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ABC Weekend Special

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ABC Weekend Specials
ABC Weekend Special Title Screen.jpg
Main Title Card
Genre Saturday morning anthology
Theme music composer Tommy Leonetti (1977-1990)
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 17
Production
Running time 30 min.
Broadcast
Original channel ABC
Original run September 10, 1977 (1977-09-10) – August 30, 1997 (1997-08-30)

The ABC Weekend Special is a weekly 30-minute anthology TV series for children that aired Saturday mornings on ABC from 1977 to 1997. It featured a wide variety of stories that were both live-action and animated. Similar to the ABC Afterschool Special that had started five years previous, the ABC Weekend Special differed in that it was primarily aimed at younger viewers following ABC's Saturday Morning cartoon lineup, whereas the ABC Afterschool Special was known for its somewhat more serious, and often dramatic storylines dealing with issues concerning a slightly older teen and pre-teen audience. With the debut of the ABC Weekend Special, some of the early ABC Afterschool Specials that had been targeted towards younger viewers were subsequently repackaged and re-run instead as ABC Weekend Specials.

Contents

Presenters

Beginning in 1979, the series was hosted by Michael Young, who served as host of the show for two seasons.

In 1981, ventriloquist Willie Tyler and his puppet Lester took over as "co-hosts" of the series, appearing in an opening segment introducing that week's episode as well as an ending segment wrapping up the show and often recommending the book that that week's episode had been based on.

In 1984, the puppet character Cap'n O. G. Readmore took over as host of the series. The character also starred in five animated episodes of the show, as well appearing in animated Saturday morning PSA's encouraging children to "read more".

Title sequence

During the series' tenure on Saturday Mornings, ABC Weekend Specials had three main opening title sequence packages, all of which included storybook/literary elements and characters in varying forms.


September 10, 1977–August 1990		 The Pop-Up Book

The original opening, designed and animated by Rick Reinert Studios, consisted of a stack of books on a library desk accompanied by a rhymic disco theme tune in the background. A larger book in the middle of the display (with the show's title printed on the cover) magically opens, with the ABC logo printed on the first page. Various figures from literature and intertitles pop up from out of the book. The intertitles read Children's Novels for Television and Short Story Specials respectively. The series title "blossoms" into view at the end of the intro.

This was the longest running umbrella sequence in the show's broadcast history.

September 1990–September 1994		 Reading is Magic

With a new decade comes a new visual sequence and theme song. For this package, Weekend Specials combined computer animation with live action elements as neighborhood kids discover the wonders of reading with a turn of a page and a little bit of magic. When the enchanted books are open, the readers become part of the story... from cowboys to undersea explorers to cave kids. One of the books (with the series title printed on the cover) magically grows and flips open, with Cap'n O.G. Readmore ushering the readers for fun and adventure.

This opener was animated by San Diego based American Film Technologies, with key animation by comic book artist Terrie Smith.

September 1994–August 30, 1997		 Adventures in Reading

During the mid 1990s, the graphics package was again updated. This CGI opener takes place back at the library, where we pan through a row of books. The camera stops at a book with the ABC Circle signature printed on the side. The logo then magically pops out and grows arms and legs and leaps to a book on a nearby desk. It opens the book and dives into an array of worlds and universes inhabited by letters! The Circle figure fights off combatants at a medieval castle, swings a vine in the jungle and flies through the solar system in its spacecraft. The Circle figure ends its journey on the front cover of a book with the show's title beside it.

Closing Credits

The closing sequence varied over the years. In the '70s and '80s, a short version of the theme played as a bookmark floats into view, gently landing in the closing Pop-Up Book. An intertitle fades in: Recommended by the National Education Association. The latter title was used until c. 1983.

List of episodes

Listed by original airdate, however many of the episodes were put into heavy rotation, continuing to air in reruns for years after their original airdate.

Short Story Specials (1977)

No. Title Airdate Synopsis
1 Valentine's Second Chance 1977 January 29
2 The Haunted Trailer 1977 March 26
3 My Dear Uncle Sherlock 1977 April 16
4 Homer and the Wacky Doughnut Machine 1977 April 30

Season 1 (1977-1978)

14 episodes:

No. Title Airdate Synopsis
5 The Winged Colt (Part 1) 1977 September 10
6 The Winged Colt (Part 2) 1977 September 17
7 The Winged Colt (Part 3) 1977 September 24
8 The Ransom of Red Chief 1977 October 22
9 Portrait of Grandpa Doc 1977 November 5
10 Trouble River (Part 1) 1977 November 12
11 Trouble River (Part 2) 1977 November 19
12 Tales of the Nunundaga (Part 1) 1977 November 26
13 Tales of the Nunundaga (Part 2) 1977 December 3
14 Escape of a One-Ton Pet (Part 1) 1978 January 7
15 Escape of a One-Ton Pet (Part 2) 1978 January 14
16 Escape of a One-Ton Pet (Part 3) 1978 January 21
17 Soup and Me 1978 February 4
18 The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy 1978 May 6

Season 2 (1978-1979)

11 episodes:

No. Title Airdate Synopsis
19 The Seven Wishes of Joanna Peabody 1978 September 9
20 The Contest Kid and the Big Prize 1978 September 16
21 If I'm Lost, How Come I Found You? (Part 1) 1978 September 30
22 If I'm Lost, How Come I Found You? (Part 2) 1978 October 7
23 The $1000 Bill 1978 October 28
24 Little Lulu 1978 November 4
25 Soup for President 1978 November 18
26 Weep No More, My Lady 1979 February 10
27 The Horse That Played Center Field (Part 1) 1979 February 24
28 The Horse That Played Center Field (Part 2) 1979 March 3
29 The Puppy's Great Adventure 1979 May 5

Season 3 (1979-1980)

12 episodes:

No. Title Airdate Production Company Synopsis
30 The Big Hex of Little Lulu 1979 September 15 ABC
31 The Contest Kid Strikes Again 1979 September 22
32 The Girl with ESP 1979 October 20
33 The Ghost of Thomas Kempe (Part 1) 1979 November 3
34 The Ghost of Thomas Kempe (Part 2) 1979 November 10
35 The Incredible Detectives 1979 November 17
36 The Revenge of Red Chief 1979 December 15
37 The Puppy's Amazing Rescue 1980 January 26
38 The Gold Bug (Part 1) 1980 February 2
39 The Gold Bug (Part 2) 1980 February 9
40 The Trouble with Miss Switch (Part 1) 1980 February 16
41 The Trouble with Miss Switch (Part 2) 1980 February 23

Season 4 (1980-1981)

8 episodes:

No. Title Airdate Synopsis
42 Scruffy (Part 1) 1980 October 4
43 Scruffy (Part 2) 1980 October 11
44 Scruffy (Part 3) 1980 October 18
45 Arthur the Kid 1981 January 3
46 Zack and the Magic Factory (Part 1) 1981 January 10
47 Zack and the Magic Factory (Part 2) 1981 January 17
48 Mayday! Mayday! (Part 1) 1981 January 24
49 Mayday! Mayday! (Part 2) 1981 January 31

Season 5 (1981-1982)

6 episodes:

No. Title Airdate Synopsis
50 The Puppy Saves the Circus 1981 September 12
51 The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County 1981 September 19
52 Bunnicula, the Vampire Rabbit 1982 January 9
53 Miss Switch to the Rescue (Part 1) 1982 January 16
54 Miss Switch to the Rescue (Part 2) 1982 January 23
55 The Joke's on Mr. Little 1982 February 6

Season 6 (1983)

9 episodes:

No. Title Airdate Synopsis
56 The Haunted Mansion Mystery (Part 1) 1983 January 8
57 The Haunted Mansion Mystery (Part 2) 1983 January 15
58 The Red Room Riddle 1983 February 5
59 Horatio Alger Updated: Frank and Fearless (Part 1) 1983 February 12
60 Horatio Alger Updated: Frank and Fearless (Part 2) 1983 February 19
61 All the Money in the World 1983 March 19
62 The Secret World of Og (Part 1) 1983 April 30
63 The Secret World of Og (Part 2) 1983 May 7
64 The Secret World of Og (Part 3) 1983 May 14

Season 7 (1984)

9 episodes:

No. Title Airdate Synopsis
65 Cougar! (Part 1) 1984 January 7
66 Cougar! (Part 2) 1984 January 14
67 Cougar! (Part 3) 1984 January 21
68 The Dog Days of Arthur Cane, Part 1 1984 February 18
69 The Dog Days of Arthur Cane, Part 2 1984 February 25
70 A Different Twist 1984 March 10
71 The Amazing Bunjee Venture (Part 1) 1984 March 24
72 The Amazing Bunjee Venture (Part 2) 1984 March 31
73 Bad Cat 1984 April 14

Season 8 (1984-1985)

8 episodes:

No. Title Airdate Synopsis
74 Henry Hamilton, Graduate Ghost (Part 1) 1984 December 8
75 Henry Hamilton, Graduate Ghost (Part 2) 1984 December 15
76 The Bollo Caper 1985 February 2
77 The Adventures of a Two-Minute Werewolf (Part 1) 1985 February 23
78 The Adventures of a Two-Minute Werewolf (Part 2) 1985 March 2
79 The Return of the Bunjee (Part 1) 1985 April 6
80 The Return of the Bunjee (Part 2) 1985 April 13
81 The Velveteen Rabbit 1985 April 20

Season 9 (1985)

9 episodes:

No. Title Airdate Synopsis
82 The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn (Part 1) 1985 September 7
83 The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn (Part 2) 1985 September 14
84 Jeeter Mason and the Magic Headset 1985 October 5
85 Cap'n O.G. Readmore's Jack and the Beanstalk 1985 October 12
86 Pippi Longstocking (Part 1) 1985 November 2
87 Pippi Longstocking (Part 2) 1985 November 9
88 Columbus Circle 1985 November 23
89 The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (Part 1) 1985 November 30
90 The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (Part 2) 1985 December 7

Season 10 (1986)

9 episodes:

No. Title Airdate Synopsis
91 Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1986 September 13
92 The Day the Kids Took Over (Part 1) 1986 September 20
93 The Day the Kids Took Over (Part 2) 1986 September 27
94 Liberty and the Littles (Part 1) 1986 October 18
95 Liberty and the Littles (Part 2) 1986 October 25
96 Liberty and the Littles (Part 3) 1986 November 1
97 The Mouse and the Motorcycle (Part 1) 1986 November 8
98 The Mouse and the Motorcycle (Part 2) 1986 November 15
99 Santabear's First Christmas 1986 November 22

Season 11 (1988)

  1. Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Little Red Riding Hood 1988 April 2
  2. Here Come the Littles, Part 1 1988 April 23
  3. Here Come the Littles, Part 2 1988 April 30
  4. Here Come the Littles, Part 3 1988 May 7

Season 12 (1988-1989)

  1. Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Puss 'N Boots 1988 September 10
  2. Runaway Ralph, Part 1 1988 October 29
  3. Runaway Ralph, Part 2 1988 November 5
  4. P.J. Funnybunny 1989 February 4
  5. The Monster Bed 1989 September 9

Season 13 (1991)

  1. Ralph S. Mouse, Part 1 1991 February 16
  2. Ralph S. Mouse, Part 2 1991 February 23
  3. Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great 1991 March 23
  4. P.J. Funnybunny: Lifestyles of the Funny and Famous 1991 March 30

Season 14 (1992)

  1. McGee and Me!: The Big Lie 1992 January 25
  2. Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Chicken Little 1992 April 18
  3. The Kingdom Chums: Original Top Ten 1992 May 2

Season 15 (1992-1993)

  1. McGee and Me!: Take Me Out to the Ballgame 1992 September 12
  2. Monster in My Pocket: The Big Scream 1992 October 31
  3. Stanley & the Dinosaurs 1992 November 7
  4. Choose Your Own Adventure: The Case of the Silk King, Part 1 1992 December 12
  5. Choose Your Own Adventure: The Case of the Silk King, Part 2 1992 December 19
  6. The Parsley Garden 1993 March 27
  7. The Legend of Lochnagar 1993 April 24
  8. Commander Toad in Space 1993 May 8

Season 16 (1993-1994)

  1. P.J.'s Unfunnybunny Christmas 1993 December 11
  2. The Magic Flute, Part 1 1994 April 30
  3. The Magic Flute, Part 2 1994 May 7

Season 17 (1994-1996)

  1. The Secret Garden (movie) 1994 November 5
  2. Jirimpimbira: An African Folk Tale 1995 February 25
  3. P.J. Funnybunny: Educating Mom
  4. P.J. Funnybunny: A Very Cool Easter 1996 March 30
  5. The Magic Pearl, Part 1
  6. The Magic Pearl, Part 2
  7. The Magic Pearl, Part 3

Other specials

Occasionally, during the Weekend Specials timeslot, ABC aired a series of specials under the title ABC Saturday Morning Specials. Two ABC's Wide World of Sports for Kids specials were also produced in 1994.

List of other specials

  1. The Great Alaska Dog Sled Race 1993 March 6
  2. Rhythm and Jam: Rhythm & Rap 1993 September 18
  3. Rhythm and Jam: Melody & Harmony 1993 September 25
  4. Kids on Ice: A Skating Adventure! 1994 February 12
  5. A Day at the Races 1994 June 11
  6. Money Made Easy: The ABC Kids' Guide to Dollars and Sense, Part 1 1994 April 2
  7. Money Made Easy: The ABC Kids' Guide to Dollars and Sense, Part 2 1994 April 9
  8. Crash the Curiousaurus, Part 1 1995 January 14
  9. Crash the Curiousaurus, Part 2 1995 January 21
  10. Wild Things: An Earth Day Special 1995 April 22
  11. The Secret of Lizard Woman
  12. Back to School With Schoolhouse Rock 1996 September 14

External links
First-run animated series
The New Casper Cartoon Show (1963–1970) • The Smokey the Bear Show (1969–1970) • The Cattanooga Cats Show (1969–1971) • Hot Wheels (1969–1971) • The Hardy Boys (1969–1971) • Skyhawks (1969–1971) • The Adventures of Gulliver (1968–1970) • Fantastic Voyage (1968–1970) • Will the Real Jerry Lewis Please Sit Down (1970–1972) • The Road Runner Show • The Funky Phantom (1971–1973) • The Jackson 5ive (1971–1973) • The Osmonds (1972–1974) • The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie (1972–1974) • The Brady Kids (1972–1974) • Kid Power (1972–1974) • Yogi's Gang (1973–1975) • Super Friends • Lassie's Rescue Rangers (1973–1975) • Goober and the Ghost Chasers (1973) • Mission: Magic! (1973–1974) • Hong Kong Phooey (1974–1976) • The New Adventures of Gilligan (1974–1977) • Devlin (1974–1976) • These Are the Days (1974–1976) • The Tom and Jerry Show (1975–1977) • The Great Grape Ape Show (1975–1976) • The Oddball Couple (1975–1977) • Jabberjaw (1976–1978) • The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour • The Mumbly Cartoon Show (1976–1977) • The All-New Super Friends Hour (1977–1978) • Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics (The Scooby-Doo Show • Laff-A-Lympics • Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels) • Fangface (1978–1979) • Challenge of the Super Friends • The All-New Pink Panther Show (1978–1979) • The World's Greatest Super Friends • The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show (Mighty Man and Yukk • Rickety Rocket) (1979–1981) • Spider-Woman (1979–1980) • Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo
First-run live-action series
American Bandstand (1957–1987) • Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp (1970–1972) • Here Come the Double Deckers (1970–1972) • Lidsville (1971–1973) • Curiosity Shop (1971–1973) • Make a Wish (1971–1976) • Korg: 70,000 B.C. (1974–1975) • The Lost Saucer (1975–1976) • Uncle Croc's Block (1975–1976) • The Krofft Supershow (1976–1978) • Junior Almost Anything Goes (1976–1978) • Animals, Animals, Animals (1976–1981) • ABC Weekend Special (1977–1997) • Kids Are People Too (1978–1982)
Rebroadcasts
George of the Jungle (1967–1970) • Bewitched • Jonny Quest (1970–1972) • H.R. Pufnstuf • The Monkees (1972–1973) • Speed Buggy • Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
Schedules
Related programming and topics
First-run animated series
The World's Greatest Super Friends (1979–1980) • The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show (Mighty Man and Yukk • Fangface • Rickety Rocket) (1979–1981) • Spider-Woman (1979–1980) • Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979–1980) • Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels (1977–1980) • The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang (1980–1982) • Richie Rich (1980–1983) • Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (shorts) (1980–1983) • Thundarr the Barbarian (1980–1982) • The Heathcliff and Dingbat Show (1980–1982) • Laverne & Shirley in the Army (1981–1982) • Pac-Man (1982–1984) • The Little Rascals (1982–1984) • Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour (1982–1983) • The Scooby & Scrappy-Doo/Puppy Hour (1982–1983) • The Puppy's Further Adventures (1982–1984) • Monchhichis (1983–1984) • Rubik, the Amazing Cube (1983–1985) • The Littles (1983–1986) • Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show (1984–1985) • Mighty Orbots (1984–1985) • Turbo Teen (1984–1985) • Dragon's Lair (1984–1985) • The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show/The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries (1983–1985) • Star Wars: Ewoks (1985–1987) • Star Wars: Droids (1985–1986) • The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985–1986) • The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo (1985) • The Care Bears (1986–1988) • The Flintstone Kids (1986–1989) • The Real Ghostbusters (1986–1991) • My Pet Monster (1987–1988) • The New Adventures of Beany and Cecil (1988) • The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988–2002) • A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (1988–1993) • Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1989–1990) • Beetlejuice (1989–1992)
First-run live-action series
ABC Weekend Special (1977–1997) • American Bandstand (1957–1987) • Animals, Animals, Animals (1976–1981) • Kids Are People Too (1978–1982) • Menudo on ABC (1983–1985) • ABC Funfit (1985) • ABC Fun Facts (1988)
Rebroadcasts
Schedules
Related programming and topics
First-run animated series
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (1988–1993) • Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1989–1990) • The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988–2002) • Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters (1986–1991) • Beetlejuice (1989–1992) • The Wizard of Oz (1990–1991) • Little Rosey (1990–1991) • New Kids on the Block (1990–1991) • Hammerman (1991–1992) • The Pirates of Dark Water (1991–1992) • Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa (1992–1994) • Goof Troop (1992–1993) • The Addams Family (1992–1995) • Cro (1993–1995) • Tales from the Cryptkeeper (1993–1995) • Sonic the Hedgehog (1993– June 1995) • Free Willy (1994–1996) • ReBoot (1994–1996) • Bump in the Night (1994–1996) • The New Adventures of Madeline (1995) • Dumb and Dumber (1995–1996) • What-a-Mess (1995–1996) • Brand Spanking New Doug (1996–2001) • Mighty Ducks (1996–1997) • Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles (1996–1997) • Jungle Cubs (1996–1997) • Nightmare Ned (1997) • 101 Dalmatians: The Series (1997–1998) • Recess (1997–2004) • Pepper Ann (1997–2001) • Science Court (1997–2000) • Hercules (1998–1999) • Mickey Mouse Works (1999–2001) • Sabrina: The Animated Series (1999–2001)
First-run live-action series
Animal Crack-Ups (1987–1990) • ABC Weekend Special (1977–1997) • Land of the Lost (1992–1994) • CityKids (1993–1994) • Fudge (1995–1996) • Hypernauts (1996) • Bone Chillers (1996–1997) • Flash Forward (1996–1997)
Rebroadcasts
The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show (1985–2000) • DuckTales (1997)
Schedules
Related programming and topics

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