TV series

ABC Afterschool Special

1972–1997 · 25 seasons

A well-meaning, issue-driven anthology that treats teenage problems with earnest seriousness, often feeling like a dramatic lesson but with genuine emotional moments.

Created by: Guy Fraumeni
Genres: Drama
Starring: Carrie Snodgress, Rob Stone, Ronee Blakley

Overview: 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.

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In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.

Created by: Guy Fraumeni
Genres: Drama
Starring: Carrie Snodgress, Rob Stone, Ronee Blakley

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How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone: earneststrength 3 of 3
melancholicstrength 2 of 3
tensestrength 1 of 3
warmstrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: coming-of-age
family
identity
addiction
class
Places: school
suburbs
home
Era: contemporary
Audience: teen
Form: anthology
true story
Content intensity: Gore none
Language mild
Violence mild
Sex mild

All scales, 0 to 10

Scales, 0 to 10
Scale	Value	0 to 10
Action	1
Horror	1
Humour	2
Realism	8
Romance	2
Tension	4
Darkness	4
Complexity	3
Emotional weight	6

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Where to watch in the UK

No UK streaming, rental or purchase options are known.

Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

Details

Genres: drama
Created by: Guy Fraumeni
Written by: Elaine Evans Rushnell, Jean Robinson, Larry Spiegel, Dick Robbins
Starring: Carrie Snodgress, Rob Stone, Ronee Blakley, Albert Hague, Beth Howland, John Karlen, Katharine Ross, Carl Weintraub
Music: Michel Legrand, Jonathan Sheffer
Cinematography: Tom Hurwitz
Length: 25 seasons, 148 episodes, 60 min each
Network: ABC
Languages: English

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ABC Afterschool Special

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Where to watch in the UK

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