Today's Special

1982 - 1982

Hats

14th September 1982

Episode 1

In a department store at night, display designer Jodie is working on a display of Hats for the sale the next day. Jeff, a mannequin that comes to life at night - and is learning about the world, is learning about hats, along with Muffy, a mouse that lives in a hole in the wall in the store, and talks in rhyme. Also, Sam Crenshaw, the night watchman is doing his duty rounds with the help of his talking computer TXL and reveals a secret wish about wanting to be a cowboy. The rest of this episode focuses mostly on hats as the ""Today's Special"" gang gets together for the first time.

Snow

16th September 1982

Episode 2

As Jodie is working on her display of snow, Jeff learns about snow as we all wait for the first snowfall that is due that night.

Noses

21st September 1982

Episode 3

Jodie sets up her flower display and is glad to have a nose to smell the flowers. Sam, However, is allergic to some of them and keeps clear. Muffy has a cold and is in bed in this episode. And Jeff mysteriously puts a cup on his nose and Jodie and Sam try to figure out why but Jeff won't tell them. They thought it was because he hurt it, or he doesn't like it, But Jodie discovers that Jeff thought his nose was going to fall off when his toy soldier's nose did.

Family

23rd September 1982

Episode 4

Jodie couldn't go to her family picnic at her Aunt Millie's because she had to work. She was a little sad, and Sam cheered her up by taking her to the hospital to see all the newborn babies during meal break. But Jodie is later in for a surprise when her Aunt Millie shows up at the store to see her instead. Meanwhile, Jeff is feeling a little sad because he doesn't have a family. But Aunt Millie shows him that his special family are the ones who care about him: Jodie, Sam and Muffy.

Camping

30th September 1982

Episode 5

Jodie needs help setting up her camping display and Sam and Muffy have a lot of experience, but they both want to be in charge, so Jodie flips a coin for it and Sam win the toss. After everything is set up, they have a little camp-out in the store, since Jeff can never go outside. During their cam-out, they discover a skunk, which turns out to be a fake. Sam teaches Jeff to fish in a wading pool and ends up catching a toy fish, and they end up hearing sounds of a mountain lion. It turns out to be Muffy playing tricks on them after feeling left out.

Pets

30th September 1982

Episode 6

Jodie brought her dog, Chipper into the store for the pet show the next day, and Jeff learns about what pets are. He is so impressed that he wants to get a pet of his own. But after wanting to pet a goldfish, take a perakee for a walk, and give a mouse a bone, he concludes that he can't get a pet if he can't take care of it. Finally, he finds a pet he can take care of - a plant named Rachel.

Sleep

5th October 1982

Episode 7

Jeff is too tired to do his exercises because he hasn't been sleeping. He didn't know that he was supposed to sleep, since he's a mannequin most of the time. So Jodie sets up a bed for him to sleep in until the store opens. But it isn't that easy. He can't sleep, and tries everything to get to sleep including hanging upside down like a possum, Jodie tries singing him a lullaby, but that doesn't work. Finally they decide to just leave him alone. Meanwhile, Sam and Jodie show us the time they visited a radio station.

Balloons

7th October 1982

Episode 8

The store is celebrating its own birthday and there are balloons everywhere. But Jodie's special balloons, that her nephew Davy gave her, fly out the window and get stuck on an antenna. When Sam and TXL find them, they decide to get them down and surprise Jodie.

Soup

12th October 1982

Episode 9

Jodie has a cold and is home in bed. So Jeff and Muffy set up her display of soup, while Sam tends Jodie at her apartment.

Costumes

14th October 1982

Episode 10

With costumes everywhere, the gang decides to try on all sorts of costumes, and they tell a witch story.

School

19th October 1982

Episode 11

Jeff wants to learn ""everything"" since he can never go to school and Muffy claims to know everything even though she never went to school. Meanwhile, Sam is chasing the Canadian Brass around the store.

Games

21st October 1982

Episode 12

Today's Special is games the next day, and Jodie setting up her display for the sale has everyone on the subject of games.

Trains

26th October 1982

Episode 13

Muffy doesn't feel important and want to leave the store by train. So the other think of a plan to convince her to stay.

Water

28th October 1982

Episode 14

Jodie sets up her display of water supplies, which puts water on the subject.

Books

2nd November 1982

Episode 15

With book displays, everyone is reading something. Muffy is reading a picture book, Sam is reading a book about Cam the Detective and gets tips on solving mysteries; Jeff is reading a book of knowledge and thinks that he should look different when he's smarter; Jodie however, has a hard time getting work done because she can't set up a book display without reading fairytales.

Fruit

3rd November 1982

Episode 16

The display of fruit has everyone on the topic of fruit.

Gardens

9th November 1982

Episode 17

Jodie sets up her garden display, which has everyone on the topic of flowers and gardens.

Shoes

11th November 1982

Episode 18

Sam's shoes are worn out and he must have new shoes. But he's very sensitive about that. Meanwhile, Jeff is having fun with his new running shoes.

Hair

16th November 1982

Episode 19

Today's Special is hair and Jeff helping her with the display has him learning about hair and puts hair on the day's subject.

Hands

18th November 1982

Episode 20

Jodie hurt her hand roller-skating and it is in a bandage. So the others help her out with the display, which puts the topic of this episode on hands.

Brushes

23rd November 1982

Episode 21

Since the big sale the day before, the store is a mess. Jeff and Jodie must clean up the children's department as Jeff learns about brushes, Sam cleans up the computer room, and Muffy cleans up her place. Sam and Muffy finish their jobs first and decide to surprise Jeff and Jodie and finishes cleaning the children's department for them.

Night

25th November 1982

Episode 22

With everyone on the topic night, displays and everything, They discover paw prints meaning that a raccoon may be loose in the store - and it's Sam's responsibility to find it.

Top Cast

Jeff Hyslop•Nina Keogh•Nerene Virgin

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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Full Cast

Jeff Hyslop Image

Jeff Hyslop

Jeff the Mannequin

Nina Keogh Image

Nina Keogh

Muffy Mouse

Nerene Virgin Image

Nerene Virgin

Jodie

Nikki Tilroe Image

Nikki Tilroe

The Mime Lady

Bob Dermer Image

Bob Dermer

Sam Crenshaw

Barry Baldaro Image

Barry Baldaro

Waldo the Magnificent

Full Crew

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