History Series / TodaysSpecial

* ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything: There seems to be a lot going on in the middle of the night, [[FridgeLogic you wonder what Jodie and Sam's managers have to say]]. Sam's the night watchman, but Jodie supposedly has a lot of work she should be doing to justify working at night.

->''"First it's a mouse who talks in rhyme, and then a computer, not to mention the mannequin upstairs with the magic hat running around!"''
-->— '''Sam Crenshaw'''

More information can be found at [[http://todays-special.schuminweb.com/main-page.php this very extensive fansite]].

A Canadian television show that ran in the 1980s. It ran from 1982 to 1987 and was broadcast on TV Ontario. It is best remembered for being one of the earliest staples of {{Nickelodeon}} — and at times, for being ''really'' freakin' weird.

The setting was a department store in an unspecified city (presumably Toronto, where the show was filmed). The show centered around the people (human and otherwise) who worked there during the overnight shift. The employees of the store included Jodie, who set up the displays in the children's department, Sam Crenshaw the security guard (played by a puppet), and Mrs. Pennypacker (another puppet introduced in one of the later seasons). They were joined by the far stranger nocturnal residents of the store: [[ArtificialHuman Jeff]] the mannequin, Muffy Mouse (another puppet), who [[RhymesOnADime spoke in rhyme]] and had [[MouseWorld a little penthouse within the store]], and [=TXL Series 4=], Sam's [[DoAnythingRobot Do Anything Computer]] and who also plays quizzes and participation games with the viewers in between segments. Another character in the show is the Mime Lady. While she is not an in-store character, she participates in TXL's games.

* FoodAsBribe: In [[http://todays-special.schuminweb.com/todays-special/episode-guide/1981/trains.php Trains]], when Muffy is considering leaving the store, Sam offers her a bag of cheese sandwiches, hoping to convince her to stay.

--->'''Sam:''' Oh, {{Dracula}}, {{Frankenstein}}, [[StarWars Darth Vadar]], they're all probably roommates.

* CallBack: The same lullaby that Jeff sings to the lizard in [[http://todays-special.schuminweb.com/todays-special/episode-guide/1983/adventure.php Adventure]] is the same one that Jodie sings to Jeff in [[http://todays-special.schuminweb.com/todays-special/episode-guide/1981/sleep.php Sleep]], and that he asks her to teach to him in the same episode. Apparently she did.

* MagicalIncantation: Hocus Pocus Alamagocus.

* ShipTease: There was a ''little'' bit between Jeff and Jodie, but given that the target audience really wouldn't be interested in such things it was never really mentioned.

* Adorkable: Jeff again.

* AudienceSurrogate: Jeff

* ShapedLikeItself: In one song, Jeff describes a hairbrush in the most vague way possible. In the same verse, he lampshades it by saying he knows next to nil a bout hairbrushes since he wears a hat at all times.

* TheComputerIsYourFriend: TXL seems to have a mind of "her" own and can have normal conversations.

For a certain generation of young adults, this show often comes right after ''ZoobileeZoo'' and/or ''TheNoozles'' in conversations that start, "Oh my God, do you remember...?"

* BizarroEpisode: Though always fairly out there, things get weirder anytime Waldo or one of his magical friends shows up.

** Somewhat related: Jeff is occasionally frustrated by the fact that he is the only object in the store that is in any way self-aware. ([[FridgeLogic But what about TXL?]])

* BreakingTheFourthWall

* ADayAtTheBizarro: No mean feat for a show with a cast of characters like this, right? But in general, things get weirder anytime Waldo or one of his magical friends shows up.

-->''"First it's a mouse who talks in rhyme, and then a computer, not to mention the mannequin upstairs with the magic hat running around!"''

* HeyItsThatGuy: Jeff Hyslop has had several TV and film roles since the show ended, but he's mostly been active in the theater. If you grew up watching this show, it can be a bit jarring to see the guy who played Jeff the mannequin playing ''ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' onstage.
** Nerene Virgin has had a few TV roles as well, although she's been more active as a {{CBC}} newscaster in recent years.