At Mothra's birthday party last weekend, the conversation veered to tv shows and the lack of Very Special Episodes (VSE) these days. Now, many shows probably still tackle touchy issues, for example last week's "Beverly Hills 90210" tactfully and maturely handled he hot button issue of the elderly and karaoke usage, but they don't seem to bill them the same way. I remember that in the 80s, VSEs always seemed like an event. They only happened once or twice a season unless they were a show like "Family" where sensitive topics were the norm.
Whenever VSEs come up in conversation, some of the same ones pop up again and again: When Kimberly was abducted on "Diff'rent Strokes"; Alex P. Keaton's mental breakdown after the death of a friend or Tom Hanks' guest appearance as the vanilla-swilling alcoholic uncle on "Family Ties"; Cherry gets stuck in the refrigerator on "Punky Brewster." The one I always bring up seems to have been erased from most people's memories and not without good reason. The VSE that did the most mental damage to me as a kid was the "Mr. Belvedere" episode when Wesley gets molested at camp. This probably corrupted me more than any episode of "Night Court" ever did. For those who don't remember this episode, here's the tv trailer that they used to draw in viewers. After seeing this, you'll wonder how they ended up with any viewers at all.
And here's a creepy clip from the Sam Gets Abducted episode of "Diff'rent Strokes." Are sitcoms this terrifying nowadays or was this due to Reaganomics?
And just because it's so awesome, here's the "Mr. Belvedere" opening credits sequence featuring the inimitable Leon Redbone:
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3 comments:
i think you've inadvertently stumbled across one of the things that plagues me these days: the description of television shows as "events" (e.g. "you can't miss next week's '24' 2-hour television event"). what does that even mean? are the other episodes non-events? does you telling me that it's an "event" actually make it one? isn't that up to m e and rest of the audience?
this is right up there with the way overuse of the phrase "this is the [show/episode/product/pet food] that changes everything". ummm, no it doesn't, unless you count me changing the channel (oh snap! take that TV people!).
also notice that the shows you're talking about were all family-based sitcoms and how many of those even exist anymore? they're definitely the exception at this point.
also, that's the short version of the Mr. Belvedere theme song. what a gyp!
when did jamie turn into grumpy old man?
i guess he's still reeling from the cancellation of murder she wrote. the tv shows these days are worthless.
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