After School Specials: Sara's Summer of the Swans

After School Specials: Sara's Summer of the Swans
ABC
October 2, 1974
Children's
DVD
B-

Bob Rodgers's second adaptation of a Betsy Byars novel is better than The Eighteenth Emergency.  In this case, I have read the book (including in the last few months), and it's a pretty good adaptation, although inevitably some things get left out or simplified.  Admittedly the acting and the writing are a little stiff (what fourteen-year-old uses words like "dwindle"?), but nonetheless there are moments that feel genuine, including what it's like to be an awkward adolescent.  Both Chris Knight and Eve Plumb, as Joe and Gretchen, appear (looking not much different than they had a few months before on The Brady Bunch), although his role is much more significant.  The best performance is by 47-year-old Priscilla Morrill as Aunt Willie.  Among other things, she would be Chrissy's mother on Three's Company.  And 2nd Bully Kevin McCarley was the bully Peaches in The Eighteenth Emergency.

After School Specials: Pssst! Hammerman's After You (AKA The 18th Emergency)

After School Specials: Pssst! Hammerman's After You (AKA The 18th Emergency)
ABC
January 16, 1974
Children's
DVD
C+

Bob Rodgers, who'd written a couple episodes for Gilligan's Island, did the teleplay based on the Betsy Byars book.  In fact, he wrote all four of the episodes on the DVD I own, although they fluctuate a great deal in quality.  It's the only AS Special directed by Jack Regas, who'd go on to The Brady Bunch Variety Hour, among other things.  This episode is slow-moving and low-budget, but it's not without interest, playing sort of like a grittier Brady Bunch episode.  Although I've read my share of Byars (it was kind of unavoidable as a Gen-X female bookworm), I don't remember this book or adaptation, so I don't know how well the humor and other elements translate.  The messages about honor and respect are typical of both her and this series.  This definitely could've been a half hour story rather than an hour (counting commercials), but I can see it entertaining kids older than I was at the time.  It's from the second season of the series and not one that stands out compared to some others.

Lillian Adams, who was Mrs. Daley on Gidget and Mrs. Harris on That Girl, is Mrs. Schwartz here.  Kevin McCarley, who's Peaches, would have a similar role, Second Bully, later that year in Summer of the Swans.  Tito Vandis, who's Mr. Casino, would be Col. Andropolis on M*A*S*H later that year.  Bobby Eilbacher, who presumably plays one of the classmates, would make two appearances on The Bob Newhart Show.  And Willie Aames has a minor role in this.