Today's Special facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Today's Special |
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| Created by | Clive VanderBurgh |
| Starring | Jeff Hyslop Nerene Virgin Bob Dermer Nina Keogh |
| Country of origin | Canada U.S. |
| No. of seasons | 7 |
| No. of episodes | 122 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 Minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | TVOntario (Canada) Nickelodeon/Nick Jr./PBS Playhouse Disney Noggin Discovery Kids (U.S.) |
| Original release | September 1, 1981 – July 1, 1987 |
Today's Special was a fun Canadian TV show for kids. It was made by Clive VanderBurgh at TVOntario from 1981 to 1987. The show took place inside a big department store. This store was inspired by the famous Simpson's store in Toronto. Many parts of the show were filmed there after the store closed for the day.
Meet the Characters
Main Characters
- Jeff (Jeff Hyslop): Jeff is a mannequin who comes to life! He wears a magic hat. When someone says "hocus pocus alimagocus," he becomes a real person. But if his hat falls off, he turns back into a mannequin. He can't leave the store, or he'll stay a mannequin forever. Jeff is new to the world, so he learns a lot about everyday things. He's also a great dancer and often shows off his moves. Even though he wishes he could leave the store, he always puts his friends first.
- Jodie (Nerene Virgin): Jodie is the store's display designer. She is kind and calm. Jodie often teaches Jeff about the world. She also helps him set up the store displays. Jodie is a natural leader among her friends. She always offers comfort and helps them with their problems.
- Sam Crenshaw (puppet, Bob Dermer): Sam is the store's security guard. He was born in 1919, making him the oldest of the main characters. Sam is usually relaxed, but he can get very excited when he finally notices something important. He might seem a bit clumsy or not always quick to understand. However, he means well and is good at his job. Sam used to be a sailor and loves to sing "Singin' Yo Hee Ho." He has a pet cat named Penelope, who Muffy is scared of. Sam sometimes uses a computer to watch over the store.
- Muffy Mouse (puppet, Nina Keogh): Muffy is a mouse who lives in the store. She always speaks in rhymes! Muffy loves to play the piano and ride her scooter. She wears a feather boa like a lasso. Muffy enjoys playing tricks and being a little mischievous. Like any mouse, she loves cheese and other snacks. She is young and sometimes a bit naive. Muffy gets upset easily, especially if someone mentions cats. Her cousin, Mort, visits her sometimes.
Other Important Characters
- TXL Series 4 (Robyn Hayle): This is the store's computer system. Sam uses it in the security room. TXL sounds like a woman and seems to have feelings, even though it's a machine.
- Mrs. Pennypacker (puppet, Cheryl Wagner): Mrs. Pennypacker works in the stock room at night. She is an older lady but is often more energetic than Sam. Her motto is "I know where everything goes." The others often ask her for help finding things in the store.
- Mort (puppet, Bob Stutt): Mort is Muffy's cousin. He lives on a farm, which is very different from Muffy's city life. Like Muffy, Mort speaks in rhymes. He often comes to visit.
- Waldo the Magnificent (Barrie Baldaro): Waldo is the magician who first brought Jeff to life. He is wise but sometimes a bit clumsy. His magic spells often go wrong, and he might need a few tries to get them right. A funny thing he does is always calling Sam by the wrong name.
- The Mime Lady (Nikki Tilroe): This character appears in quiz parts of the show. She communicates without words, using only gestures. Nikki Tilroe also voiced other characters in the show.
- Eddie ([Little People]): A boy with blond hair, usually wearing a red-and-white striped shirt and blue pants.
- Michael ([Little People]): An African-American boy, often seen in an aquamarine sweater, blue pants, and a red cap.
- Sarah Lynn ([Little People]): A girl with blond hair, typically wearing a blue shirt with a red flower.
- Maggie ([Little People]): A girl with curly light brown hair, usually in a light blue shirt and red glasses.
- Sonya Lee ([Little People]): An Asian-American girl, who wears a white shirt, pink overalls, and a pink headband.
How the Show Works
Every night, Jodie comes to work in the children's department. She carries Jeff, the mannequin, upstairs. Then, Muffy says the magic words: "hocus pocus alimagocus!" This brings Jeff to life for the night.
Many early episodes focused on teaching about everyday objects, like hats or costumes. Later episodes explored more complex ideas, like making choices or dealing with big feelings.
The show often included short films, usually less than a minute long. These were breaks from the main story. Robyn Hayle, who voiced TXL, narrated them. These short films included segments with the Mime Lady, animated quizzes to test how well kids observed things, and narrated storybooks. Muffy would also introduce popular nursery rhymes by saying, "And now I'd like to introduce a nursery rhyme by Mother Goose."
Many episodes featured visitors to the store. Some visitors caused problems, while others became friends and helped solve issues. These guests included friends or family of the characters. Sometimes, people came to the store for their jobs. Other times, visitors arrived by magic, like in "Treasure Hunts" or "The Queen of Hearts." There were even strange, non-human characters, like in "Space" or "Sam and the Robot." Real-life famous people also appeared, such as in "Opera" or "Trash." Magic was a big part of many episodes, and the characters often went on magical adventures.
