Today's Special (1982)
Today's Special was a Canadian children's television show produced by Clive VanderBurgh at TVOntario from 1981 to 1987. It also ran on Nickelodeon and the Faith and Values Channel/Odyssey as well as many PBS stations throughout the United States. It was set in a department store, based on the flagship location of the now defunct Simpson's in Toronto. Many sequences for it were shot at the Queen Street West and Yonge Street store after hours.
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Episode 1 - Stuffies
Release Date:With stuffies everywhere for the big sale, everyone is into the cuddling mood until a real gorilla comes to the store. It turns out to be Waldo who used a spell that backfired and changed him into a gorilla, and When Jodie tries to fix it, It changes everyone into part-animals. So Muffy, Jeff, Jodie, Sam and Mrs. Pennypacker search for the missing page of Waldo's magic book in order to change the spell.
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Episode 2 - Late
Release Date:Jeff, Jodie, Sam and Muffy are planning a special ""bon voyage"" party for Mrs. P, who is going on a cruise. But when they are trying to plan the party, Muffy keeps being late and everyone gets annoyed with her, even Mort, who was invited to the party. But when she's late for the final meeting, it's because while taking a shortcut through the walls, a pipe broke and fell on her. So after they find her, Mort muct climb through the wall and get her out.
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Episode 3 - The Blue Cow
Release Date:Emily, A blue cow from Waldo's magic book comes to visit the store while Waldo's house is being painted. But she is very clumsy so Jeff volunteers to be the boss of her, which isn't easy. Jodie is upset because Emily keeps knocking down her displays, Sam is upset because she keeps eating his donuts, and Muffy is upset because Jeff hasn't got time to play with her. So Mrs. Pennypacker tries to convince them that they should never look a gift-horse, or cow in the face.
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Episode 4 - A Date for Sam
Release Date:Sam got a call from an old high-school sweetheart Geraldine and he has a date with her the next night. But he is so nervous because he has never dated since he lost his wife. So Jeff, Jodie and Muffy try to help prepare him without much success. But he ends up having a great time.
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Episode 5 - Teeth
Release Date:It's national tooth week in the store and Jodie has Jeff and Sam help her film a video for dental hygiene. Sam however, has a toothache and goes to the dentist, even though he's afraid but ends up doing well. Muffy has another problem; she must wear dental braces and feels embarrassed, thinking that Jodie will laugh at her.
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Episode 6 - Trash
Release Date:Max Dumphey, the new night janitor has a powerful vacuum that makes a loud noise, and great suction. It keeps sucking up people's hats, and other unwanted things. Meanwhile, Jodie is excited when she finally gets a ticket to see Valdy at a concert but Max's vacuum cleaner sucked it up and by the time they realize it, He'd already taken it to the trash. So they end up searching the dumpster for the ticket without much success. So Max decides to make it up to Jodie by arranging for Valdy to meet Jodie.
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Episode 7 - Wishes
Release Date:While in the park, Sam and Muffy find a rare coin that Sam discovers will grant him three wishes when he rubs it. So he wishes all his friends could have a wish to make it fair, Then they decide to think about it and meet back at the children's department at midnight. Jeff is most excited because he knows what he wants - He wants to be allowed to leave the store - But Jeff is forced to use his wish when everyone else wished by accident and created chaos.
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Episode 8 - Phil's Visit
Release Date:Phil Phenelli, One of the best photographers around, and an old friend of Sam's from the Merchant Marines is in the store to photograph Jodie's display. Phil also asks Jeff and Jodie to be in all the shots and asks Muffy - who likes to take pictures - to be his assistant. But Phil has a drinking problem and keeps sneaking drinks right after Sam told him not to drink in the store. Muffy caught him drinking, but decides not to tell just yet, But right after Phil got a little too drunk, He wrecked Jodie's display and hurt Muffy's feelings and she told Sam. Sam was angry with Phil and he threw him out of the store after he apologized to everyone.
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Episode 9 - Junior
Release Date:The storeowner's nephew, Junior, comes to the store for his birthday to get everything he wants for his birthday - But he gets a little too greedy and wants to take Muffy too. So the other play tricks on him until he let Muffy stay.
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Episode 10 - Secrets
Release Date:It's Jodie and Sam's 5th anniversary, at midnight, since the time they met and got each other jobs, and Sam made a cake for Jodie, He showed it to Muffy who must keep it a secret. Also, Jodie bought Sam a new bowtie; She showed it to Jeff who also must keep it a secret. But in a little confusion between Jeff and Muffy, they think the secret was discovered, so they decide to make a secret of their own for Jodie and Sam.
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Episode 11 - Moods
Release Date:Waldo comes to the store in a bad mood, which isn't just an ordinary case of the blues. He has a case of the ""grumples"" which only magicians get. And if he lets the grumples have the best of him, he'll lose all his magic powers. He has remedies written on cards that the others search the store to find certain things like a stuffed bear, a rubber chicken, a string puppet, and a robot and must dance the ""Go-away-grumples Gavotte"" before Waldo is better.
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Episode 12 - Fire
Release Date:Mort comes to the store for another visit, but this time he's very cold and everything that Muffy tries to warm him up doesn't really work. Meanwhile, Jodie is having a hard time thinking about an idea for a display. Also, Sam is very alert and is watching for fire hazards in the store after visiting the fire academy. In all this, As a last resort, Mort starts a fire in Muffy's place that goes out of control, no one was hurt but Sam put the fire out in time. After this is over, Jeff suggests Jodie do her display on fire prevention.