A Stroll Down Memory Lane: "Today's Special" Quiz

Answer: Bill

The cast of main characters that played key roles on "Today's Special" were Jeff (a mannequin), Jodie (a display designer), Sam (a night watchman), Muffy (a mouse), Mrs. Pennypacker (a stockroom employee), and The Mime Lady (a mime).

Answer: Department store

The main location that "Today's Special" was filmed was at the now defunct Simpson's store in Toronto, Ontario. Some of the episodes were taped at the Queen Street West and Yonge Street store locations.

Answer: Hocus Pocus Alimagocus

Jeff is the store mannequin that is virtually lifeless without his hat on. Any member of the cast could say the magic words pending that Jeff's hat was on his head. Should Jeff drop his hat on the floor, he becomes a mannequin again. Even in the opening theme lyrics, the viewers hear Muffy say "Hocus Pocus Alimagocus" bringing Jeff to life for the start of the program.

Answer: Night Watchman

Sam is a night watchman who makes sure that the store is empty before Jeff, Jodie, Muffy and company begin their lessons for the viewers. In the opening theme song, we can hear Sam say: "Well everything's all safe down here. Let's go upstairs", followed by "Okay, it's clear! The customers have all gone home now!"

Answer: TXL

TXL Series 4 is connected to virtually every room in the department store. TXL has the ability to do everything from climate control to cooking a meal. One wrong move however, and all craziness breaks loose. In an episode entitled "Temperature", Muffy accidentally spilled hot chocolate on TXL's keyboard and this lead to a malfunction in the heating system.

In looking closely at the actual keyboard, we can see that TXL is actually an Apple II computer in real world standards.

Answer: Knowledge

During this episode, Jeff reads a book on knowledge, which he believes will make him look different and smarter the more he reads. In the book, Jeff reads about games such as hopscotch and dancing such as "Pop Goes the Weasel".

The other answers are of the books that the other characters are reading. Muffy is reading a picture book on an adventure about a mouse and his family.

Sam finds a book on Cam the Detective. In this book (a mystery novel), Sam discovers that you can actually solve your own mystery. As a book suddenly goes missing in the store, it becomes Sam's task to solve the mystery of the missing book.

Finally, Jodie, who is trying to work on a book display, cannot resist the excitement of a fairy tale book she finds on the shelf about Byron the Grump and the Magic Dragon.

http://todays-special.schuminweb.com/todays-special/episode-guide/1981/books.asp

Answer: Sad story

In this episode, Jeff is extremely upset that he has never been able to express emotions (because as a mannequin, he does not have any emotions). Sam and Muffy try various tricks to try and get Jeff to cry including placing onions under his nose, and tickling his chin with a feather. Jodie explains to them that this is not true emotion and that there must be a better way to show Jeff what true emotion is all about.

"Finally, Jodie brings out a book called 'The Magic Bird'. In this book, a lonely boy helps a bird to fly again, only to see her fly away. This makes Jeff so sad that he finally cries some real tears for the first time". (http://todays-special.schuminweb.com/todays-special/episode-guide/1983/tears.asp)

Answer: Her trip to the moon

In this episode, Muffy has multiple flashbacks over the years of her life. These flashbacks include Muffy's arrival at the store, waking up after having her tonsils removed in the hospital, the capture of Muffy by Herman T. Terrible, and her being captured by an alien named XL7 Zed.

Answer: He is drunk

This is an episode that is a learning experience for both young children and adults alike. It revolves around the various emotions and reactions that one may have around an alcoholic.

Phil Phenelli is an old crewmate that Sam knew during his time with the Marine Corps. Phil is at the department store to do a photo shoot when he gets caught taking a swig of alcohol by Muffy. Muffy, who is trying to help Phil with the photo shoot becomes the target of rage when Phil is too intoxicated to continue with the photo shoot. In the end, Sam kicks Phil out of the department store, sending out a message to the audience that drinking is a serious, dangerous, and scary issue.

Answer: Her date at the prom

Jodie takes a look back at her high school graduation with her first love Gerald. In this scene, she remembers Gerald wearing a tuxedo and geeky glasses. Gerald, being so nervous in preparing for the prom, also has pieces of tissue on his face after cutting himself while shaving. In the end, she ends up dancing with Gerald and having a good time.