The ABC Afterschool Special

Season 9

Dramatically presented situations, often controversial, of interest to children and teenagers. Several episodes were either in animated form or presented as documentaries. Topics included illiteracy, substance abuse and teenage pregnancy.

Where to Watch The ABC Afterschool Special • Season 9

7 Episodes

A Family of Strangers
E1
A Family of StrangersA widower's two teen-aged daughters resent their father's remarriage to a single mother, especially since the woman's 12-year-old daughter (who is several years younger) will now compete for the parents attention. This special focuses on the parents' attempts to unite the new stepsisters into a loving family.
Schoolboy Father
E2
Schoolboy FatherHigh school senior discovers his summer girlfriend has given birth to his child, and decides to fight for custody.
The Gymnast
E3
The GymnastHolly Gagnier stars as 16-year-old Ginny Coker, who's determined to become a world-class athlete.
Stoned
E4
StonedJack (Scott Baio) is a motivated high schooler, until he experiments with marijuana and falls in with a fast crowd; soon he's dabbling in harder drugs, such as LSD, quaaludes, and cocaine. Will he wise up before it's too late? Co-starring Largo Woodruff and Anthony C Sena.
A Matter of Time
E5
A Matter of TimeTeen Lisl Gilbert finds inner strength when she learns her mother is dying of cancer.
Run, Don't Walk
E6
Run, Don't WalkA teenage girl does not know how to deal with being in a wheelchair, after an accident leaves her paralyzed. Then she befriends a boy in the same situation, and the future suddenly looks brighter for both of them. Starring Toni Kalem, Scott Baio, Dee Wallace and Hal Williams.
My Mother Was Never a Kid
E7
My Mother Was Never a KidMy Mother Was Never a Kid is an American television teen fantasy/comedy/drama that aired as an ABC Afterschool Special on March 16, 1981. It was based on the 1977 Francine Pascal novel Hangin' Out With CiCi, which in turn was the first teen novel in the "Victoria Martin" trilogy series. It was also the first of two Pascal teen novels that were adapted into Afterschool Specials for the network, the other being The Hand-Me-Down Kid.