Today's Special Let's Meet The Computer

[Chordcords]

What I like about this scene is that this isn't an issue that a kid would readily identify with in that era. In the 80's, older workers were still adjusting to desktop computers,and the system of the day ran some variant of MS-DOS or BASIC.

Imagine Sam is a mid-to-late lifer who works the nightshift in a dead-end job, making ends meet & fortunate enough to have friends at work. Suddenly, with the introduction TXLs4, his job changes, and he's skeptical.

This scene was written for adults & kids.

[genestarwindjf80]

I REALLY REALLY MISS THIS SHOW. I was like 8yrs old when this came out. THEY NICKELODEON AND PARAMOUNT SHOULD PUT THIS ON DVD I WOULD BUY IT ON DAY ONE!

[NeverDoubt1]

@genestarwindjf80 TV Ontario posted some episodes on its online public archive. I sent them a thank you email, lol. Maybe if enough people do it the show could eventually get to DVD.

[MegaNFer81]

I'm guessing Muffy was the first "mouse" in the computer lab!

[michaeltgrace]

"Do not hit. I am delicate". Just like a woman.

[glandryiris]

I've got a curious question, and this is a common theme with TXL. In a lot of episodes, particularly "Hello Friend" (1985), she says "I do not know how to read Bliss Symbols". However, she still gives us a quiz on them. If that's the case, are TXL and the voice that talks to us (with the mime lady) two different entities? If this show was for adults, they should have taken the man vs. machine approach when discovering TXL's true identity. I wonder if anyone else had noticed this.

[MegaNFer81]

What ep is this- I'm assuming an earlier? (I was born 1981- didnt start watching till about '84 or so). Back then a talking computer was like- Wow! TXL's color was a far cry from my green screen Apple II in school a few years later!

[djlamar2]

plus 1 ridiculously skin hat :P. TXL has a sense of humor.

[stringzable]

sam wants to use the computer to check on jodie. abusing his position just a little bit.

[klr181979]

Great...now where's Pinwheel?

[JPThunder01]

I loved when the computer would go nuts and stuff would be shooting out of it everywhere, the speaker in the corner would come up out of nowhere

[Supageeksupafreek]

nothing like a wise ass apple II to get sam krensaw in a bitchy mood!

[Majesticon]

wow, sam straight up asked muffy "what's your deal homey?!"

sam was kind of an asshole

[celticpoet81]

Hahaha...I loved this show when I was a kid. Sam reminds me of my dad trying when he tries to use the computer at his & my mom's house, only he calls it nastier names than "computer" XD

[hollowmenrule]

are any of these episodes for sale? this show is so magical and kick butt

[mooky9669]

I AM A TXL SERIES 4 COMPUTER!! Classic childhood memories!

[rockinstlouis]

for those who you don't know.. that's an Apple II ... the monitor is an old TV yes.. but the unit is an Apple II...

[Jennennett]

it is not

[divadre30]

love this show that computer is pretty weird looking

[cdatelle]

Aaah the memories of being a kid. Compared to the 80s & 90s, today's tv shows aren't as good as they used to be. That's when I say thank God for youtube!

[fornello123]

computer, would you please show me the security tapes from Jodi's bedroom? I want to see if she wore that swell nightie yesterday.  you don't have it? ah yes, I deleted it to make room for mannequin porn. my mistake.

[shadyshane212000]

I was born in 82, and I used to watch this show all the time

[daizygrl]

it's like my old Tandy computer, we had to use a t.v. monitor.

[mapleavenue77]

This is funny!

[djlamar2]

another thing since muffy kinda was disgruntled by sam for talking in rhyme i wouldve said "thats what makes you special muffy."

[djlamar2]

if they ever remake this show i hope they dont change the way the characters are. especially muffy mouse.

[djlamar2]

sam crimshaws computer always had an attitude. txl you crack me up.

[ralphbuttawitzonline]

There were some eps where sam used to pull the plug on it...and the best is when he called it the wrong name.

[schuminweb]

@ralphbuttawitzonline Two occasions when Sam pulled TXL's plug. Once was on "Pets", when TXL went on and on about naming off different kinds of animals, and Sam did her. The other time was on "Sleep" when TXL explained that she did not need sleep and go on and on and on[...]. Then Sam pulled her plug, and he said, "Unless someone pulls your plug! Say good night, Susie-Q!" (he had earlier referred to TXL as a "Susie-Q", getting the usual "I am a TXL Series 4 computer" response)

[schuminweb]

@djlamar2 Indeed, TXL someone gets one over on Sam. My favorite was in "Fruit" when Sam said that he wished TXL would make mistakes sometimes. TXL said, in song, "Well, if mistakes you wanna have, you're not hard to please! I mistakes all the time, when you press wrong keys!" (in other words, I only make mistakes when *you* give me bad information!)

[limetimetelevision]

lol wow is that a tv with a knob on it?

[tb516]

Sam was the man

[KungFuLegendContinue]

i hope i can upgrade to a computer like this some day

[LUNARWOLF22]

Cast Nikki Tilroe - The Mime Lady

Cheryl Wagner - Mrs. Pennypacker

Nina Keogh - Muffy

Jeff Hyslop-JEFF

Nerene Virgin - Jodie

Robyn Hayle - TXL

Bob dreamer-Sam

[schuminweb]

@LUNARWOLF22 Actually, Robyn Hayle was normally credited as "the computer". For some reason, they never used "TXL" in the credits.

[lemonrind]

I loved the computer in this show. I think I'll install flashing bars on the sides of my computer monitor.

[schuminweb]

@lemonrind If they made such kinds of sound-sensitive lights, I would most definitely get some to install on my computer. That would be fun.

[schuminweb]

@lemonrind For that matter, I would also love to get a dancing speaker to put in the corner of my computer desk.

[xherii]

Oh i didn't knew that the computers were that advanced back then to be touch sensetive?? I think these kind of TV-shows are making our generation think far too advance about technology then the current avilable technology..

[danielzimmy69]

lol Sam sounds like a 60 year old italian gangster

[tristanunsworth]

Sam is THE definition of hypocrite criticizing poor Muffy for talking in rhyme (calling it "peculiar", a word my grandparents used) when *HE* use to spend his time in a small room talking to a computer w/ a sultry female voice. ;-) I bet she watched him jerk off. Not being gross on purpose.

[Jennennett]

no he doesen't

[rockinstlouis]

It's amazing to remember that the Apple II was such a popular computer back then. Apple has always done shameless promotion in TV shows :)

[schuminweb]

@rockinstlouis Actually, any Apple logos and such were covered on the computer, and the keyboard wasn't an Apple II in the final two seasons.

[desmoquattro123]

Sam kinda sounds like Special Ed from Crank Yankers

[kaernrose]

this is why i majored in computer science. too bad my computer isn't as cool as sams

[ArchieAA]

"This video, when seeing it now, shows how I am now doing what I do.." your a security gaurd?

[Wiggymaster]

TXL was awesome

[jaclyn121]

Fuck I'm old...I remember this

[rockabillycat1954]

for some reason, i remember the computer scene being alot cooler than this. ugh. show's what a fertile imagination and nearly 20 years can do to your memory. LOL. Still, very happy I got to see this again after SO many years.

[tomsjuan]

I am so glad that everyone is having as much fun with this as I did.. This makes me often wonder..

[ywbef]

It's not your imagination, the set was redone later on in the series.

[schuminweb]

@ywbef There were three computer room sets. This one was used only on "Hats" and "Snow". Then a brown set was used for the rest of 1981 through 1983. Then in 1984, "Changes" introduced a gray and orange computer room set with lots of automation to it, and that was used for the remainder of the series. 1986 was the first time human characters came into the computer room.

[howardkevinm]

@rockabillycat1954 this is an earlier version. the ones in later episodes is better.

[fgsltwhghobstwbihsnp]

@rockabillycat1954 I believe the computer design was updated in later episodes.

[fornello123]

@rockabillycat1954 they upgraded the computer in later episodes.

[coffeecravings]

lol I'd forgotten Muffy spoke in rhyme! Man, I loved this show!

[ethansjsmith]

Loved this show as a kid.  Ahh memories. TXL rocks! *lol*

[happy7117]

As I said in my above post!! KITT and TXL

would be darn perfect for each other--too

bad KITTS voice was not TXL's!! TXL is

the perfect female equivalent of KITT..

Sam's computer and keyboard has to be black

though as in KR!!I bet Michael would turbo

boost into TXL's heart!! I also like to think

of Jeff and Jodie as Michael and Bonnie!!

I also liked to think of Waldo the Magnificent

as Devon!!

[tvwhiz]

Oh yeah. TXL, she's a very clever little gal according to Sam.

[justin328]

lol...big deal the Machine can count..lol...funny

[happy7117]

Would have been funny if Sam went

Sam:"TXL?"

TXL: "Yes Sam?"

Sam: "Shut Up!"

[skwhirl]

Love how they portrayed computers back in the day with the flashing light when it was talking, like Knight Rider's KITT. And wasn't that a tall order for 'Machine Vision' technology?!

[happy7117]

I was thinking since I am also a big fan of Michael and KITT, TXL reminds me of KITT so much!! I mean

TXL's voice needs to be put into a Black t-top-

seriously- TXL had a sexy voice and had all the

traits of KITT- personality- emotions- very smart!!--

The Hoff needs to hook up with TXL!! If KITT

was femaled voice--TXL would be perfect!!

[ywbef]

The "keyboard" is a 1981-vintage Apple-II with the logo obscured.