ABC Weekend Special is a weekly 30-minute American television anthology series for children that aired Saturday mornings on ABC from September 10, 1977 to August 30, 1997, which featured a wide variety of stories that were both live-action and animated. Similar to both ABC Afterschool Special and The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie, 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. The main focus of ABC Weekend Special was to encourage children to read.
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.
Presenters/hosts 1979–1981: Michael Young served as host of the series for two seasons.
1981–1984: Willie Tyler and his dummy Lester took over as the new 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.
1984–1989: The puppet character Cap'n O. G. Readmore took over as host of the series, along with Jon "Bowzer" Bauman, and/or other celebrity guest co-hosts. The character also starred in five animated episodes of the show, as well appearing in animated Saturday morning PSAs 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.
January 29, 1977–August 1990The 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 rhythmic 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 1994Reading 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, 1997Adventures 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 1970s and 1980s, 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 NEA intertitle 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)
Four episodes:
No. Title Airdate Production Company Synopsis1 Valentine's Second Chance Jan 29, 1977 ABC Circle Films A safecracker (Ken Berry) receives a second chance at freedom when he risks arrest to open a time-locked safe to save the life of a young boy named Joe Willie (Sean Marshall).2 The Haunted Trailer Mar 26, 1977 Sharon (Lauren Tewes) and Mickey (Monie Ellis) are teenage sisters who discover that their motor home is haunted by four pesky male ghosts and join forces in their efforts to rid their home of the unwanted guests.3 My Dear Uncle Sherlock Apr 16, 1977 A 12-year-old amateur sleuth (Robbie Rist) teams with his detective uncle (Royal Dano) to find the culprit who robbed a wealthy old recluse.4 Homer and the Wacky Doughnut Machine Apr 30, 1977 Homer, a mechanically-inclined young boy (Michael LeClair), invents an automatic doughnut making machine to help save his uncle's (David Doyle) faltering coffee shop.
Season 1 (1977–1978) 14 episodes:
No. Title Airdate Production Company Synopsis5 The Winged Colt Sep 10, 1977 ABC Circle Films (Part 1) Uncle Coot, a former movie stuntman and ranch owner (Slim Pickens) and his nephew Charles (Ike Eisenmann) become the owners of a colt born with wings.6 Sep 17, 1977 (Part 2) Uncle Coot refuses to believe the colt can fly, but Charles is convinced that it will.7 Sep 24, 1977 (Part 3) When the winged colt disappears again, Charles goes in pursuit and runs into an old hermit (Keenan Wynn) who claims he has seen Comet fly.8 The Ransom of Red Chief Oct 22, 1977 Two inept con men (Jack Elam and Strother Martin) kidnap a financier's son – a mischievous boy who calls himself Red Chief (Patrick Petersen) – and request a large ransom for his return, but the boy turns the tables on his captors.9 Portrait of Grandpa Doc Nov 05, 1977 Phoenix Films A young artist (Bruce Davison) prepares a tribute to his loving grandfather (Melvyn Douglas), a man who encouraged him to pursue his dreams.10 Trouble River Nov 12, 1977 Martin Tahse Productions (Part 1) A young boy (Michael LeClair) and his grandmother (Nora Denney) ride a makeshift raft down a dangerous river to escape from a group of renegades.11 Nov 19, 1977 (Part 2)12 Tales of the Nunundaga Nov 26, 1977 20th Century Fox (Part 1)13 Dec 03, 1977 (Part 2)14 The Escape of a One-Ton Pet Jan 07, 1978 Tomorrow Entertainment (Part 1) A young girl tries to save her prizewinning bull from the butcher shop.15 Jan 14, 1978 (Part 2)16 Jan 21, 1978 (Part 3)17 Soup and Me Feb 04, 1978 ABC Circle Films The misadventures of two friends, Soup (Christian Berrigan) and Rob (Shane Sinutko) during one October day: skinny dipping in a chilly pond, dressing up as girls to avoid a bully and destroying a Halloween party with an out-of-control baby carriage carrying a giant pumpkin.18 The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy May 6, 1978 Ruby-Spears Petey the puppy (voiced by Todd Turquand) goes through a series of harrowing adventures as he sets out to the city to adopt a boy of his own.
Season 2 (1978–1979) 12 episodes:
No. Title Airdate Production Company Synopsis19 The Seven Wishes of Joanna Peabody Sep 09, 1978 Learning Corporation of America Joanna Peabody (Star-Shemah) is granted seven wishes by Aunt Thelma, a wise fairy godmother (Butterfly McQueen) who appears on Joanna's TV screen. Joanna squanders a few wishes before she learns the value of sharing.20 The Contest Kid and the Big Prize Sep 16, 1978 ABC Circle Films Harvey Small, a 12-year-old boy (Patrick Petersen) enters a contest and wins first prize: the services of a butler named Hawkins (John Williams) for one month.21 If I'm Lost, How Come I Found You? Sep 30, 1978 (Part 1)22 Oct 07, 1978 (Part 2)23 The $100,000 Bill Oct 28, 1978 An insecure insurance salesman (Donny Most) asserts his independence by telling off his boss and quitting his job when he finds a large amount of cash and later discovers he possesses counterfeit 1,000 dollar bills.24 Little Lulu Nov 04, 1978 Little Lulu (Lauri Hendler), the mischievous little girl with big goals, and her friends crusade for women's rights when the boys object to the fact that their summer camp, Camp Whackadoo, has become co-ed.25 Soup for President Nov 18, 1978 Soup (Christian Berrigan) runs for school president against Janice Riker (Mary Margaret Patts), the toughest kid in school.26 Weep No More, My Lady Feb 10, 1979 Ruby-Spears Skeeter (voiced by Jeremy Lawrence), a young Mississippi boy, adopts a courageous dog named My Lady and together they challenge the dangers of a scary swamp when they are both held prisoner by a vengeful man.27 The Horse That Played Centerfield Feb 24, 1979 (Part 1) The N.Y. Goats baseball team have not won a game yet, but manager Casey Balloo (voiced by John Erwin) has a brainstorm – he sends in Oscar, a horse who is very good at catching oranges – to catch flys in center field and figures that the team's playing will improve. Oscar manages to lead the Goats to victory.28 Mar 03, 1979 (Part 2) With Oscar as a permanent team member, the Goats make it to the World Series. When the Goats win the first three games, Oscar is suddenly "horsenapped" and everyone sets out on a wild hunt to rescue him before the Series is lost.29 The Baby with Four Fathers Mar 31, 1979 D'Angelo/Bullock/Allen Productions In 1946 New York City, four 11-year-old boys (Al Billera, Patrick Piccininni, Albert Ferrara, Eric Gurry) encounter problems when they find an abandoned baby girl and decide to "adopt" her.30 The Puppy's Great Adventure May 12, 1979 Ruby-Spears Petey (voiced by Bryan Scott) is determined to prove he is an individual when his new owner is adopted by parents who do not like dogs.
Season 3 (1979–1980) 12 episodes: