15 ’80s TV Specials That Never Got a Second Airing
This list highlights 15 television specials from the 1980s that aired once and were never shown again.
- Daisy Montero
- 5 min read
Some TV specials in the 1980s were big events — until they flopped, confused viewers, or just got forgotten. These one-time broadcasts had stars, strange plots, or odd formats that made sure they never came back. Each one tells a story of bold ideas that quickly faded. If you remember watching any of these, you were definitely there at the right (or weird) time.
1. The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
Own work based on unknown original creator on Wikimedia Commons
Technically a late ’70s release, this infamous special kept circulating into the early ’80s thanks to bootlegs and fan buzz. It featured Chewbacca’s family, musical numbers, and a lot of very confused actors trying to sell it with a straight face. After its one broadcast, even George Lucas wanted it gone for good.
2. The Flintstones’ New Neighbors (1980)
BOMBA on Pexels
This made-for-TV animated special introduced a weird new couple next door who never showed up again. It tried to bring fresh energy to the franchise but felt out of place. After one airing, it quietly disappeared like it never happened.
3. The Harlem Globetrotters Meet Snow White (1981)
Walt Disney on Wikimedia Commons
Yes, this was real. The Globetrotters somehow got dropped into a Snow White cartoon world in a bizarre mash-up that aired once. It left kids confused and was never replayed on network TV.
4. Battle of the Network Stars XIV (1983)
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
This was the 14th entry in the long-running series, but it was one of the last before the format faded. Stars competed in obstacle courses and tug-of-war while representing their networks. The novelty wore off, and this installment was among the last to air.
5. The Magic of David Copperfield IV: The Vanishing Airplane (1981)
Homer Liwag on Wikimedia Commons
Copperfield made a real airplane disappear on national TV, and audiences were stunned. But like most of his early specials, it aired once and wasn’t re-broadcast in full again. Unless you recorded it on VHS, it pretty much vanished like the plane.
6. The Halloween That Almost Wasn’t (1981 Re-Air)
themoviedb.org on Wikimedia Commons
This Halloween special originally aired in 1979 but had a short-lived rerun life into the early ’80s before vanishing. It featured Count Dracula trying to save Halloween with the help of other monsters. Despite a charming tone, it quietly disappeared from rotation and became a VHS-era ghost.
7. The Electric Grandmother (1982)
Alan Light on Wikimedia Commons
Adapted from a Ray Bradbury short story, this strange, sentimental special followed a robot grandmother sent to care for grieving children. It had heart but also left viewers unsure how to feel about a humanoid nanny. NBC aired it once, then let it fade into cult obscurity.
8. Shirley MacLaine: Illusions (1982)
Roland Godefroy on Wikimedia Commons
This psychedelic variety special starred Shirley MacLaine dancing through cosmic concepts like reincarnation and spiritual awakening. It mixed Broadway numbers, strange visuals, and deep metaphysics into one trippy TV event. It aired only once and has since become legendary for how baffling it was.
9. Bugs Bunny’s Bustin’ Out All Over (1980)
MSGT Jose Lopez Jr., USAF photographer on Wikimedia Commons
This Looney Tunes special had new animation but tried to blend it with classic characters in a way that felt a little off. It aired during the spring and never really fit in with other seasonal specials. Fans barely remember it, and it never became part of the regular cartoon rotation.
10. The Leftovers (1986)
ViacomCBS on Wikimedia Commons
This family-friendly CBS special imagined a group of kids left out of a science fair who build something incredible. It had a sweet message but an awkward delivery, and it never caught on. After airing once, it faded into forgotten-TV territory.
11. The Leprechaun’s Christmas Gold (1981)
Rankin/Bass Production company on Wikimedia Commons
This Rankin/Bass animated special combined Irish folklore with Christmas in a very strange way. A greedy banshee tries to steal gold from a leprechaun right before the holiday. It aired once on ABC and never made it into the regular Christmas special rotation.
12. Cathy’s Valentine (1989)
David E. Lucas on Wikimedia Commons
Based on the “Cathy” comic strip, this animated special followed Cathy navigating awkward romance and emotional chocolate cravings. While it was relatable to many adults, it lacked the staying power of bigger Valentine’s Day specials. It aired once and has rarely been mentioned since.
13. The Snoop Sisters (1980s Re-Air)
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
Originally aired as a pilot in the ’70s, this mystery special about two crime-solving elderly sisters got an ’80s revival as a one-off rerun. It starred Helen Hayes and Mildred Natwick, both Hollywood legends. However, it was never picked up again and quietly disappeared from the airwaves.
14. CBS Storybreak: “The Trouble with Miss Switch” (1980)
Jonathan R. Neill on Wikimedia Commons
This animated special introduced a schoolteacher who turned out to be a witch, but the tone bounced between spooky and silly. It was part of CBS’s attempt to bring books to life in cartoon form. Though it aired once, it was later edited and buried in rerun compilations.
15. Free to Be… A Family (1988)
ABC on Wikimedia Commons
A follow-up to the beloved Free to Be… You and Me, this special was aimed at bridging American and Soviet kids through musical segments and interviews. It had a hopeful message and featured stars like Marlo Thomas and Robin Williams. However, it was a product of its moment, and after the Cold War ended, it faded from memory.