The Top 5 Episodes Where Sitcoms Got Serious

[Family Ties Forever!]

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Remember These 'Very Special' TV Episodes?
The Top 5 Episodes Where Sitcoms Got Serious ... Kind Of
Robert Elsenpeter, Contributing writer
Sitcoms give us 30 minutes (22 if you don't figure in the commercials), of brainless, escapist fun.

They give us a chance to forget the world, turn off our brains, and see how Jack overhears Chrissy talk about buying a loaf of bread, but misunderstanding her to mean that she's pregnant. The hilarity ensues, we laugh for a while, and then we can get back to our awful lives.

But some genius decided that sitcoms were too frivolous, and they would be good vehicles to deliver poignant messages. Apparently Afterschool Specials weren't getting the job done, so TV execs gave us: "The Very Special" episode.

These were the episodes of our favorite sitcoms that took on issues that would make everyone in the room feel uncomfortable to learn that Becky just "became a woman."

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Best 'Very Special' TV Episode No. 5
Arnold Vs. A Pedophile - 'Diff'rent Strokes'

There are probably two things that come to mind when one mentions "Diff'rent Strokes." The first, of course, is the line that the late Gary Coleman was known for decades after the show ended: "What 'chu talkin' 'bout [fill in name here]?" The second is the creepy two-part episode in season five where Arnold and his buddy face a child molester.

In it, Gordon Jump (Mr. Carlson from "WKRP in Cincinnati") is a bicycle shop owner who tries to molest Arnold and Dudley. As if it isn't creepy enough to learn that he is a pedophile, we learn what sorts of things he does -- including hot tub sessions and amateur photography.

At one point in the show, he even plies Dudley some wine and a pill that causes him to get loopy. This turns out to be the final red flag Arnold needs to get out of there. Don't worry -- he saved Dudley.

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Best 'Very Special' TV Episode No. 4
Tom Hanks The Alcoholic Uncle - 'Family Ties'

There was a time when Tom Hanks wasn't the box office stalwart he is today. Really. If you think back to the early 1980s, you could find him in a dress on "Bosom Buddies," or -- if you were particularly lucky -- flip on "Family Ties" to find one of the three episodes where he plays Elyse's brother.

The notable second-season episode "Say Uncle" in 1984 revealed that Uncle Ned had a drinking problem. It was apparently so severe that he was able to settle the monkey on his back by drinking a bottle of vanilla extract. Uncle Ned got the help he needed (only after knocking down Alex -- you animal! What has that vanilla extract made you become?)

And, for Tom Hanks, the rest is acting history. His star went on to rise and he became a highly bankable actor. Now, he doesn't have to buy cheap vanilla extract -- he gets the top shelf stuff.

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Best 'Very Special' TV Episode No. 3
Punky's Friend Vs. A Refrigerator - 'Punky Brewster'

At least "Family Ties" had some sort of undercurrent of relevant issues. But "Punky Brewster" was just something to keep 8-year-old girls quiet.
Tackling hard-hitting issues may not have been the best idea for this show.

Of course, it may have been a hard sell to take on issues like alcoholism or pedophilia, so the writers had to find something serious, but not so serious that your demographic needs to seek counseling. The writers' answer: Getting locked in a refrigerator.

In the 1986 second-season episode "Cherie Lifesaver," Punky's dad buys a new refrigerator and carelessly puts the old one in the back yard. Later, during a heated game of hide and seek, Punky's friend Cherie hides in the refrigerator and suffocates. Luckily, Punky and her friends just learned CPR, so she was able to snatch Cherie from death's vile clutches. Take that, Reaper!

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Best 'Very Special' TV Episode No. 2
Jessie Gets Hooked On Caffeine Pills - 'Saved by the Bell'

Anyone who says they willingly watched "Saved by the Bell" should just hang their head in shame and give up their TV's remote control. The show was absolutely ridiculous. That said, by the time "Saved" was ready to take on their own "very special" episode, all the really important issues had been tackled.

But, since we were already into the 1990s, there were some new issues to warn about. Online predators were still a few years off, but there was something -- drug abuse. Yes, the issue has been addressed over and over, but not quite like "Saved" did it in the second-season episode "Jessie's Song."

Jessie needed a little help to keep on top of her budding music career -- but unlike those who turned to needle drugs or a pipe, she turns to caffeine pills to keep her going. It was up to Zach to help her get the help she needed.

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Best 'Very Special' TV Episode No. 1
Bobby Lies To Joe Namath - 'The Brady Bunch'

Bobby Brady sure was cute as a button, wasn't he? He was a little rapscallion who was always getting into hijinks that were always forgiven by the end of the episode. "Brady Bunch" took on their own version of the "very special" episode when Bobby tells a string of lies -- each compounding on the last.

In fifth-season episode "Mail Order Hero," Bobby lies to his friends, telling them that he knows Joe Namath. When the boys call Bobby on his tall tale, he convinces Broadway Joe that he is sick and his dying wish is to see him.
It all comes to a head; Bobby gets called out on it; and Joe is a good sport -- thus wrapping things up nicely in 22 minutes. And this happened before cousin Oliver ruined the show, so it was at least watchable.

Distributed by Internet Broadcasting.

[James]

The only one I've seen of those five is the Bobby Brady/Joe Namath episode, which I never thought was "very special."

[SpenceOlchin]

The Arnold/Pedophile episode is the one I most remember. It's a shame that there are many people out there just like the "bicycle shop owner". Really eye opening stuff.

[andress_jade]

There was a episode of Mr. Belvedere where Wesley encountered a pedophile. Luckily, he was able to get help before the pedophile did anything to him.

There was an episode of The Cosby Show where Cliff and Clair found a joint in Theo's geography book that someone put there.

There was an episode of the Golden Girls where Rose was addicted to pain pills and had to get help.

There was an episode where Rose had an HIV scare because of a blood transfusion. Luckily she was fine.

There was an episode of the Golden Girls where Dorothy was sick and couldn't figure out what was wrong. Turns out she had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

[factsoflife]

i cannot believe that they failed to mention "Blossom" which was the MASTER of the "Very special episode" such as:

the episode where Blossom, um, Blossoms

or the episode where Nick finds a joint in the house and thinks it was Tony's

or the episode where Blossom is nearly date raped

or any of the other many episodes that blossom was famous for.

[santaburger]

I agree, I never thought of that Brady Bunch episode as being of the 'very special' type, espeically not #1.

A few others that come to mind:

All in the Family - Edith is assaulted/almost assaulted. I forget the details, but remember it was very uncomfortable.

Laverne & Shirley - Laverne's firefighter boyfriend dies on the job about halfway through the episode, leading to lots of sappy moments and somewhat awkward drama.

[McGillicuddy]

Rhoda When Rhoda and Joe separated.

[benjamoon]

I agree about "The Brady Bunch" - that was hardly the type of episode that was considered a "very special" episode. Other real examples were the Happy Days episode where Richie "almost died" from the motorcycle accident and the Family Ties episode where Alex's friend died

[Retro4Life]

Yeah the BB episode really has no business on this list.

What about the WKRP episode dealing with the deaths at the Cincinnati "Who" concert?

What about the episodes of AITF where Gloria, then later Edith, almost got raped?

While we're at it how about a lot of AITF eps? The one guest starring Gregory Sierra, the Beverly LaSalle episode, the one where Archie talked a guy out of jumping off a building, the Vietnam draft dodger episode, and on and on...?

[catlover79]

^ You're totally right about Gregory Sierra's () guest spot on AITF, which was one of the most memorable episodes in the series' run. I don't think anyone saw what happened coming. The Punky Brewster episode still creeps me out to this day. I can't believe they left out James Evans' death on Good Times.

[catlover79]

I thought Tom Hanks was in 2 FT episodes, not three. Then I looked it up and his first appearance was a two-parter. I still love that immortal line - "the falcon has landed and the fat man walks alone". (That was when he was being hunted by the FBI for embezzling, not when he became a drunk.)

[Retro4Life]

Originally Posted by catlover79

^ You're totally right about Gregory Sierra's () guest spot on AITF, which was one of the most memorable episodes in the series' run. I don't think anyone saw what happened coming. The Punky Brewster episode still creeps me out to this day. I can't believe they left out James Evans' death on Good Times.

Honestly, aside from the (pointless) inclusion of the BB ep, it seems like this is yet another viewer who's never viewed any television made before 1980.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

Honestly, aside from the (pointless) inclusion of the BB ep, it seems like this is yet another viewer who's never viewed any television made before 1980.

Not to mention nearly every episode of Facts of Life was a very special...I also agree that WKRP's episode about the Who concert tragedy should be on that list.

[andress_jade]

I know this thread is old but I decided to pull it out of the attic and dust of the cobwebs to mention the episode on Frasier called Rooms With a View. Niles had to have heart surgery. It was a very serious episode with a bit of comedy thrown in. The characters did a lot of reminiscing by remembering past events. In the end, Niles survived but it was a very special and touching episode. It had everything. The actors were superb.

[megamanj2004]

I definitely remembered the FT Drunkeness eppy really well.

It was also one of the rare times that I've ever saw Steve get really pissed!

Same goes for DS. The creepiest part about that ep. was the pedophile was played none other than WKRP's Gordon Jump.

In fact a few dozen later season DS eps. had these kinds of moments.

I remember the Camp Counselor Mr. B. ep as well.



Also, The Hogan Family ep. where Rich (Tom Hodges) dies from AIDS in a S6 episode IMO was one of the better and more serious eps. to deal w/ the AIDS epidemic.