5 After School Specials That Traumatized Every 80s and 90s Kid

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Teen television has changed a lot over the years. While shows like those on The CW now cater specifically to younger viewers with popular series, teens used to have fewer options. Those older shows were often designed to teach a lesson or be uplifting – think of the ‘after school specials‘ that were common from the 1970s to the late 1990s. These were a unique type of TV movie aimed at teen audiences.

If you grew up in the ’80s or ’90s, the phrase “after school special” probably brings back strong memories. While ABC’s were the most well-known, CBS, NBC, and cable channels all created similar shows. These episodes, typically around 40 minutes long, tackled tough topics for kids and teens – things like fitting in, family problems, and teenage pregnancy – and always made a clear point about right and wrong. Many featured actors who became famous later on, and while some episodes were enjoyable, others weren’t so great. Some were cheesy and strange, and a few were genuinely disturbing. But it’s those memorable, and sometimes baffling, specials that we still remember today – including one that we still don’t fully understand.

5) Afterschool Special “What Are Friends For?” (1980)

The 1980 TV special, “What Are Friends For?” is remembered for being both disturbing and unusual. Interestingly, it also features an early performance by Melora Hardin, who later became famous for playing Jan Levinson on The Office. It’s a fun fact that makes watching the special even more interesting.

“What Are Friends For?” tells the story of Amy, a young girl dealing with her parents’ divorce and a move to a new town. She becomes friends with Michelle, a troubled neighbor who exhibits disturbing behavior. Michelle engages in unsettling activities like a ritualistic doll “drowning,” shoplifting, and stalking Amy, fueled by intense jealousy and obsession. Amy confides in her mother about Michelle, leading to Michelle being placed in the care of her father and receiving much-needed psychiatric help. While the story ends on a hopeful note, it’s a strange and memorable episode that left many kids questioning the risks of making new friends.

4) Afterschool Special “One Too Many” (1985)

I remember watching those Afterschool Specials growing up, and so many of them dealt with drugs and alcohol. But there’s one from 1985 that always stuck with me because of the actors! It was amazing to see Val Kilmer, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Mare Winningham all in one show, especially since Top Gun came out just a year later. Val Kilmer played Eric, a teenager struggling with alcohol, and it was a really impactful episode.

Eric isn’t the only teenager drinking and driving in this story. The episode initially leads you to believe Eric caused the accident the police are investigating, but it’s actually Pfeiffer’s character who was driving. Although she’d been drinking too, she felt less intoxicated than Eric and thought she was the safer option behind the wheel. Tragically, she accidentally hits and kills her best friend (Winningham). This episode is bleak and offers no silver lining, but it features a particularly strong performance by Kilmer if you can find it online.

3) Lifestories: Families in Crisis “Public Law 106: The Becky Bell Story” (1992)

ABC wasn’t alone in creating impactful TV programs. Other networks, like HBO with its series Lifestories: Families in Crisis, also produced similar content. This show focused on dramatizing true stories, often featuring the real people involved speaking at the end. A particularly disturbing example is the 1992 episode “Public Law 106: The Becky Bell Story,” which details the tragic story of Rebecca Bell, a teenager who died following an abortion.

This episode is deeply disturbing to watch. It follows a 17-year-old girl who goes to Planned Parenthood in Indiana seeking an abortion, but is told she needs permission from her parents or a court order. She ultimately gets an illegal abortion, which leads to a life-threatening infection called sepsis and her death. Afterwards, her parents become advocates against laws requiring parental consent for minors seeking abortions. Even decades later, the episode remains incredibly impactful and upsetting for viewers.

2) CBS Schoolbreak Special: “The Drug Knot” (1986)

This CBS Schoolbreak Special tells the story of Doug Dawson, a popular high school student played by Dermot Mulroney, who starts using drugs after trying marijuana. His life quickly spirals out of control, damaging his friendships and eventually leading to a tragic situation – including a moment where his younger brother, Louie, sees him using cocaine. The episode also features David Toma, a former undercover police officer specializing in drug intervention, playing himself as he attempts to help Doug and his family.

Like many shows of this kind, “The Drug Knot” ends on a dark and surprising note. Doug returns home to a devastating scene: his young son, Louie, is floating face down in the pool, suggesting he’s died. It’s revealed that Louie accidentally took his brother’s drugs, leading to the tragic outcome. The episode concludes with Doug desperately trying to save Louie, all while Toma narrates – it’s an incredibly powerful and overwhelming scene.

1) Afterschool Special “Desperate Lives” (1982)

It’s still debated whether the 1982 film “Desperate Lives” is deeply disturbing, completely wild, or both – but most viewers find it to be a combination of the two. The film features Doug McKeon, Tom Atkins, Diane Ladd, and a young Helen Hunt as Sandy Cameron, a teenager who gets involved with a dangerous group. She ends up using angel dust – which her boyfriend manufactures in a school lab – and, believing she can fly, tragically jumps from a window at school, resulting in paralysis.

Sandy’s story is just the beginning of a truly wild and shocking series of events. This episode includes incredibly reckless behavior, like a student driving off a cliff while under the influence of drugs, kids dealing drugs in a cemetery, and another nearly drowning due to being high. Amidst all this chaos, a school counselor tries to deliver an anti-drug message by confiscating and burning drugs at a school assembly, though the situation is so extreme it overshadows any positive intent. Surprisingly, this unusual and intense film was even released on DVD.

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2026-02-27 00:11