Today's Special - "Hats" - Part 1

In a department store at night, display designer Jodie is working on a display of Hats for the sale the next day. Jeff, a mannequin that comes to life at night - and is learning about the world, is learning about hats, along with Muffy, a mouse that lives in a hole in the wall in the store, and talks in rhyme. Also, Sam Crenshaw, the night watchman is doing his duty rounds with the help of his talking computer TXL and reveals a secret wish about wanting to be a cowboy. The rest of this episode focuses mostly on hats as the "Today's Special" gang gets together for the first time.

This is the rare pilot episode of one of Canada's finest Children's educational TV shows ever produced - "Today's Special". TVO failed to upload this episode in their public archive despite my request so I decided to pull out my VHS copy and upload it here.

This is the full length (28:30) broadcast version as seen on Treehouse TV when then owned the broadcast rights to this show back in the early 2000's.

Those who may have seen "Today's Special" in the States saw abbreviated episodes which were edited to allow for commercials.

In Canada, where the show originated, it was broadcast and produced by TVOntario, an educational station that commercial-free. TVOntario has been noted for their award-winning children's programming of the 80's-90's. "Today's Special" was one of their flagship programs in this regard.

Interesting thing about this episode the one that followed (Snow); they were the only two in which Jodie wears the orange jumpsuit seen in the opening credits used for the entirety of the show. After the first two episodes, she is seen wearing various incarnations of pink outfit through to the show's completion in the late 80's. I guess they didn't want to re-film the opening.

Enjoy! And don't forget to subscribe. I will be uploading some more nostalgic goodies as time allows!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Hats
• Today's
• Special
• Jeff
• Hyslop
• Nerene
• Virgin
• Bob
• Dermer
• Muffy
• Sam
• Crenshaw
• Jodie
• TVOntario
• TVO
• 80's
• shows
• kids
• Manniquin
• Magic
• hat
• Department
• store
• Simpsons
• Toronto
• Clive
• Vanderburgh
• canada

[JenniferEnnett]

yes

[RetroWinnipeg]

Didn't "Today's Special" only air on Treehouse in 1997-98 (launch schedule)?