TODAY’S SPECIAL WAS A STAPLE FOR KIDS ON TVO
These six episodes exemplify why this show continues to have such a following more than 30 years later, writes Ed Conroy
In 1981, TVOntario launched a TV series for kids. During its development, the show was road tested, capturing for the station a treasure trove of kid data later compiled into the Orwellian-sounding tome Formative Evaluation: Two Pilot Programs by the Office of Project Research Report #5 (1981) and used as a bible for a show now known as Today’s Special. Pretty much everyone who grew up in Toronto in the 1980s remembers it. Long before J.K. Rowling made such nonsensical phrases commonplace, three words — “Hocus Pocus Alimagocus!” — magically turned a dour store mannequin into Jeff (Jeff Hyslop), who along with his best friend Jodie (Nerene Virgin), the night watchman Sam Crenshaw (Bob Dermer) and rhyme-savvy mouse Muffy (Nina Keogh) jubilantly joined together in song, dance and conversation about the meaning of life.
Set in a Simpsons department store after hours, Today’s Special was a dream come true for its adoring young audience — and it still is more than 30 years later despite the cruel lack of repeats, availability to stream or even own on home video.
Here are six magical episodes from Today’s Special that continue to resonate.
“Songs” (1985)
Songs always played a crucial role. Not only did the series feature several new songs per episode, but they often underscored the message of any given episode much better than the dialogue did. A collection of To
day’s Special songs was actually released on cassette and vinyl for educators, and over time the series featured musical guests as varied as Bruce Cockburn and Oscar Peterson. This episode involves a song contest where each of the group struggle to come up with a song, and features a cheery cameo from Sharon, Lois & Bram.
“Our Story, Part 1” (1983)
The gang faces the prospect of going in different directions after the store is closed and the building is put up for sale; all that can stop the evil developers is a missing plaque proving the building is in fact a historic landmark. Ending on a rare cliffhanger, this episode explores the stories behind all the characters and how they came to be in the store and meet for the first time, creating a robust story arc rare during this era of kids TV. Also includes some supremely melancholy location footage of Muffy riding her bike along Queen St. W.
“Hello Friend” (1985)
A spellbinding episode in which a young boy with cerebral palsy visits the store and teaches the gang about the importance of communication, with the aid of Bliss symbols. By its fifth season, Today’s Special had begun to explore darker and more profound territory, and this episode’s song, “Come Share With Me,” qualifies as one of the series’ more pensive odes, with lyrics like “Life is a question we’re all living, why we’re here appears a mystery.”
“Phil’s Visit” (1986)
An old acquaintance of Sam’s from the merchant marines stops by, gets drunk, insults Muffy and then ruins her castle display. This “very special episode” tackles a delicate subject — alcohol abuse — and was controversial at the time due to the subject matter, even though it was a courageous decision to feature such a sensitive topic in a series best known for its colourful whimsy. Remembered by many as the scary one, no doubt thanks to actor Gerard Parkes’ intense drunk acting as Phil Phenelli.
“Live on Stage” (1985)
As the series grew in popularity and quickly became a flagship for TVO, the cast also began to participate in a live version that brought the magic of the show onstage to enthralled kids in Toronto. This episode smartly captured a performance and worked it into the Today’s Special universe, however much continuity went out the window. At the time considered to be the final episode, before TVO came to its senses and renewed the show for two more seasons.
“Butterflies” (1984)
The episode that traumatized a generation: death comes to the department store in the form of a butterfly named Hazel. Nina Keogh’s amazing and heartfelt performance as Muffy, who befriends the doomed butterfly, emotionally anchors this one, much like “Phil’s Visit.” Why did Muffy always get stuck with the bleak drama? Keogh recalls, “People loved it, but we got one negative response from a butterfly expert nitpicking about our beautifully made, expensive butterfly puppet.”