after school special
/ˈæftər skuːl ˈspɛʃəl/
CommonContent that is overly moralistic or preachy, like the ABC TV movies that lectured kids about social issues.
Almost always used critically or mockingly. Calling something an after school special means it sacrificed storytelling for moralizing. Can also be used affectionately by people who grew up watching them.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | that whole episode was basically an after school special about drinking. i felt like i was being lectured the whole time | The episode prioritized its moral message over actual storytelling. | |
| 02 | very after school special of you to spend 20 minutes explaining why stealing is wrong | The person over-explained an obvious moral point. | x, 2023 |
| 03 | i love after school specials unironically. they were so earnest about everything and i find it charming | Someone admits to genuine affection for the format despite its reputation for being cheesy. | tumblr |
| 04 | the script turned what could have been a real story into an after school special. you can feel the writers checking boxes | The writing felt formulaic and lesson-focused rather than character-driven. |
Use it when
- Criticizing content that feels preachy or overly moralistic.
- Describing a storyline that handles a serious topic too simplistically.
- Referencing the actual ABC TV movies ironically.
Do not use it when
- You just mean something is aimed at kids.
- You mean something tackles a serious subject well.
Origin and context
ABC Afterschool Specials was an ABC anthology series that ran from 1972 to 1997, airing in the afternoon time slot aimed at children and teens. Episodes tackled topics like drug use, divorce, and bullying with a moralistic framing. The phrase entered common usage as shorthand for heavy-handed storytelling.
- First seen
- 1972
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/after-school-specialUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0