• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

"Tonight, on a Very Special Episode of....."

S

Stanislav

We're all familiar with the concept of the "Very Special Episode." It even merits its own category in the "Jump the Shark" world of dishonor. In its worst form, it is an attempt by a normally light or frothy sitcom to get "heavy" with a serious episode highlighting some problem or scandal involving one of the characters. The result is often maudlin, trite, and preachy.

I wonder -- does anyone recall any "Very Special Episodes" that were, in reality, actually done well? That managed to illuminate some human/societal problem with a bit of subtlety and understatement, and without compromising the integrity of the characters or the atmosphere created by the show?
 
The best one I can remember was the episode from WKRP in Cincinatti where the fans die a the "Who" concert that the station had promoted. Everyone was excited that they got to promote the show, but they were very upset at the outcome of the concert. The writers handled it well.
 
I like the episode of Kate And Allie, where Allie leaves her purse in the cab and has to walk home from Columbia University to Greenwich Village, and in the process she keeps getting mistaken for a homeless woman.

I thought it got the message through, "this can happen to anyone," without being too preachy.
 
Different Strokes had several shows like that. one was when Arnold and Dudley went to the man who was Mr. Carlson on WKRP bicycle shop and the man took dirty pics of Dudley. one to was when Arnold and Kimberly hitchkicked with the man in New York and he kidnapped Kimberly and Arnold escaped. Also when Sam was kidnapped by the man in the store all of those shows was not preachy they showed viewers how to respond when those situations arose in real life.
 
'Diff'rent Strokes' had so many 'very special's, it practically inspired the 'Jump the Shark' folks to add that category! I think the show had clearly been on too long when they used 'bed-wetting' as a plot device, first for Arnold, later for Sam.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom