My Mom's Having a Baby
Encyclopedia
My Mom's Having a Baby is an American television teen comedy/documentary that aired as a ABC Afterschool Special
on February 16, 1977. The program would be historic as it was the first television program of its kind in the United States
to showcase the pregnancy process and conception to young people, using a combination of animation and live action. The program was a co-production between Dick Clark Productions
and DePatie-Freleng Enterprises
.
, who uses an animated film that explains in detail (via Smith's narration) of how a pregnancy actually begins and how the child is conceived.
The remaining portion of this program features an actual live birth being performed in front of the cameras, which was taken from a 1974 TV special called "Birth & Babies." Actress Candace Farrell, who played the mother in this program, was actually pregnant at the time of filming the 1974 special, which resulted in the producers hiring her for this program.
and exposing younger viewers to a live birth being performed on television. Nevertheless, the special proved to be a success, resulting in ABC rerunning the program in primetime four days later on February 20, 1977.
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...
on February 16, 1977. The program would be historic as it was the first television program of its kind in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to showcase the pregnancy process and conception to young people, using a combination of animation and live action. The program was a co-production between Dick Clark Productions
Dick Clark Productions
Dick Clark Productions is an entertainment production company founded by entertainer Dick Clark...
and DePatie-Freleng Enterprises
DePatie-Freleng Enterprises
DePatie-Freleng Enterprises was a Hollywood-based animation production company, active from 1963 to 1981. They produced theatrical cartoons, animated series, commercials, title sequences and television specials. Notable among these is The Pink Panther film titles and cartoon shorts and the Dr....
.
Premise
Upon learning that his mother is pregnant with what will be his brother, 10 year-old Petey Evans begins to wonder (through animated fantasies and flashbacks) about how babies are born, only to realize that those theories are not delivered by storks or popping out of a stomach. So, with help from his friends Oskar and Kelly, they go to a real expert who will be performing the delivery, Dr. Lendon SmithLendon Smith
Lendon Howard Smith was an American OB/GYN, pediatrician, author, and television personality. He was notable for his advice on parenting and advocating children's health and eating issues...
, who uses an animated film that explains in detail (via Smith's narration) of how a pregnancy actually begins and how the child is conceived.
The remaining portion of this program features an actual live birth being performed in front of the cameras, which was taken from a 1974 TV special called "Birth & Babies." Actress Candace Farrell, who played the mother in this program, was actually pregnant at the time of filming the 1974 special, which resulted in the producers hiring her for this program.
Critical reception
Despite being a groundbreaking program in its own right, it also had its share of criticism for using a daytime program to showcase what they saw as Sex EducationSex Education
Sex education is an aspect of modern Western secondary education. It may also refer to:* Sex Education , a 1988 young adult novel by Jenny Davis on the American Library Association's list of Top 100 banned books...
and exposing younger viewers to a live birth being performed on television. Nevertheless, the special proved to be a success, resulting in ABC rerunning the program in primetime four days later on February 20, 1977.
Awards
- This program won a Daytime Emmy AwardDaytime Emmy AwardThe Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
in 1977 for Outstanding Childrens' Informational Special.
Cast
- Shane Sinutko as Petey Evans
- Jarred Johnson as Oskar
- Rachael Longaker as Kelly
- Lendon Smith as himself
- Candace Farrell as Anne Evans