After School Awesome
Remember racing home, tossing your backpack down, and flipping on the TV for those oh-so-serious after-school specials? These one-hour dramas covered everything from first crushes to serious life lessons, usually with a now nostalgic mix of awkward acting, heartfelt messages, and the occasional future star.
There were a lot of after-school specials back in the day, but these are the best—and stick around to the very end for the greatest one of all.
“One Too Many” (1985)
Starring a young Val Kilmer, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Mare Winningham, this special warned about the dangers of getting behind the wheel after drinking. It wasn’t subtle—complete with graphic consequences and PSA-level drama—but that’s what made it effective. Kids didn’t just see a lecture; they saw how one bad decision could change lives forever. A hard-hitting message wrapped in ’80s melodrama.
“My Dad Lives in a Downtown Hotel” (1973)
One of the very first, this special tackled divorce at a time when it was still taboo on TV. The story followed a boy navigating life after his parents’ split. It wasn’t flashy, but it hit kids hard because, for once, TV showed family struggles that weren’t wrapped up neatly in a sitcom laugh track. Heavy stuff, but important.
ABC, My Dad Lives in a Downtown Hotel (1973)
“The Skating Rink” (1974)
Set in the ultimate teen hangout, this one mixed first crushes, friendship drama, and the occasional embarrassing wipeout. Roller rinks were basically social battlegrounds in the ’70s, and this special nailed it. Kids came for the disco vibes and goofy teen dialogue but stayed for the gentle reminder that fitting in wasn’t worth losing yourself—even if you landed on your butt.
“The Amazing Cosmic Awareness of Duffy Moon” (1976)
Starring Ike Eisenmann (Escape to Witch Mountain), this gem followed a short kid who discovers that chanting “You can do it, Duffy Moon!” makes him taller—or so he thinks. The lesson? Confidence beats inches. Cheesy? Sure. But it’s remembered fondly, and odds are you once tried the Duffy Moon trick in front of your bathroom mirror. (Did it work? Yeah, me neither.)
ABC, The Amazing Cosmic Awareness of Duffy Moon (1976)
“It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll” (1979)
Before MTV Unplugged, kids got this story about a group of teens starting a band. Fame and fortune looked tempting until jealousy, pressure, and bad decisions caught up. Starring Mary Beth Manning and future TV faces, it was like a PG-rated Behind the Music with bell bottoms—and the moral that maybe you should finish algebra before chasing stardom.
'MOTHER... she's with you wherever you go' written and performed by Mary-Beth Manning, MBMWatt
“Amy & the Angel” (1982)
This special added a touch of fantasy. Helen Slater (later Supergirl) starred as Amy, a teen struggling with school and life until an angel shows up to guide her. Heartfelt and a little whimsical, it mixed heavenly comedy with an uplifting message: even when things are tough, you’re not as alone as you think. Wings included.
“Please Don’t Hit Me, Mom” (1981)
With Patty Duke as an abusive mother, this one pulled no punches. It followed a child navigating fear at home, shedding light on a subject rarely discussed on TV then. The title alone was enough to stop channel surfers in their tracks. It was tough to watch, but it forced families to confront hard truths.
ABC, Please Don’t Hit Me, Mom (1981)
“Hear Me Cry” (1984)
One of the most unforgettable specials, this story dealt directly with the loss of a young life and the impact it left behind. The focus was on classmates and teachers questioning what they missed. The cast wasn’t star-studded, but the emotional weight was undeniable. It was heavy, raw, and seared into kids’ memories long after the credits rolled.
“The Day the Senior Class Got Married” (1985)
Ever wondered what would happen if an entire class of teenagers decided to get hitched? This comedy-drama let them find out—and surprise! Marriage was way harder than prom night. Funny in moments but still laced with a message, it was basically a crash course in adulthood. Think Saved by the Bell meets a tax seminar.
ABC, The Day the Senior Class Got Married (1985)
“My Mother Was Never a Kid” (1981)
This quirky favorite followed a rebellious teen who magically switches places with her mom—back when her mother was a teenager in the 1940s. Suddenly, curfews and rules looked a whole lot different. It was like Freaky Friday with poodle skirts, and the ultimate reminder that maybe—just maybe—parents weren’t always as square as they seemed.
ABC, My Mother Was Never a Kid (1981)
“Just a Regular Kid: An AIDS Story” (1987)
Groundbreaking for its time, this special showed a boy living with HIV/AIDS at a moment when the disease was misunderstood and heavily stigmatized. It humanized the issue and gave kids a chance to see the person, not just the headlines. It was emotional, brave, and proved after-school specials could lead conversations adults were too afraid to start.
ABC, Just a Regular Kid: An AIDS Story (1987)
“The Day My Kid Went Punk” (1987)
Jay Underwood (The Boy Who Could Fly) shocked his buttoned-up family when he came home with spiky hair, eyeliner, and safety pins. His parents reacted like he’d joined a biker gang. Meant to be about “accepting differences,” it became an unintentional comedy classic—and a snapshot of the ’80s moral panic over hair gel and eyeliner.
ABC, The Day My Kid Went Punk (1987)
“Which Mother Is Mine?” (1979)
This emotional story followed a girl caught between her biological mother and adoptive mother during a custody battle. Heavy subject matter for a kids’ time slot, but it was gripping. It raised tough questions about identity, loyalty, and love—and reminded viewers that sometimes there isn’t an easy answer. The ultimate “choose wisely” lesson.
ABC, Which Mother Is Mine? (1979)
“Mom’s on Strike” (1984)
Tired of being unappreciated, a mother decides to stop cooking, cleaning, and organizing until her family steps up. Every kid watching thought the same thing: “Oh no, please don’t let my mom see this.” It was funny, pointed, and secretly educational—because nothing makes kids panic like the idea of doing their own laundry.
“Two Teens and a Baby” (1984)
Teen pregnancy was the focus here, but with an unusual setup—two teens babysit and quickly realize they are not cut out for parenting. The chaos, sleepless nights, and diaper disasters hammered home the point: being a teen is tough enough without adding parenthood. Also, bonus points for the 1980s diaper bags—they were basically luggage.
ABC, Two Teens and a Baby (1984)
“Cousin Kevin” (1979)
Alcoholism in the family was front and center here, as Kevin tries to cope with a relative’s drinking problem. It was serious stuff for the time, handled with empathy instead of melodrama. While not flashy, it showed kids they weren’t alone if home life was complicated. The PSA part was clear, but it still felt real.
Pedro Ribeiro Simoes from Lisboa, Portugal, Wikimedia Commons
“A Family Again” (1980)
This tearjerker explored adoption and foster care through the eyes of kids searching for belonging. It wasn’t about fairy-tale endings but about real struggles and finding love in unexpected places. Families who watched together usually kept a tissue box nearby. If you didn’t tear up at least once, you might have been made of stone.
“Have You Ever Been Ashamed of Your Parents?” (1988)
Oh yes, the eternal teen dilemma. This special leaned into the cringe of trying to fit in while Mom and Dad showed up in their awkward glory. Think mullets, embarrassing outfits, and clumsy attempts at slang. It was funny, but it also reminded kids that parents weren’t trying to ruin lives—they were just… parents.
ABC, Have You Ever Been Ashamed of Your Parents? (1988)
“Daddy Can’t Read” (1988)
Starring Beau Bridges, this heartfelt special tackled adult illiteracy. When a father struggles with reading, his kids step in to help. The role reversal flipped the usual script and made it both moving and inspiring. It also gave kids a new appreciation for the everyday challenges literacy brings—while still packing in a hopeful ending.
“Little Miss Perfect” (1987)
Dana Hill starred as a teen with an eating disorder, a topic barely discussed on TV then. The special showed the pressure to be “perfect” and how dangerous it could be. It was sensitive, serious, and hit differently than the usual melodramatic fare. A rare after-school special that treated its subject with real weight.
ABC, Little Miss Perfect (1987)
“No Greater Gift” (1985)
Organ donation might not scream “after-school TV,” but this special turned it into an emotional powerhouse. Following a family grappling with tragedy and tough choices, it made a complicated subject accessible. Kids who’d never thought about it suddenly had questions for dinner table conversations. Proof that specials didn’t always shy away from medical drama.
“Stoned” (1980)
Starring Scott Baio as a “good kid gone wrong,” this one pulled no punches in its warning message. What started as casual partying spiraled into chaos, proving (at least according to the special) that one puff spelled doom. The acting was dramatic, the message intense, and Baio’s “serious face” became iconic. Over-the-top? Absolutely. Unforgettable? Also yes.
“Don’t Touch” (1985)
This special broke new ground by directly addressing inappropriate behavior and unsafe situations—topics almost never discussed on TV then. It was unsettling, but the clear, frank message made it vital. For many kids, it was the first time they heard about boundaries in this way. Heavy, yes, but also deeply important.
“She Drinks a Little” (1981)
This story centered on a teenage girl struggling with alcoholism, a twist on the usual family-focused angle. It was eye-opening for its time, showing how addiction wasn’t just an “adult problem.” Serious in tone, but important—this one stuck with kids who might have been facing the same issues quietly. Definitely not a “party special.”
ABC, She Drinks a Little (1981)
“Me & My Hormones” (1982)
Ah yes, the puberty talk—delivered courtesy of an after-school special. Equal parts awkward and educational, it covered everything from crushes to mood swings. It made kids squirm, parents avoid eye contact, and classrooms collectively groan. Still, it gave teens information they weren’t always getting elsewhere, wrapped in a healthy dose of unintentional comedy. Cue the nervous giggles.
Dennis Mayor, Wikimedia Commons
“A Matter of Time” (1981)
This emotional special followed a teen coping with a parent’s illness and the looming reality of loss. Unlike the flashy cautionary tales, this one leaned into quiet grief, love, and resilience. It was sad but hopeful, reminding kids that sometimes the hardest lessons weren’t about mistakes but about how to say goodbye.
The original uploader was Mikiaboom at English Wikipedia., Wikimedia Commons
“The Great Love Experiment” (1980)
Mix awkward teens, a “dating experiment,” and the brilliant idea of turning romance into a social study, and you’ve got this gem. It was half PSA, half rom-com, with enough cringe to last a lifetime. Awkward first kisses, goofy science metaphors, and heartfelt lessons—classic after-school special territory, and a reminder that love was the trickiest subject of all.
ABC, The Great Love Experiment (1980)
“The Wave” (1981) – The Greatest of All Time
Here it is: the greatest after-school special of all time. Starring Bruce Davison, this dramatization of a real-life classroom experiment showed how quickly students could be swept into authoritarian groupthink. Chilling, unforgettable, and still shown in schools today—this wasn’t just TV, it was a wake-up call.
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