10 'Very Special Episodes' That Traumatized 80s Kids

In the 80s, family sitcoms decided to pivot to more serious content once or twice a season -- usually during sweeps. And these became known as "very special" episodes.
These episodes became an opportunity to teach valuable life lessons to Gen X kids through relatable characters. But sometimes, they managed to traumatize us in the process. And they did it with a laugh track.
These are 10 of the most well-known very special episodes from our most favorite sitcoms that traumatized 80s kids.

[@rrmond]

You knew sh*t was about to get real when it started with an actor giving a speech beforehand

[@UnHookLineAndRise]

🙌

[@demogorgens3715]

Or when one of the cast broke the fourth wall for a serious message. Now with social media every so-called celebrity blasts their opinion about everything into the internet all the time. But back then it was really something when actors broke character to address something they felt strongly about. And contrary to most cases today it was believable.

[@michaelzell5905]

Especially if it's Conrad Bain.

[@littlehouseinthebigapple5716]

💯

[@5roundsrapid263]

I forgot about that intro. Man, that was dark.

[@mothealien]

As a 49 y/o Genx'er I remember everyone of these episodes. TV was my babysitter and best friend back then

[@edb8689]

To this day when I see a refrigerator outside by the curb with the doors off I think of that episode of Punky Brewster ❤

[@Iggystar71]

Same. If I ever saw one with the doors off I’d probably would have called the police!!!

[@formerevolutionist]

I remember being told as a kid to not play in refrigerators like that. These days, doors have a weak magnet that keeps them shut, but when I was a kid the doors locked shut and could only be opened from the outside.

[@Jokersun17]

Same

[@Mike__B]

Luckily they made those locking style of refrigerators illegal in 1956, which yes was well before Punky Brewster, but what you were seeing was end of life (no pun) of them back then. Presumably nearly 70 years later they should all be gone... although I know there's still those who want their "vintage" look regardless of the laws, hopefully those type of people don't just throw away things like this.

[@Budicles]

the Michael J Fox episode tear me up then and it stirred those emotions again now. His acting in that episode should have been award winning

[@BigPoppaDro]

It was award winning & very well deserved. He won his second Emmy Award for , “A,My name is Alex.”

[@mantislake4141]

I thought he won an Emmy for it, whatever that's worth. Either way, Fox nailed every poignant note in that episode, which managed to be as funny as it was touching and insightful.

[@StefferKatz]

I have such a soft spot for 1980s-era Michael J. Fox 🥰

[@jasonsimpkins9069]

​@StefferKatz I recently picked up the complete series of Family Ties. Great show. A lot of bonus features/extras. Very cool.

[@mirage7436]

I could have sworn that originally the segment was broadcast live and not just commercial-free.

[@tobysgamingworld1550]

I’m 45. These shows horrified us. We’d quietly talk at lunch or whatever. Just horrific. The bicycle man? The damn refrigerator on Punky Brewster? Jesus Christ. The challenger blowing up? We’ve seen dark things

[@genx7006]

Yeah, and we didn't have counseling sessions afterwards. I remember seeing the shuttle explode at school and after the teacher was like, "go to your next class". No discussion, just continue life. That was GenX.

[@SamAsm367]

Speak for yourself.

[@coutterhill]

​@@genx7006My husband and I were wondering if that's why we are tough and have a weird sense of dark humor. We've seen crazy stuff with no follow up. I will never forget the refrigerator.

[@SSGTStryker]

@@coutterhillYes, as a Gen-X’er I can say that’s exactly why.

[@carissaa8411]

The Challenger episode of Punky Brewster really impacted me as a kid. It was the most upsetting thing I remember ever watching, especially cos I was told it was real and real people died. 😔

[@amberthompson1596]

The Different Strokes "Bicycle Man" is 100% burned into my memory. I remember it vividly.

[@ladyhotep5189]

💯

[@straingedays]

Traumatized? Quite the opposite, these episodes taught us kids about matters that often went unsaid. They undoubtedly saved lives, protected us from self-harm, warned us against who could harm us, and showed us how to be compassionate towards those most in need. They were indeed "very special" episodes, they changed our lives for the better💞

[@squirellmaster1]

100% correct

[@RoyCyberPunk]

You are taking things too literally yes they did teach about horrible things that do happen in real life but at the same time they inevitably took an emotional toll which is what the video is about

[@juniorjames7076]

@@RoyCyberPunk Family Ties writers handled these topics the best (I don't remember feeling cringed or lectured to when watching their episodes), but the others? Ugh! Different Stokes, Gimmie A Break, (remember Happy Days dealing with racism?) even Fresh Prince were sooo heavy handed I wanted to leave the room if I was watching with my parents! Ha ha!

[@creatrixZBD]

yeah I am confused about how we are supposed to be "traumatised" by kids tv. tv wasn't real, my unstable life was tough, tv was just dots on a screen

[@QueenOfTheNorth65]

@@creatrixZBDIf we watched these shows AS KIDS, they could be traumatizing.

[@greerphillips4756]

These shows tried to parent us in case our own parents weren’t doing it. I wish I knew who to thank.

[@Ready4Raw]

lol so true!

[@peachsangria8704]

Truer words haven't been spoken.

[@jasonsimpkins9069]

Norman Lear?

[@reignkaida]

The government wouldn’t allow tv channels to promote to children unless it was somewhat informative or educational. This is why G.I. Joe taught us knowing is half the battle!!!

[@aJediSith]

Yeah, I'm gonna lay it on...male survivor. Wrote to an actor of my favorite sitcom, she returned with an autographed photo. Spent all of HS showing it off to anyone interested. Thanks for this.

[@raulzavala9061]

Diff'rent Strokes would really hit the real life topics hard, there were other 2-parters such as when Arnold and Kimberly are hitchhiking and are taken by a stranger and then another 2-parter in which Sam McKinney is kidnapped. Mr. Belvedere also had an episode in which Wesley's camp counselor was a little touchy feely with him and another in which the daughter Heather is nearly raped by the high school jock.

[@wyattmann8157]

@@raulzavala9061 They also did an episode where Kimberly had bulimia…which she so memorably described as “barf chow”. 🤮

[@coreyledin-bristol7068]

It wasn't a sitcom, but the episode of Little House on the Prairie where Albert is addicted to morphine and had to endure withdrawal scared the crap out of me. I seriously believe it kept me away from drugs.

[@sthompson8558]

same

[@user-bw4qc8tt5b]

Same. That and every one of my favorite performing artists died from it, and then so did some family members.

[@mattm7798]

Morphine was a thing in the time period of LHonP? Hmmm, didn't know that.

[@princessjen99]

Oh yes that one was truly scary. I loved the character and seeing him go through all that was nuts

[@RDRussell2]

What about the Little House episode where the young girl is raped by...well, I won't spoil it here since it's kept a mystery for most of the episode. (A two-parter as I recall.) I remember the town doctor explaining she is "with child" and I was too young to understand what that phrase meant. (Or what "rape" meant, for that matter.) And it was obviously something very bad, so I was afraid to ask what was happening. That was a very family-friendly, mostly innocent show - we watched it every week - and then it would go and drop something like that on you without warning. Come to think of it, a lot of 1970s shows were like that, which must be what led to the sorta-warning of the "very special episode." I have not seen that particular LHOP episode since it first ran in the 1970s and yet it is an unshakeable memory 4 decades later.

[@ninademci1500]

My So-Called Gen X Life, I must admit that when “The Facts of Life” went further with the episode about Cynthia committing suicide, I was shocked as well as sad. “One Day at a Time” stopped short of being honest and had the ‘“The Happily Ever After”’ ending; the “Family Ties” episode when ‘Greg’ passed away and “Growing Pains” episode when ‘Sandy’ died had me ugly crying then and now; and, “Diff’rent Strokes” episode creeped me out when I saw it. I was a naive thirteen year old, but I’m glad saw it.

[@mantislake4141]

Family Ties also had a creepy one where a friend of the family made unwanted advances toward Mallory.

[@MarvinMonroe]

Also Tom Hanks as the alcoholic uncle

[@mikeymartin80]

Yes the name of that episode is called give your Uncle Arthur a kiss

[@brianalex8883]

I honestly missed when tv shows had these special episodes. At least it taught us something . Tv shows now Who am I kidding?There's nothing on tv no more 😅. But kids today could learn from modern-day issues.

[@MalcolmLittle-pw9dz]

Naw. Today they would only have episodes about trans kids and the different 64 made up genders

[@InLoveWith41]

Lord this brings back memories. I'm in tears. Man, they need to bring these back. These kinds of episodes along with after school specials taught us a lot

[@n.d.m.515]

These days the kids will learn all about the multitude of genders, how men can get pregnant, and the evils of straight white men.

[@daendiznigh]

I have a channel on my Samsung tv that plays all 80s music videos 24-7 and also a channel that plays who’s the boss 24-7 and saved by the bell 24-7. And family ties ,Not sure if it’s an app we on or if it’s my xfinity cable providing these channels . Either way it seems someone’s on the case . I remember nic at night playing all the 50s and 60s television shows when I was a boy, I’m amazed no one is playing all these 80s shows …maybe the people in control don’t want to show them to today’s generation? Might clean up society somehow and they don’t seem to want that. Might also have this generation asking a lot of questions about the way they behave today

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

The female teacher in Websters classroom is actress Miriam Flynn best known as Cousin Eddie's Wife Catherine from the Vacation movies. 👩‍🏫🎢🦌🛣

[@BrandyStaples-d8l]

The very special episode where Steve Keaton has to fight off giant sand worms was so good and taught me to keep an arsenal in case of sand worms.

[@BrandyStaples-d8l]

But seriously, the bicycle man messed me up! I never trusted that actor in anything I saw him in after that.

[@morganleanderblake678]

The Webster episode was RIDICULOUSly hated by censors for "implying" things. wild to me that an entire generation learned about bad touch that way and then adults were like nah, keep 'em dumb.

[@gohawks3571]

This explains why I wasn't watching a lot of tv growing up.... I was extremely isolated and had no one to rely on (grew up military, moved often after a year or two). I have no help or guidance from anyone reliable. I'm still messed up😒

[@janleonard3101]

I remember a period of time when there was a lot of media attention about the dangers of old refrigerators and how to dispose of them properly. Are you going to do a video about "special" tv movies like "The Day After" and "Something About Amelia?" I appreciate that the tv industry put effort into trying to help kids and families in an era where difficult subjects were beginning to be talked about instead of swept under the rug. They didn't always get it right but they tried.

[@GenXMarks]

Omg, this hits me in the feels. The survivors guilt one gets me. And the fridge one, I remember reading that a child saved someone after learning cpr from that episode.

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

Meeno Peluce is the half brother of Soleil Moon Frye best known as Punky Brewster. 🙋‍♀🕵🔎

[@sunshinedaydream70]

Yes, he is

[@roguetool8869]

10:05 I find it hilarious DJ had a George Michael poster on her wall knowing Candace and Kirk's religious beliefs.

[@LKVince11]

Triggered leftist.

[@pettykittyfam]

I don't know why First off this was the tv show set not thier real life rooms and second most people didn't know George Michael was gay until many years later... well into the next decade. So this makes no sense at all to wonder about

[@JohnnyUtah-71]

@@pettykittyfam Same with Boy George and Rob Halford (Judas Priest), though, besides the leather and studs wear, Halford wasn't quite as obvious

[@naturistfred]

This was the 80s. George Michael was still in the band Wham. Their music was nothing vulgar or sexualized. Kids listen to it. Plus George didn't come out of the closet until the late 90s. Well after Full House went off the air.

[@roguetool8869]

@@naturistfred George Michael left Wham! in 1986, 4yrs before this aired.

[@cwash7708]

You probably need to a second part for this one. Because those special episodes were something else.

[@COMPFUNK2]

I remember that Punky Brewster episode. Even as a child, I couldn’t understand why an abandoned refrigerator was just sitting in the backyard.

[@JCole78]

Punky Brewster had an episode about DUI as well. Charles in Charge had an episode where Buddy’s sister played by Mindy Cohn (Natalie on The Facts of Life) was an alcoholic.

[@carissaa8411]

Punky Brewster was a great show. I remember some of it as a kid but I was kinda young for it at the time..but I rewatched the entire series as an adult a few years ago, and some of the episodes had me literally blowing my nose from crying. The one where Brandon is hit by a car, of course the Challenger episode and the refrigerator one… but also the one where Cherie visits her parents graves. And that little mini series they did called Changes. That was awesome. They don’t make shows like that anymore. It really was a great show.

[@CozyOats]

These Very Special Episodes, made me and probably alot of us not feel so alone. Thank You for this video.❤

[@dub814]

We spent so much time with these shows cuz there were only 4 major networks. We kept seeing the se shows over& over again. Heck, there were even re-runs.

[@guillermorosario4578]

Hello fellow Gen-Xer! Sooo stoked to see your channel progress; I can’t wait to watch it blossom and take the journey right along with it! Many thanks for your contributions to the platform and I wish you well 🙏

[@johnliberty3647]

When that Friends dude died from drunk driving on growing pains I was traumatized because they spent the season building up his character as a regular.

[@PutXi_Whipped]

Matthew Perry was on both Growing Pains and Just the Ten of Us

[@williamg9316]

I grew up with two sisters and a mom. So I wanted so badly to have an older brother like Kirk Cameron, Micheal j fox, and Malcom Jamal Warner. Lol. The interesting thing about the family ties episode is not only did he have survivors guilt but I believe Greg was also his friend who taught him to have fun and he lost that. yeah that Cheri one scarred me about as much as the little house on the prairie when Carrie fell down as well. Had nightmares from both of those. And finally the growing pains episode with sandy (Mathew Perry) the look on Kirk Cameron's face, and tracy gold just losing it was so upsetting. I lost it. Then also having the counter at the end of people dying from drunk driving. Damn. Heartbreaking

[@dreemage]

I remember watching the "Shape Up!" Full House episode when I was 10 or 11. I'd completely forgotten all about it. Core memory unlocked!

[@anabltc]

and 20-30 yrs later all those kid actors were heavily on drugs, having eating disorders and sharing how they were abused by the executives of those same networks that put out those very same "very special" episodes 😩

[@Iggystar71]

Yooooo!!!! Isn’t that mind blowing?!

[@wyattmann8157]

@@anabltc Yep. The Different Strokes kids were a hat trick of child actor dysfunction.

[@adamn7516]

In all the shows noted here the only kids that ended up having problems as an adult was Different Strokes.

[@amytheshihtzumom]

@@adamn7516Child actors on Growing Pains and Full House had eating disorders and/or drug abuse problems unfortunately. I'm specifically referring to Tracy Gold and Jody Sweetin.

[@abprairiegurl]

I don't think the special episodes were the reason. More likely how child actors were treated in the entertainment industry.

[@hippiefreak66]

I'm an early millenial and remember the special episodes of the 80s and 90s. I'm actually glad I got the chance to live through that.

[@josesolismusic]

I remeber a couple of these, but definitely the one from Diff'rent Strokes because I did not miss that show. It was very shocking at the time.

[@mantislake4141]

Not Mr. Carlson

[@StefferKatz]

It was really ahead of its time, considering society had always swept CM under the rug. This episode aired three years before I started kindergarten. I remember getting all the “Don’t talk to strangers” lectures in school, but still no one ever specified why a stranger would go after a kid or that a bad person could be a family friend or member. I always just assumed you were at risk from strangers because they were jerks who wanted to steal you away from your parents to be their own kids, like an evil stepmother situation.

[@Iggystar71]

At 53 I try to be all “Back in my day.” and “Get off my lawn!” But watching lists like this I can’t help it!!! I hope you’re up to do the next top 10 on this subject.

[@katietoole8345]

This video reminds us not only that the special episodes were fantastic,but also that the theme songs SLAPPED. Family Ties, Growing Pains, Punky Brewster...all so good.

[@mantislake4141]

LOL, and Alan Thicke from Growing Pains probably wrote 'em!

[@Gen-X-Memories]

I remember the end of that episode of The Facts of Life. It was kind of creepy because after Mrs. Garrett closed the door you could hear the people in the studio audience whispering amongst themselves. It really gave off a spooky vibe with the darkened room.

[@iChristyD]

I remember all of these episodes of these shows. I’m in the middle of watching an hour long show from the 80s, St. Elsewhere. So many people I’ve recognized in their guest stars.

[@richardgadberry8398]

With regards to "The Bicycle Man", I personally experienced the Mandela Effect: For the longest time I thought that Dudley was the bike shop owner and Horton was the one who got diddled.

[@Kat-tr2ig]

OMG the Punky Brewster episode with the refrigerator traumatized me so much. I had nightmares over being trapped inside of one, and it still makes me anxious when I think about it.

[@mantislake4141]

Same. That one really should NOT have been a 2-parter. Traumatizing a child with having to wait a week to see if a character they love will live? Points for tackling important subject matter (including Allen & Henry's guilt) and not killing Cherie, but that's a bit f'd up.

[@darthken815]

Man, I remember that ep vividly.

[@PutXi_Whipped]

What’s hilarious about Family Ties is that the following season after “My Name Is Alex” they gave Justine Bateman a similarly dark episode where her “best friend” committed suicide and her mother Evelyn uses Mallory to work through her feelings about her dead daughter. Felt like more Emmy bait

[@ertfgghhhh]

My favorite show is Good Times . My kids had to watch the shows also. I also had to use FatAlbert to teach lessons. I used the Different Strokes bike owner episodes to teach my children about SA.

[@DCMarvelMultiverse]

The only persons traumatized were my Gen Z coworkers to whom I showed.

[@PutXi_Whipped]

Joel Higgins acted TF out of that scene.

[@Iggystar71]

Just started watching and know an abandoned refrigerator is probably on this list.

[@jayekinsey4799]

Dang I'd forgotten about almost all these (though never forgot the refrigerator! ). Back then as a wee kid I didn't really get all the messages they were trying to share with us. Now, some of them are pretty horrifying. And the Family Ties episode showed us how good of an actor Michael J Fox is!

[@COMPFUNK2]

The other thing about that episode of Silver Spoons is that it was revealed that Toby‘s father abusing his son was a result of a cycle of abuse because Toby’s grandfather beat his father as well.

[@mistiroberts1576]

Idk if you cover this one because I'm at the beginning but The Facts of Life where Tootie almost gets sucked into prostitution always stayed with me

[@mysocalledgenxlife]

I went with another facts of life episode for this video. But that Tootie episode will be covered in the future. There will be a follow up!

[@gorillaestefan8227]

Dude this was so good! This brought back some loooong lost memories.

[@hangsolow216]

Watcha you talkin bout Willis🤣😂🤣😂🤣🤣

[@Lilianamarie999]

Thanks for doing this. Loved all of these shows growing up. Although they're corny by today's standards, I appreciate they tried to help us out. We were confused, engrossed, traumatized and entertained. Some of our parents were probably grateful. These shows stuck with us for a reason. When they said The Facts of Life, they meant that isht. Family Ties took it to another level even though I didn't fully understand at the time. I was so worried about Alex. I knew it wasn't real but I felt it my young soul.

[@thegood9]

this is a great video. Brings bad lots of harrowing and tearful memories. I'm pretty sure my brother and me watched most, if not all, of these episodes.

[@Rusty3659]

The abusive father in the clip from Silver Spoons is the man who played the financial editor on Lou Grant.

[@COMPFUNK2]

There was an episode of Family Ties where Steven and Elyse‘s friend was hitting on underage Mallory; and for some reason the episode was treated in a humorous light.

[@abprairiegurl]

I love that we got these specual episodes. These types of shows combined with Seseame Street and Mr. Rogers helped us develop empathy and to know right from wrong. Yes, my parents also taught those things but these shows helped.

[@clintbonita]

The bicycle man episode was pretty memorable.

[@princessjen99]

I remember watching these shows but the only one that has stuck with me through the years is The Bicycle Man. It was absolutely shocking as a kid and really opened my eyes about what evil could be

[@travisrlel2]

Little House on the Prairie "Sylvia" two-parter. I was 11. Profoundly disturbing. It didn't have an announcement at the beginning but it might've had ads in TV guide or something urging parents to sit down with their kids and discuss it.

[@mysocalledgenxlife]

Oh yes. That was traumatic. There will be a follow up video! Little House was my favorite show growing up.

[@travisrlel2]

@@mysocalledgenxlife Cool! Looking forward to it.

[@musclecarczarig4003]

Great video! I remember watching all of these, but the two that always stuck out in my mind were the bicycle man and Alex getting spun out on speed.

[@chrisbrooks6697]

You knew things were serious when the hum of all the lights and equipment was almost as loud as the actors speaking!

[@TheInfo45]

I remember each and every one of these. I don't know if I would say they traumatized me some made me more aware they taught me to be a more vigilant parent. When my sons were little boys I explained that they could talk to us about anything and it was no topic that was off-limits. We made them understand that as their parents it's our job to teach them and protect them. And nobody would do it more than their mom and dad. So I'm glad we had these shows back in the day because they made us better people

[@aguyandhisbible]

I just stumbled on to your channel.... thanks for the great video. The Family Ties episode I always remember is the Tom Hanks one, but that on you highlighted is a Masterclass in writing and acting. I remember the Thursday night lineup on NBC and it was just so good. I really miss the days are such strong writing in TV where you did not have to use sex, violence and cursing to have powerful moments. Looking forward to checking out some of your others videos!

[@coutterhill]

We need more episodes these days. I still remember the refrigerator episode and know not to play in them!

[@threemarksat210]

Gordon Jump! I loved WKRP in Cincinnati. I was born in Cincy and grew up there as a kid. Do you remember the episode when they did the great WKRP Thanksgiving day turkey giveaway?? Last line by Jump's character: "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." Anyway, enjoyed the video as always. Ok bye! ps Kirk Cameron huh? : )

[@pika23]

Temu has Wkrp turkey drop t shirts!

[@ryancraig2795]

Seeing him playing a pedo is a little disturbing.

[@Booger414]

WKRP did sort of a very special episode where the station sponsors a concert where attendees are killed by crushing. It also featured a call from the mayor (only one side was shown) at a time when the Mayor of Cincinnati was Jerry Springer.

[@villain5873]

6:37 he's also Soleil Moonfrye(Punky Brewster's) brother.❤

[@SteelBoy]

I was going to comment on that too. I think I did on a different video as well.

[@eddiep.7559]

I’m addicted to this KZbin channel… so good. Edit: I thought 100% I would have to give cpr at some point to someone as well as dealing with quicksand… and that different strokes episode still hits me.

[@Heretowatchstuff]

I used to think it was normal for other people to have butlers or domestic servants. It seemed like every other show has one.

[@n.d.m.515]

I hated these things. None of them were actually believable having no nuance or realism. All I wanted was to be entertained, not preached at. When I heard a very special episode I rolled my eyes as a kid.

[@IceKnight81]

One that stuck with me was the Natalie sexual assault episode on Facts of Life.

[@SciHeartJourney]

The inventors of the Laugh-Trak must be rotting in Hell forced to watch the sitcoms they created. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 ... for all infinity. 😆😱

[@teerat8451]

The laugh track from The Brady Bunch and MASH alone will torture him for eternity.😂

[@Thunderflare99]

Yes, this is a great subject to make a video of! I'll never forget that Diff'rent Strokes "special". My mother also made me watch a show on child predators; it was so disturbing I've never forgotten it. She had intended to make me cautious, but she didn't even watch it with me, and it was surprisingly graphic and with things that I never wanted to be exposed to or know details of. Horrible.

[@mattmc5069]

I so miss the old sitcoms. My favorite was facts of life never missed an episode. The that messes me up is when Ricky on "silver spoons" shoots the deer and cries about it. The moment that gets me most from the 80s is when tootie admits on the "facts of life" episode "rites of passage 2" the girls are going in separate directions. She was always the one to want to keep them together. Her acceptance meant the series was soon ending. Then Jo leaves for that job. What a rollercoaster episode

[@BadAxeEntertainment]

I was born in 86 but I still remember most of these sitcoms, lol.

[@AB2B]

I saw the title of this, and my mind immediately went to your #1, and then your #2. We all shared in the same traumatization! lol Excellent work, by the way. Loved this! Ever thought of doing a "Special Movie Night Event" list? Because those were pretty darn traumatizing. lol

[@misstekhead]

I remember trying to lose weight at the age of 11. I wasn’t overweight in the least, but I was a gymnast with pressure to stave off puberty. My dad saw a re-run of the Full House episode of DJ and noticed I was practicing similar behaviors. One day he caught me sneaking laxatives into the grocery cart and finally called me out on it. I still have issues, but I’m glad my dad cared enough. I lost him at a young age and I wish more people would have said something as it would have saved me years of pain. No one wants to be confronted with their problems, but deep down we know all of us have unhealthy issues to some extent. It’s best to confront it far sooner than later.

[@BeckyLStoutWriter]

I always liked these episodes, because, aside from the important messages, I think they also gave the actors a chance to stretch a bit creatively, outside of the box of comedy, which can be limiting sometimes.

[@naturistfred]

Such nostalgia. I don't remember the Mr Belvedere AIDS episode. I do remember The Hogan Family episode where they dealt with the AIDS crisis. Jason Bateman's best friend dies from it and it was such an emotional and powerful performance by Jason Bateman.

[@billybarnett2846]

Being Gen X ment learning stuff on TV that previous generations were told not to talk about. Us older ones got Quincy episodes and movies of the week on sensitive subjects.

[@Sebakeng]

Degrassi's entire canon was devoted to very special episodes.

[@pika23]

Please..... Degrassi was one big special episode towards next gen. Like someone was shot or died every week. The trans boy got killed in the car accident, Drake got shot, some other crap happened...

[@iChristyD]

RIP Boner (Andrew Koenig) I crushed on him hard, he was cuter than Kirk Cameron!

[@kinglord7707]

Isn't he Walter Koenings son from Star Trek?

[@iChristyD]

@@kinglord7707 Yes

[@SciHeartJourney]

In Good Times Janet Jackson played a battered child.😢 Winona adopted her. ❤ Her real mother abandoned her. In "a very special episode" her mother came back for her! 😰 She married into money and thought she could take "Penny" back. She was still very angry and abusive. Bring broke had nothing to do with her anger problem. Or how about that "very special episode" where JJ got SHOT by a gang member named Mad-dog? 😱 I really didn't like seeing Thurston Howell III as an old prospector who stole the Brady's car and left them stranded in the desert. 🤦💔

[@danielherrin]

"There are four lights!" On tonight's very special episode of Star Trek The Next Generation...

[@Phoenix6652]

I remember those Different Strokes episodes like it was just yesterday and unfortunately wasn't soon enough. My next door neighbor took advantage of me when I was about 8 or so. It was years before those episodes aired. There was some similarities of what happened to me that occurred in those episodes. I can tell you reality is much darker, much more sinister & painful than those episodes could have ever achieved. Although it was too late for me, I'm glad to see that this serious matter was addressed on a family tv show. Perhaps had I seen it before I was taken advantage of, things would have turned out different. I hope those episodes helped make less victims and helped those like myself come forward. Heck I think to some degree it did help me in my situation. Before anyone becomes concerned, I'm not here looking for pitty. I don't want it. What happened to me is in the past and it's best left there. Sure I'm scarred for life but as they say "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." What happened to me defined who I was... The blood of Jesus Christ redefined who I am. My past faded like ashes in the wind, and I've risen like the phoenix! I'm not a victim of my past anymore, I'm free!

[@nicolegarrett2295]

I think the moment that stayed with me was on ‘Good Times’, when Janet Jackson’s character, Penny, was burned by her mother with an iron. The live audience started screaming and it just added to the horror of the scene.

[@walkerpantera]

that webster clip was hard to watch even at 56.

[@cheddarcheese7928]

It’s some what ironic that the show “Different Stokes” has the most popular “Very Special Episode” ever, while members of the real life cast gave my generation one of the greatest lesson on actually staying away from drugs just living their lives

[@davidpumpkinsjr.5108]

I'd say the best dramatic episode of Full House is a tie between "Silence is Not Golden" and "The Volunteer". The former deals with the topic of child abuse and the latter deals with loved ones with dementia.

[@daisyviluck7932]

I remember that episodes with sensitive content were urged to watch with parents. Now they just put content in, bypassing the parents 🤨

[@mikehunt4986]

Exactly. Now it's the entertainment industry who are like the pedos in these episodes, telling the children watching, "It'll be our little secret."

[@claudiobeachball]

What content do they put in now? “Special episodes” aren’t a thing anymore.

[@mattmc5069]

Also fun fact: Candice Cameron auditioned for the part of the robot girl on "small wonder" she said she was bummed she didn't get it but "full house" came along and she said in a way she's thankful she didn't get it

[@TennilleNance]

I remember all of these very special episodes, esp the bicycle man. 👍🏾

[@simplemanchannel3318]

I think for a lot of Gen-X kids, our parents didn't really teach us these things like TV did. That's why there were so many of them. I mean, the fact that we wore keys around our necks so we could get into house because no one was home, says a lot.

[@ellagoreyshorrorstories7524]

RIP to Danny Tanner (Bob Saget), Alex Karras from Webster, and "Boner" from Growing Pains, plus most of the cast of Diff'rent Strokes... I remember most of these episodes, either in first run or re-run. We mocked them, but they were important, too.

[@IceManLikeGervin]

I wasn't traumatized by any of those episodes as a kid. These type of episodes helped kids. Me and my friends would talk about them at school. Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts Of Life, two of my favorite shows as a kid, always had some serious episodes mixed in every season.

[@rob-time]

The messages and warnings about these important things came to where we were back then. I wish there was a way to know how many people were saved from something terrible because of the lessons from these episodes.

[@theoldman7739]

I remember every one of those series (Gen - X/ 1965) but you forgot "A Very Special" episode on Family Ties. I forget the actors name. Who portrayed the character. The character was the Keaton's uncle. In it we see the uncle being very very affectionate with Mallory and ultimately kissing her on the lips. Making Mallory very uncomfortable. Long story short. The Keaton parents are told about it. They talk to the uncle who confesses to it and he goes to get the therapy he needs at the end. I never had that problem but a female friend of mine at the time (1982) did and it always stayed in my mind. It was "A Very VERY Special" episode.

[@wxkat]

As good as “Spare the Rod” was, I’ll remember “A-Hunting We Will Go” more because of how much Ricky was affected by his first hunting trip.

[@sneakyskunk1]

The "very special episode" became such a trope that eventually it turned into a subject of parody. Still, I have to wonder if maybe those shows did help a few troubled people. I certainly hope so. I actually do remember seeing that episode of Silver Spoons and thinking the dad got off light(weird that as a kid I wanted to see a parent get punished for being a bad parent I suppose). I also seem to recall the kid making a poorly timed joke just before he and his rotten father embrace. Something about being able to identify his belongings because of how he marked them. It has been a while so that punchline escapes me now.

[@brianarbenz1329]

These episodes also traumatized some adult viewers. There were cases of adults being prompted by these shows to realize they had been abused back in the ‘50s or ‘60s before anyone talked about horrors like that.

[@COMPFUNK2]

13:13-13:25 - That reminds me of an episode of Good Times where there was a party at the Evans’ house and one of JJ‘s friends attempted suicide in the bathroom by overdosing on pills. He clearly told them that he was in the bathroom “waiting to die”; and for some reason the audience treated that like a punchline because they were laughing.

[@DW3010]

The different strokes episode about hitchhiking where Kimberley gets taken is more scarier than the bicycle one…. but everybody only never talks about the bicycle one.