The ABC Weekend Special is a weekly 30-minute anthology

Anthology

An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...

 TV series for children that aired Saturday mornings on ABC

American Broadcasting Company

The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...

 from 1977 to 1997. It featured a wide variety of stories that were both live-action and animated

Animated cartoon

An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot...

.

Similar to the ABC Afterschool Special

ABC Afterschool Special

The ABC Afterschool Special is an American television anthology series that aired on ABC from 1972 to 1996, usually in the late afternoon on week days. Most of the episodes were dramatic presentations of situations, often controversial, of interest to children and teenagers. Several episodes were...

that had started five years previous, the ABC Weekend Special differed in that it was primarily aimed at younger viewers following ABC's

American Broadcasting Company

The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...

 Saturday Morning cartoon

Saturday morning cartoon

A Saturday morning cartoon is the colloquial term for the animated television programming that has typically been scheduled on Saturday mornings on the major American television networks from the 1960s to the present; the genre's peak in popularity mostly ended in the 1990s while the popularity of...

 lineup, whereas the ABC Afterschool Special

ABC Afterschool Special

The ABC Afterschool Special is an American television anthology series that aired on ABC from 1972 to 1996, usually in the late afternoon on week days. Most of the episodes were dramatic presentations of situations, often controversial, of interest to children and teenagers. Several episodes were...

was known for its somewhat more serious, and often dramatic storylines dealing with issues concerning a slightly older teen and pre-teen audience, though some Afterschool Special episodes were re-run as Weekend Specials.

Title sequence

During the series' tenure on Saturday Mornings, ABC Weekend Specials has had three main opening title sequence

Title sequence

A Title Sequence is the method by which cinematic films or television programs present their title, key production and cast members, or both, utilizing conceptual visuals and sound...

 packages, all of which had included storybook/literary elements and characters in varying forms.

September 10, 1977–August 1990	The 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 rhymic 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 1994	Reading 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, 1997	Adventures 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 '70s and '80s, 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 latter title was used until c. 1983.

Presenters

Beginning in 1979, the series was hosted by Michael Young, who served as host of the show for two seasons.

In 1981, ventriloquist Willie Tyler

Willie Tyler

Willie Tyler is an American ventriloquist, comedian and actor. Most of the time, he is credited as Willie Tyler and Lester or Willie Tyler & Lester. He has appeared in many television commercials, sitcoms, and movies. He got his first big break in 1972 on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.-Personal...

 and his puppet Lester

Willie Tyler

Willie Tyler is an American ventriloquist, comedian and actor. Most of the time, he is credited as Willie Tyler and Lester or Willie Tyler & Lester. He has appeared in many television commercials, sitcoms, and movies. He got his first big break in 1972 on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.-Personal...

 took over as "co-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.

In 1984, the puppet character Cap'n O. G. Readmore

O. G. Readmore

Cap’n O. G. Readmore was the fictional-character host of the ABC Weekend Specials on U.S. television during the 1980s. He was an anthropomorphic cat puppet, dressed in a nautical outfit, that encouraged children to read for pleasure...

 took over as host of the series. The character also starred in five animated episodes of the show, as well appearing in animated Saturday morning PSA's

Public service announcement

A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...

 encouraging children to "read more".

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)

No.	Title	Airdate	Synopsis
1	Valentine's Second Chance	1977 January 29
2	The Haunted Trailer	1977 March 26
3	My Dear Uncle Sherlock	1977 April 16
4	Homer and the Wacky Doughnut Machine	1977 April 30

Season 1 (1977-1978)

14 episodes:

No.	Title	Airdate	Synopsis
1	The Winged Colt (Part 1)	1977 September 10
2	The Winged Colt (Part 2)	1977 September 17
3	The Winged Colt (Part 3)	1977 September 24
4	The Ransom of Red Chief	1977 October 22
5	Portrait of Grandpa Doc	1977 November 5
6	Trouble River (Part 1)	1977 November 12
7	Trouble River (Part 2)	1977 November 19
8	Tales of the Nunundaga (Part 1)	1977 November 26
9	Tales of the Nunundaga (Part 2)	1977 December 3
10	Escape of a One-Ton Pet (Part 1)	1978 January 7
11	Escape of a One-Ton Pet (Part 2)	1978 January 14
12	Escape of a One-Ton Pet (Part 3)	1978 January 21
13	Soup and Me	1978 February 4
14	The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy	1978 May 6

Season 2 (1978-1979)

11 episodes:

No.	Title	Airdate	Synopsis
18	The Seven Wishes of Joanna Peabody	1978 September 9
19	The Contest Kid and the Big Prize	1978 September 16
20	If I'm Lost, How Come I Found You? (Part 1)	1978 September 30
21	If I'm Lost, How Come I Found You? (Part 2)	1978 October 7
22	The $1000 Bill	1978 October 28
23	Little Lulu	1978 November 4
24	Soup for President	1978 November 18
25	Weep No More, My Lady	1979 February 10
26	The Horse That Played Center Field (Part 1)	1979 February 24
27	The Horse That Played Center Field (Part 2)	1979 March 3
28	The Puppy's Great Adventure	1979 May 5

Season 3 (1979-1980)

12 episodes:

No.	Title	Airdate	Production Company	Synopsis
29	The Big Hex of Little Lulu	1979 September 15	ABC
30	The Contest Kid Strikes Again	1979 September 22
31	The Girl with ESP	1979 October 20
32	The Ghost of Thomas Kempe (Part 1)	1979 November 3
33	The Ghost of Thomas Kempe (Part 2)	1979 November 10
34	The Incredible Detectives	1979 November 17
35	The Revenge of Red Chief	1979 December 15
36	The Puppy's Amazing Rescue	1980 January 26
37	The Gold Bug (Part 1)	1980 February 2
38	The Gold Bug (Part 2)	1980 February 9
39	The Trouble with Miss Switch The Trouble with Miss Switch The Trouble with Miss Switch is an animated television special based on a children's book by Barbara Brooks Wallace.The story centers on two students, Rupert and Amelia, who find out that their substitute teacher is a witch. When she is around animals they possess the ability to talk. This also...  (Part 1)	1980 February 16
40	The Trouble with Miss Switch (Part 2)	1980 February 23

Season 4 (1980-1981)

8 episodes:

No.	Title	Airdate	Synopsis
41	Scruffy (Part 1)	1980 October 4
42	Scruffy (Part 2)	1980 October 11
43	Scruffy (Part 3)	1980 October 18
44	Arthur the Kid	1981 January 3
45	Zack and the Magic Factory (Part 1)	1981 January 10
46	Zack and the Magic Factory (Part 2)	1981 January 17
47	Mayday! Mayday! (Part 1)	1981 January 24
48	Mayday! Mayday! (Part 2)	1981 January 31

Season 5 (1981-1982)

6 episodes:

No.	Title	Airdate	Synopsis
49	The Puppy Saves the Circus	1981 September 12
50	The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County	1981 September 19
51	Bunnicula, the Vampire Rabbit	1982 January 9
52	Miss Switch to the Rescue (Part 1)	1982 January 16
53	Miss Switch to the Rescue (Part 2)	1982 January 23
54	The Joke's on Mr. Little	1982 February 6

Season 6 (1983)

9 episodes:

No.	Title	Airdate	Synopsis
55	The Haunted Mansion Mystery (Part 1)	1983 January 8
56	The Haunted Mansion Mystery (Part 2)	1983 January 15
57	The Red Room Riddle	1983 February 5
58	Horatio Alger Updated: Frank and Fearless (Part 1)	1983 February 12
59	Horatio Alger Updated: Frank and Fearless (Part 2)	1983 February 19
60	All the Money in the World	1983 March 19
61	The Secret World of Og (Part 1)	1983 April 30
62	The Secret World of Og (Part 2)	1983 May 7
63	The Secret World of Og (Part 3)	1983 May 14

Season 7 (1984)

9 episodes:

No.	Title	Airdate	Synopsis
64	Cougar! (Part 1)	1984 January 7
65	Cougar! (Part 2)	1984 January 14
66	Cougar! (Part 3)	1984 January 21
67	The Dog Days of Arthur Cane, Part 1	1984 February 18
68	The Dog Days of Arthur Cane, Part 2	1984 February 25
69	A Different Twist	1984 March 10
70	The Amazing Bunjee Venture (Part 1)	1984 March 24
71	The Amazing Bunjee Venture (Part 2)	1984 March 31
72	Bad Cat	1984 April 14

Season 8 (1984-1985)

8 episodes:

No.	Title	Airdate	Synopsis
73	Henry Hamilton, Graduate Ghost (Part 1)	1984 December 8
74	Henry Hamilton, Graduate Ghost (Part 2)	1984 December 15
75	The Bollo Caper	1985 February 2
76	The Adventures of a Two-Minute Werewolf (Part 1)	1985 February 23
77	The Adventures of a Two-Minute Werewolf (Part 2)	1985 March 2
78	The Return of the Bunjee (Part 1)	1985 April 6
79	The Return of the Bunjee (Part 2)	1985 April 13
80	The Velveteen Rabbit The Velveteen Rabbit The Velveteen Rabbit or How Toys Become Real is a children's novel written by Margery Williams and illustrated by William Nicholson. It chronicles the story of a stuffed rabbit and his quest to become real through the love of his owner. The book was first published in 1922 and has been republished...	1985 April 20

Season 9 (1985)

9 episodes:

No.	Title	Airdate	Synopsis
81	The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn (Part 1)	1985 September 7
82	The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn (Part 2)	1985 September 14
83	Jeeter Mason and the Magic Headset	1985 October 5
84	Cap'n O.G. Readmore's Jack and the Beanstalk	1985 October 12
85	Pippi Longstocking (Part 1)	1985 November 2
86	Pippi Longstocking (Part 2)	1985 November 9
87	Columbus Circle	1985 November 23
88	The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (Part 1)	1985 November 30
89	The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin Teddy Ruxpin Teddy Ruxpin is a children's toy talking bear. The bear would move his mouth and eyes while 'reading' stories which were played on an audio tape cassette deck built into his back. It was created by Ken Forsse with later assistance by Larry Larsen and John Davies. Later versions would use a digital...  (Part 2)	1985 December 7

Season 10 (1986)

9 episodes:

No.	Title	Airdate	Synopsis
90	Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde	1986 September 13
91	The Day the Kids Took Over (Part 1)	1986 September 20
92	The Day the Kids Took Over (Part 2)	1986 September 27
93	Liberty and the Littles (Part 1)	1986 October 18
94	Liberty and the Littles (Part 2)	1986 October 25
95	Liberty and the Littles (Part 3)	1986 November 1
96	The Mouse and the Motorcycle (Part 1)	1986 November 8
97	The Mouse and the Motorcycle (Part 2)	1986 November 15
98	Santabear's First Christmas	1986 November 22

Season 11 (1988)

1. Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Little Red Riding Hood 1988 April 2
2. Here Come the Littles, Part 1 1988 April 23
3. Here Come the Littles, Part 2 1988 April 30
4. Here Come the Littles, Part 3 1988 May 7

Season 12 (1988-1989)

1. Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Puss 'N Boots 1988 September 10
2. Runaway Ralph, Part 1 1988 October 29
3. Runaway Ralph, Part 2 1988 November 5
4. P.J. Funnybunny 1989 February 4
5. The Monster Bed 1989 September 9

Season 13 (1991)

1. Ralph S. Mouse, Part 1 1991 February 16
2. Ralph S. Mouse, Part 2 1991 February 23
3. Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great 1991 March 23
4. P.J. Funnybunny: Lifestyles of the Funny and Famous 1991 March 30

Season 14 (1992)

1. McGee and Me!: The Big Lie 1992 January 25
2. Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Chicken Little 1992 April 18
3. The Kingdom Chums: Original Top Ten 1992 May 2

Season 15 (1992-1993)

1. McGee and Me!: Take Me Out to the Ballgame 1992 September 12
2. Monster in My Pocket
   Monster in My Pocket
   Monster in my Pocket is a media franchise developed by Morrison Entertainment Group, headed by Joe Morrison and John Weems ....
   
   : The Big Scream 1992 October 31
3. Stanley & the Dinosaurs 1992 November 7
4. Choose Your Own Adventure: The Case of the Silk King, Part 1 1992 December 12
5. Choose Your Own Adventure: The Case of the Silk King, Part 2 1992 December 19
6. The Parsley Garden 1993 March 27
7. The Legend of Lochnagar 1993 April 24
8. Commander Toad in Space 1993 May 8

Season 16 (1993-1994)

1. P.J.'s Unfunnybunny Christmas 1993 December 11
2. The Magic Flute, Part 1 1994 April 30
3. The Magic Flute, Part 2 1994 May 7

Season 17 (1994-1996)

1. The Secret Garden (movie) 1994 November 5
2. Jirimpimbira: An African Folk Tale 1995 February 25
3. P.J. Funnybunny: Educating Mom
4. P.J. Funnybunny: A Very Cool Easter 1996 March 30
5. The Magic Pearl, Part 1
6. The Magic Pearl, Part 2
7. The Magic Pearl, Part 3

Other specials

Occasionally, during the Weekend Specials timeslot, ABC aired a series of specials under the title ABC Saturday Morning Specials. Two ABC's Wide World of Sports for Kids specials were also produced in 1994.

List of other specials

1. The Great Alaska Dog Sled Race 1993 March 6
2. Rhythm and Jam: Rhythm & Rap 1993 September 18
3. Rhythm and Jam: Melody & Harmony 1993 September 25
4. Kids on Ice: A Skating Adventure! 1994 February 12
5. A Day at the Races 1994 June 11
6. Money Made Easy: The ABC Kids' Guide to Dollars and Sense, Part 1 1994 April 2
7. Money Made Easy: The ABC Kids' Guide to Dollars and Sense, Part 2 1994 April 9
8. Crash the Curiousaurus, Part 1 1995 January 14
9. Crash the Curiousaurus, Part 2 1995 January 21
10. Wild Things: An Earth Day Special 1995 April 22
11. The Secret of Lizard Woman
12. Back to School With Schoolhouse Rock 1996 September 14

External links