy (Amy Benedict) and Linda (Marisol Rodriguez) are four inseparable friends on their high-school swim team until two of them experiment with cocaine and get hooked. Katharine Ross and Bibi Besch also appear.
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"Taking a Stand"
January 19, 1989 (1989-01-19)
An entire neighborhood examines their feelings of racism after the home of a black family is vandalized by a neighbor. Co-starring Dan Lauria, Betty Buckley, and Michael Beach.
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"Just Tipsy, Honey"
March 16, 1989 (1989-03-16)
Teenager Patty Adams (Ellie Cornell) is in total denial about her mother Carolyn's (Joanna Pettet) drinking problem, which is glaringly evident to everybody else. Adapted from Picking up the Pieces by Michael Bonadies.[a]
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"The Cheats"
March 30, 1989 (1989-03-30)
Three girls, Holly Mitchell (Heather McAdam), Lynnie Ryan (Christine Langner) and Beth Davis (Dana Behr), steal the answers to their final exam. When the Judith Daniels (Daphne Maxwell Reid), the headmistress, finds out she gives those responsible one day to confess before she expels and/or prosecutes everybody with any connection—no matter how remote—to the theft/cover-up.
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"Torn Between Two Fathers"
April 20, 1989 (1989-04-20)
Actor Richard Masur directed this tale of a divorced couple's teenage daughter who wages a custody battle of her own: After her natural mother dies in an accident, she sues her biological father for the right to live with her disabled stepdad. Singer Pat Benatar appears as the character Donna.
Teenager Eric Nelson (Keith Coogan) urges his town to farm without the use of pesticides, but many of these farmers are resistant to change.
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"All That Glitters"
January 25, 1990 (1990-01-25)
Several high school students (including Marc Price) learn about ethics versus seductive power when they start a cookie company as their class project. Co-starring William H. Macy.
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"Over the Limit"
February 22, 1990 (1990-02-22)
High-schooler Matt Thompson (Keith Coogan) must decide whether to come forward with the truth about a tragic drunk-driving crash. Co-starring Sam Rockwell.
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"The Perfect Date"
April 19, 1990 (1990-04-19)
A 16-year-old student is sure that his upcoming date with the school prom queen will be perfect. But the way the evening unfolds is far from perfect. Co-starring Will Smith, Art LaFleur, and Charles Hallahan.
Having never used illegal drugs in his life, model teenager Will Hatch (Christopher Daniel Barnes)—a competitive swimmer who works as delivery boy for a medical clinic—is shocked when he tests positive for amphetamines (actually, it was medication for swimmer's ear)...all the more so when "speed" is found in his locker (which school security forcibly searches, in his absence, over the test results). No less shocked are: his mom Linda (Alley Mills) and his girlfriend Carla (Lisa Dean Ryan), who believe in his innocence; swim-team coach Stanley Daniels (Chris Rich) and high-school Principal Stone (Art LaFleur), who do not. It doesn't help when Stan—who's also Carla's father and Linda's fiancé—turns against his own daughter, after Stone expels Carla for refusing to take the same drug test as Will. Adam Sandler has a cameo as a pusher.
A demanding woman and her daughter knock heads when the daughter (Robyn Lively), aspiring to be less reliant on her family, moves in with a troubled friend (Andrea Elson). Robyn's real-life father Ernie Lively portrays her character's dad. Co-starring Renee O'Connor.
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"It's Only Rock & Roll"
March 21, 1991 (1991-03-21)
A teenage musician (Alison Bartlett) finds her song lyrics being scrutinized as too suggestive. Co-starring Davy Jones and Carole King.
Two high-school journalists write a story about a teen HIV support group and are stunned by some of the stories they hear.
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"Summer Stories: The Mall – Part 1"
March 19, 1992 (1992-03-19)
Three-part series about high-school graduates contemplating their futures while working at the mall. In "First Impressions", Sarah Charney (Mara Hobel) has mixed sentiments about meeting her birth mother for the first time. Jorja Fox, Barbara Barrie and Kelly Bishop appear in the cast. Kathie Lee Gifford makes a cameo appearance.
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"Summer Stories: The Mall – Part 2"
April 2, 1992 (1992-04-02)
In "Second Chances", a girl struggles with mixed feelings about her widowed mother's upcoming remarriage.
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"Summer Stories: The Mall – Part 3"
April 16, 1992 (1992-04-16)
In "Temptations" the gang prepares to go their separate ways as summer winds down. Meanwhile, a recovering teenage alcoholic struggles to stay sober when an old drinking buddy shows up. Co-starring Todd Graff.
Oprah Winfrey moderates a panel of teens, celebrities and experts to discuss surviving the end of a relationship.
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"Shades of a Single Protein"
January 28, 1993 (1993-01-28)
Oprah Winfrey moderates a panel of teens discussing race relations in America.
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"Learning Not to Hurt"
March 18, 1993 (1993-03-18)
Roz Abrams hosts a special report on youth violence and later moderates a panel discussion.
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"Girlfriend"
April 15, 1993 (1993-04-15)
Two teenage girls, LaChrista (Samaria Graham), who is black, and Lynda (Rinnan Henderson), who is white, become friends while working on a mural to honor a black classmate killed by random gunfire.
16-year-old Christie (Holly Shaw) turns to a support group when her boyfriend begins to physically abuse her.
139
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"Montana Crossroads"
December 9, 1993 (1993-12-09)
Julia Morrow-Wheeler (Jacklyn Zeman) struggles with her daughter Samantha (Kellie Martin) wanting to leave the nest...and her father Frank's (Don Murray) reluctance to enter a retirement home. Co-starring Michael Cutt (California Dreams).
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"I Hate the Way I Look"
March 21, 1994 (1994-03-21)
Oprah Winfrey moderates a panel of teens, celebrities and experts to discuss the obsession teens have with their appearance.
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"Jacqui's Dilemma"
June 2, 1994 (1994-06-02)
Jacqui (Melissa Lozoff), a pregnant 16-year-old girl, examines her choices over what to do with her unborn baby amidst interviews with teens, parents, educators, counselors, social workers, and doctors that amplify the issues. Joycelyn Elders, who was the Surgeon General of the United States appears for a discussion.
Not to be confused with the same-named TV series, this chronicles the ordeal of a high-school marching band-member (Ami Dolenz) who becomes the victim of sexual harassment by several male classmates, including some close friends of her elder brother Steve (David "Viper" Lipper of Full House fame). Fortunately, he takes her side. Ali and her family decide upon suing the school after Principal Pritchard (Steven Gilborn) cites the title excuse instead of doing anything to protect her. Directed by Joan Van Ark, who also portrays Ali and Steve's mom; Larry Wilcox plays their dad. Also starring Jeremy Jordan and Danny Cooksey.
143
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"Magical Make-Over"
December 8, 1994 (1994-12-08)
Christine (Amy Hargreaves) is a teenage girl desperately wants to be popular. One day an angel (BD Wong) grants her that wish by giving her a new image every day. Soon she wishes she could just be herself.
Teenager Dany Gardner (Grace Johnston) struggles with her mother Brenda's (Kate Burton) illness from breast cancer.
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"Long Road Home"
May 25, 1995 (1995-05-25)
Teenager Hank Atkins (Micah Dyer) does not know what to think of his dad John's (Jameson Parker) new wife Amanda (Kristen Cloke), who's young enough to be his daughter. Then Hank takes a long road trip alone with Amanda.
After the senseless death of his twin brother, a teen drug pusher decides to seek revenge against all who have wronged him in the neighborhood.
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"Educating Mom"
March 14, 1996 (1996-03-14)
Soccer mom Nancy Gallagher (Jane Kaczmarek) feels like a hypocrite when lecturing her kids Jason and Carly (Will Friedle, Lacey Chabert) about the importance of finishing one's education, since she's a high-school dropout. She decides to practice what she's been preaching by sharing classes with Jason. Co-starring Kevin Connolly.
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"Daddy's Girl"
April 18, 1996 (1996-04-18)
Teenage girl Alicia (Elise Neal) reunites with her father for the first time in 10 years and yearns to reunite her family despite their opposition. Featuring Lauryn Hill as Alicia's friend Malika.
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"Through Thick & Thin"
June 11, 1996 (1996-06-11)
Twin sisters, one slim and one overweight, magically switch personalities, giving them a new appreciation of each other.
Andrea Mattson's (Lauren Woodland) overprotective parents (Morgan Fairchild and Sam McMurray), out of excessive concern for their daughter's well-being, hire a private eye to shadow her every move. Predictably, this does much more harm than good. Co-starring Danny Cooksey.
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"Miracle at Trapper Creek"
January 23, 1997 (1997-01-23)
Underprivileged and troubled teens join the Trapper Creek Jobs Corp in Montana to learn a trade, work in the wilderness, and achieve a solid work ethic.
^Terrace, Vincent (2009). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2007 (Volume 1). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN978-0-7864-3305-6.
^Woolery, George W. (1985). Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part II: Live, Film, and Tape Series. The Scarecrow Press. pp. 3–5. ISBN0-8108-1651-2.