History Series / TodaysSpecial

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

* {{Slurpasaur}}: The "LIZARD" (supersized pet of one of the showrunners) encountered in the aforementioned Magical Land. Jeff has to pet it to proceed.

* VagueAge: Muffy. Her age is never stated, and it's hard to tell by looking. Since she lives on her own, it's possible she's an adult, but she certainly acts like a mischievous child.

* PleaseKeepYourHatOn: Jeff is a strange example.

* ManChild: Jeff, in a good way. Having been brought directly to adult life from an existence as a mannequin, he shows wonder at the simple things he learns about the world. Sam has his moments; not only does he have a playful side, but he is also seen being taught concepts (by Jody or another adult) that are obviously meant for the young viewers of the show to learn, and even wondering at them. One explanation may be that with age setting in, he has forgotten some things that he learned when he was younger and is experiencing the lessons as if they were new.

* TrademarkFavoriteFood: [[CaptainObvious Cheese for Muffy]].

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

-->'''Jeff''': Is it a muh-- a muh-- a muh--
-->''Muffy slaps him''
-->'''Jeff''': A monster?!
-->'''Sam''': No, it's a vah-- a vah-- a vah--
-->''Jodie slaps him''
-->'''Sam''': Thank you. It's a [[ItMakesSenseInContext vacuum]].

A [[UsefulNotes/{{Canada}} Canadian]] children's TV series that ran from 1982 to 1987 and was originally produced for [=TVOntario=]. It is best remembered in the U.S. for being one of the earliest staples of Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}'s lineup — and at times, for being ''really'' freakin' weird.

-->'''Jeff:''' Well now, TXL, how do we turn you on? [[BreakingTheFourthWall I've never done this before]]. What button do you suppose I press?

* TheCastShowoff: Jeff Hyslop, who played Jeff the mannequin, is a triple threat entertainer. While he and everyone else sang on the show, he was the only one who danced, and did this on the show frequently. Nerene Virgin danced a little bit and was often paired with Jeff, but for anything more complicated they had to bring in outside talent to keep up with him. It should also be noted that Jeff Hyslop was also the show's choreographer.

* TheDanza: Jeff Hyslop as Jeff the mannequin.

* ManChild: Jeff, in a good way. Having been brought to adult life from an existence as a mannequin, he shows wonder athe simple things he learns about the world. Sam has his moments; not only does he have a playful side, but he is also seen being taught concepts (by Jody or another adult) that are obviously meant for the young viewers of the show to learn, and even wondering at them. One explanation may be that with age setting in, he has forgotten some things that he learned when he was younger and is experiencing the lessons as if they were new.

Being a bit of a [[CloudCuckoolander Cuckoolander]], Jeff also had to be reminded not to [[WeaksauceWeakness remove his own hat, as this turns him back into a mannequin]]. Fortunately, saying the magic words "[[EarWorm Hocus Pocus Alamagocus]]" brings him back to life. ''Un''fortunately, Jeff could never leave the store, due to the conditions of the magical hat (it only works inside the store). In some episodes, it is said that if he ever stepped foot off the store grounds, he would stay a mannequin forever (but not always; it should be noted that the "rules" of the hat were fairly inconsistent). Any episodes that took place outdoors had to provide a HandWave to work around this. (Pretty dark for a kids' show, [[CanadaEh eh?]])

The aforementioned Jeff is such an unusual character, he deserves his own paragraphs. Every kid's show has an obligatory character meant to be [[AudienceSurrogate the young audience's representative in the show's fictional world]], but Jeff was an especially bizarre example. He is a mannequin, in the shape of an adult man, who was [[HumanityEnsues brought to life]] by wearing a magical hat created by a magician named Waldo The Magnificent. Thing is, his personality and mannerisms were that of a small child. So in other words, this show's [[SesameStreet Big Bird]] equivalent was a ManChild who lived in the store and was taught about everyday things and the world in general (ie, in one episode, the other regulars had to explain to Jeff what brooms were for, and in another, how umbrellas work).

* CanadaEh: The show was made by the Canadian network TV Ontario, and was filmed in Toronto. Furthermore, the department store used was of the Simpson's chain, a Canadian business that merged with, and was eventually subsumed by, the Hudson's Bay Company.

* CanadaEh: The show was made by the Canadian network TV Ontario, and was filmed in Toronto. Furthermore, the department store used was of the Simpson's chain, a Canadian business that merged with, and was eventually subsumed by, Sears.

* CanadaEh: The show was made by the Canadian network TV Ontario, and was filmed in Toronto.

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

This show provides examples of:

[[quoteright:330:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/todays_special_3472.jpg]]

* CluelessAesop: [[http://todays-special.schuminweb.com/todays-special/episode-guide/1986/phils-visit.php "Phil's Visit,"]] mostly for the casting of Gerry Parkes (at the time, best known as the kindly [[FraggleRock Doc]]), and also for... well, for being an episode of "Today's Special," a perfect example of a show that's in way over it's head. Quoth Jodie, "Funny thing is, one hour ago, we all thought [[HarsherInHindsight this was going to be one of the most exciting nights that we'd ever had in the store.]]"

* ShoutOut: Quite a few. One of the best is in "Adventure", where a castle is warned to house "DungeonsAndDragons" (the whole episode plays out like a role-playing game).

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

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: The Christmas special. Jeff is sorry but resigned to the fact that thanks to his not being able to leave the store, he will have to spend Christmas alone while the others are with their families. The others then decide they care so much about Jeff that they will celebrate Christmas with him at the store. A very nice gesture, but is it fair to their actual families, who were looking forward to seeing them on the holiday, whereas they are with Jeff day in, day out?

* BrokenAesop: The Christmas special. Jeff is sorry but resigned to the fact that thanks to his not being able to leave the store, he will have to spend Christmas alone while the others are with their families. The others then decide they care so much about Jeff that they will celebrate Christmas with him at the store. A very nice gesture, but is it fair to their actual families, who were looking forward to seeing them on the holiday, whereas they are with Jeff day in, day out?

The setting was a department store in an unspecified city (presumably UsefulNotes/{{Toronto}}, where the show was filmed). The show centered around the characters (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.

The setting was a department store in an unspecified city (presumably UsefulNotes/{{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.

->''"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'''

A [[UsefulNotes/{{Canada}} Canadian]] television show that ran from 1982 to 1987 and was originally produced for [=TVOntario=]. It is best remembered in the U.S. for being one of the earliest staples of Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}'s lineup — and at times, for being ''really'' freakin' weird.

A [[UsefulNotes/{{Canada}} Canadian]] television show that ran from 1982 to 1987 and was originally produced for [=TVOntario=]. It is best remembered for being one of the earliest staples of Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}'s lineup — and at times, for being ''really'' freakin' weird.

A [[UsefulNotes/{{Canada}} 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 Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} — and at times, for being ''really'' freakin' weird.