Very Special Episodes: Part 6 | More Tragic TV Episodes

**Part 6: A "Very Special Episode" – Live-Action Shows Edition**

Welcome to Part 6 of our series on "A Very Special Episode," where we dive into some of the most powerful and poignant episodes of live-action TV shows from the '70s, '80s and '90s. These episodes weren’t just about delivering laughs or family-friendly fun; they tackled serious and sometimes uncomfortable topics head-on, using the platform of television to raise awareness and spark conversations about important societal issues. From addiction to grief, peer pressure to consent, these shows broke the mold by addressing real-life challenges that viewers of all ages could relate to.

In this episode, we’re exploring moments from iconic shows like *Silver Spoons*, *Family Ties*, *Family Matters*, *Growing Pains*, *Home Improvement*, and more. These episodes featured characters confronting the consequences of substance abuse, the pain of loss, issues of race and inequality, and the pressure to conform or make tough decisions in life-threatening situations. Let’s take a look at how these shows used their influence to teach valuable life lessons.

**Episodes Covered in Part 6:**

- *Silver Spoons* – "One for the Road: Parts 1 & 2": When Ricky and his friends get involved with drinking, the consequences are devastating. These episodes address the dangers of alcohol and peer pressure, especially for teenagers.

- *Family Ties* – "Say Uncle": Uncle Ned, played by Tom Hanks, struggles with alcoholism, and Alex is the first to notice. Despite his warnings, the Keaton family is reluctant to accept the truth until a near-tragic confrontation forces them to intervene.

- *Family Matters* – "Fight the Good Fight": Laura faces racism at school when a classmate mocks her for being Black. The episode explores themes of discrimination, heritage, and standing up for what’s right.

- *Growing Pains* – "Second Chance": Carol’s boyfriend, Sandy (played by Matthew Perry), is injured in a car accident due to drinking and driving. The episode brings the consequences of drunk driving to the forefront, reminding viewers of the dangers of reckless behavior.

- *Home Improvement* – "The Longest Day": When Randy, the middle child of the Taylor family, gets a cancer scare, the episode shifts from comedy to an emotional exploration of fear, mortality, and how a family rallies together in tough times.

- *Good Times* – "J.J.'s Fiancée": J.J. falls in love with Diana, who is secretly battling heroin addiction. This heartbreaking episode confronts the pain of addiction and the tough choices it forces people to make—whether to seek help or continue down a destructive path.

- *Dinosaurs* – "A New Leaf": Earl Sinclair’s family gets hooked on a mysterious plant that leaves them euphoric but lazy, mirroring the impact of drug addiction and dependency. The episode is a clever satire on addiction and the dangers of losing control.

- *Roc* – "Terence Got His Gun": When Sheila’s friend Terence starts carrying a gun for protection from gangs, Roc and Eleanor try to convince him that violence isn’t the answer. However, tragedy strikes when Terence is shot and killed, highlighting the cycle of violence that plagues urban communities.

- *Degrassi High* – "Showtime: Parts 1 & 2": These episodes deal with the heavy topic of teen suicide, as the Degrassi students struggle to cope with the loss of one of their own. The storyline emphasizes the importance of mental health awareness and reaching out for help.

- *A Different World* – "No Means No": Freddie becomes the target of unwanted advances from a fellow student, and the episode addresses the issue of consent and sexual assault in a way that was ahead of its time, encouraging open conversations about boundaries and respect.

These episodes hold up as some of the most impactful moments in television history, teaching viewers valuable life lessons and pushing the boundaries of what family and prime-time TV could address. Each show approached difficult topics with sensitivity and honesty, sparking important conversations about real-world issues that still resonate today.

What’s your favorite "very special episode" from live-action TV? Did any of these episodes stick with you long after you watched them? Let us know in the comments below!

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#VerySpecialEpisode #LiveActionTV #SilverSpoons #FamilyTies #GrowingPains #FamilyMatters #HomeImprovement #GoodTimes #DegrassiHigh #ADifferentWorld #ClassicTV #Nostalgia #LetsRunItBack #TVShows #80sTV #90sTV #SocialIssues #SeriousEpisodes

[justanotherchannelonyoutub]

I remembered watching an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air where Will and Carl are trying to join a college fraternity, and while Will is accepted in, Carl isn’t because the fraternity leader doesn’t feel like Carl belongs. In the end Carl tells the leader off and Will turns down the invitation to join, and the episode ends with Uncle Phil saying how disappointed he is that even black people discriminate against each other, saying “when are we going to stop doing this to each other?”

It’s a very poignant episode about how discrimination affects even those who should be just like each other

[raionnacole]

A different world, one of my favorite shows 🎉

[a.m.theshinyjohtohunter]

I know M*A*S*H Wasn't a kids show per say but I think the Episode where Hawkeye opens up about the Horrors of war, including a traumatic bus ride involving Korean civilians and a "chicken" making too much noise while they are driving through enemy territory is super brutal... If you know, you know...

[ebany]

I remembered another one for the animated series section if you want to hear it! The animates series of the Smurfs covered the topic of death with Smurfette. In one episode, she found a sick little mouse and brought him back to the village. Papa Smurf gave him medicine and the mouse got better with that and Smurfette’s love and care. Unfortunately, the mouse passed away very shortly after. Smurfette didn’t take it well and even ran away from the village, fearing that someone else might die. She didn’t want to go through the emotional pain again but learned at the end that death was part of life. It ended happily as she got a baby mouse as a pet from a surprise that didn’t explode for once!

[notthegreatestdetective]

that's one thing that was so important about these old shows, it may be uncomfortable and difficult to portray respectfully, but some topics need to be discussed, that's something no one is willing to do anymore

[PedroBenolielBonito]

Recess has 'Speedy We Hardly Knew Ye', where Miss Grotke's fourth-graders are confronted with the death of the class pet, only to find out the staff keep replacing the hamsters every time one dies, and naming them all the same, so that every class since the dawn of Third Street Elementary could have their Speedy, and be shielded from the concept of pet death. TJ's consort therefore becomes the first to ever have to deal with such an issue, and in the process, teach their peers how to handle complex emotions like grief.

[Aahz]

I distinctly remember the Home Improvement episode. My mom saw a preview and thought it was possible the medical issue was going to be HIV, she let me and my brother stay up late to watch it because she "trusted the show enough" to tackle the subject. Since the "Trusting the show" has become short hand around our house to describe a show that has earned its "Very special episode"

[AtarahDerek]

Having gone through thyroid cancer, I watch that episode of Home Improvement a lot differently now.

[LogieBug]

The finale of Dinosaurs is a gut-punch for sure. Basically, at Daddy’s work, everything starts off with some bugs not doing their job and eating out an invading plant, and it all ends up in an Ice Age that wipes all the dinosaurs out. Basically, everything goes just about as wrong as it could. It especially hurts when Baby asks “What’s gonna happen to us?” and the adults struggle to answer that question.

There’s also an episode of Full House where DJ struggles with body image issues, because she wants to be “fit” for Kimmy’s pool party, and stops eating, to the point of feeding her lunch sandwich to Comet, the family dog, and going overboard at the gym, almost fainting.

As for cartoons, the first one to come to mind is the episode Alone At Sea of Steven Universe. Basically, Lapis is finally starting to realise just how toxic Malachite, her fusion with Jasper, was. An analogy for toxic/abusive relationships.

Also the episode of Gravity Falls where they deal with Soos’ birthday and his trauma relating to it and his dad being a total flake.

And just like, all of Bluey. Especially episodes like Onesies, Copycat, Granddad, Sleepytime, Flat Pack, Camping, Baby Race and The Sign. They’re more so emotional moments than Special Episode tropes, but I feel they still deserve a mention!

[glenngriffon]

There's an episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer called The Body that centers around the sudden death of Buffy's mother, the process of dealing with the trauma of losing a parent and the aftermath.
For a show filled with vampires and supernatural monsters that constantly kill people throughout the show it's a very grounded and realistic portrayal of death and what typically happens afterwards.

[Firepuma]

Second Chance from Growing pains is bittersweet now since Matthew Perry's passing

[jonathantillian]

WKRP in Cincinnati was a sitcom but not necessarily a kid/family one that had Special Episode based on a real life event.
Season 2, episode 19 "In Concert" had the radio station dealing with the death of several concert attendees who were trampled/crushed to death at a concert the station promoted.
It stuck particularly hard because it was based on a real life event, The Who Concert Disaster, that happened in Cincinnati, the location of the fictional radio station.

[AGuyNamedZach]

One of my favorite reasons for show writers to come up with these episodes is that it shows even the characters in our favorite series go through the same struggles we do. The messages may go over the heads of younger viewers who don't fully understand what's going on, but I believe it's necessary to bring the messages to their attention at a young age so their parents can at least have a conversation with them about being more mindful of the consequences of their actions as well as being more open to embracing others' differences, which is just as valuable now as it was when these episodes released.

[jinakaye]

Yessss! “Showtime (1 & 2)” is one of the best classic Degrassi episodes of all time. You'll have plenty of material with the OG Degrassi High. If you include the movie (broken down by episodes), the final episode is harsh to take—especially since the actor who played Wheels passed away in real life years later.

[ladybetrayus]

One of the episodes of home improvement that really got to me was when Jill had to have a hysterectomy

[GeekyBibliophile]

I honestly thought the 'A Different World' episode you were going to reference was Love Taps. Gina's being abused by her boyfriend, Dion. One afternoon in The Pit, she's talking to Mr Gaines, the owner. What he told her has stuck with me since the first time I watched the episode. "Tell you a story about my cousin Ida Mae. We grew up together. Ida Mae was always saying "I don't believe my husband loves me unless he hits me once a week." Well, one day her husband LOVED her to death. And we buried her last year."

[meganhash]

HELL YEAH Family Ties mention, thank you!! :D

[angelagokool]

I like you how mentioned the Growing Pains episode, featuring Matthew Perry, as a cautionary tale, especially considering the way he died, in real life. He was such a talented actor and will be missed.
By the way, I've seen most of these episodes, except for Degrassi High, since I'm not familiar with the series. It's a shame that we don't see these kinds of episodes, anymore. I think they should do these types of shows, so that kids can learn to understand the harsh realities of the world and learn how to cope. Thanks for the video.

[sailorearth]

The Little House on the Prarie series covered a number of sensitive subjects during its run

[cassandraspoelhof]

Ooh. Pretty background on the countdown.