A Very Special Episode

Doesn't it drive you crazy how ER advertises every single episode as if everything hangs in the balance? How Heroes needs to put a catchphrase to every character arc (ex. Save the Cheerleader, Save the World / Are You On The List?)? Or how about when Lost promises you answers to the biggest mysteries, only to leave with…the kids are there to…watch.

Well once upon a time, we knew when something important was going to be on television that night. And we knew by five very important words…'A Very Special Episode.' Who could forget that very special episode of Different Strokes where Arnold and Dudley befriend the bicycle shop owner who plays cartoon pornography for them while trying to seduce or molest them? Or the Facts of Life where Natalie is almost raped on Halloween night?

Below are some of the classics in my opinion:

ALF -
Kate's alcoholic friend stays with the family for the night. When on a drinking binge at 2
a.m., she meets Alf and believes him to be the imaginary drinking buddy she sees when
drunk. Alf convinces her to go to a clinic. (1988)

Boy Meets World -
One of Cory's professors (Fred Savage) sexually harasses Topanga. Cory punches him and
is then threatened with expulsion. (1998)

Diff'rent Strokes –
When Arnold is offered drugs on the playground, Nancy Reagan comes and speaks to his
class about drugs and pushes her "Just Say No" campaign. (1983)

The Facts of Life -
o Blair is jealous of the attention her cousin Geri, who has cerebral palsy, receives from
her friends and family. (1980)
o Tootie is almost lured into child pornography by a sneaky photographer. (1981)

Family Ties -
o Elyse's brother Ned (Tom Hanks) has a severe drinking problem. (1984)
o Alex uses pep pills to get enough energy to keep up with his schoolwork. (1984)

Fraggle Rock -
o Mokey decides that eating Doozer constructions hurts their feelings, so she gets
Convincing John to help her get the Fraggles to stop. But when the Fraggles finally stop
eating the doozer constructions, it throws off the ecosystem of Fraggle Rock. (1983)
o In an attempt to make the Fraggles, Doozers and Gorgs put aside their differences and
live together in peace, The Trash Heap makes all the radishes in the Gorgs' garden
disappear, hoping to make them realize how much they have in common. (1983)

Full House -
o Jesse accuses D.J. of drinking beer at the school dance. (1990)
o D.J., feeling pressure by her peers to be thinner, starts to skip meals and exercises
vigorously, which backfires for her when she collapses. (1990)

Growing Pains -
o Carol's boyfriend Sandy (Matthew Perry) dies after a drunk driving accident. (1989)
o Mike receives preferential treatment from his boss (Dick Van Patten) because he
(unlike his coworkers) is white. (1988)

Happy Days -
o Fonzie's African-American friend, Sticks, joins Richie's band. When they perform at
Arnold's, no one else shows up due to racism against Sticks. (1975)
o Richie tries to convince Chachi not to join a gang. (1978)
o Joanie is nearly raped by one of her students. (1984)

MacGyver -
o MacGyver catches some poachers who are killing rhinos for their horns. At the end of the
episode Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver) gives a special message about the problem of
poaching and gives a phone number and address for more information about it. (1988)

Mad About You - Paul considers divorcing Jamie when she reveals she kissed another man. (1996)

Punky Brewster -
o Watching the Challenger disaster nearly crushes Punky's dreams of being an astronaut.
o Cherie's artist cousin cannot read, and it results in disaster when her little brother is
poisoned and she can't read the warning label. (1988)

Saved by the Bell -
o Jessie takes caffeine pills in order to keep up with school and her burgeoning singing
career. (1990)
o A teen star arrives at Bayside to shoot an anti-drug commercial, but it is later discovered
that he smokes pot himself. (1991)

Sesame Street
o Big Bird and the rest of the cast must deal with Mr. Hooper's death. (1983)
o Mr. Snuffleupagus is revealed to the adults as real and not simply imagined by Big Bird.

Silver Spoons -
o Ricky discovers that one of his friends is being physically abused by his father. (1985)
o Police officers catch Rick and his friends drinking. (1986)

Webster –
o Webster's carelessness with a chemistry set causes the apartment to burn down. (1984)
o Webster is afraid to reveal that a teacher is molesting one of his friends.
(It is suggested that Webster was to be "next.") (1984)
o Webster's Uncle Phillip (Ben Vereen) kidnaps him, believing that he should be the one to
raise the child. (1984)