My Mother Was Never a Kid
Encyclopedia
My Mother Was Never a Kid is an American television teen fantasy/comedy/drama that aired as a ABC Afterschool Special
on March 16, 1981. It was based on the 1977 Francine Pascal
novel Hangin' With CiCi, which in turn was the first teen novel in the "Victoria Martin" trilogy series. It was also the first of two Pascal teen novels that were adapted into Afterschool Specials for the network, the other being The Hand-Me-Down Kid.
whose attempts to be part of the current generation has gotten her into trouble at school (smoking in the girls' bathroom is cited as a example). When her mother Francine finds out what happened and decides to ground her, Victoria argues with her and leaves the apartment, and takes a trip in the subway for a unknown destination. During the ride, Victoria kept thinking about how her mother couldn't understand how she can relate to what she is going through and wonders if her mother was never a kid... until a accidental slam on the subway car brake causes Victoria to fall on the floor.
When Victoria comes to a few seconds later, she starts noticing something different: The subway car is clean and no graffiti, people are dressed differently and when she get off the train she is shocked that her neighborhood is nothing like the present day... Its 1943. As she tries to figure out what happened, she runs into another 13-year-old teen named CiCi, with whom she becomes fast friends. Victoria also discovers that she and CiCi seem to have a lot in common, only to discover that after CiCi invites her to stay at her house that Victoria learns that CiCi's mother is Victoria's grandmother - and CiCi is the nickname of Francine, who'll be her mother in the future. This sudden surprise of fate gives Victoria a chance to learn a lot about her mother's past and at the same time learn about her own, which she will discover as she returns to the present day.
s in 1981, taking home 2 for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming - Art Direction/Scenic Design/Set Decoration" and "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming - Makeup and Hair Design."
ABC Afterschool Special
The ABC Afterschool Special is an American television anthology series that aired on ABC from 1972 to 1996, usually in the late afternoon on week days. Most of the episodes were dramatic presentations of situations, often controversial, of interest to children and teenagers. Several episodes were...
on March 16, 1981. It was based on the 1977 Francine Pascal
Francine Pascal
Francine Pascal is an author best known for creating the Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. Sweet Valley High was the backbone of the collection, and was made into a popular television series. There were also several spin-offs, including The Unicorn Club and Sweet Valley University...
novel Hangin' With CiCi, which in turn was the first teen novel in the "Victoria Martin" trilogy series. It was also the first of two Pascal teen novels that were adapted into Afterschool Specials for the network, the other being The Hand-Me-Down Kid.
Premise
The story revolved around Victoria Martin, a 13-year-old New YorkerNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
whose attempts to be part of the current generation has gotten her into trouble at school (smoking in the girls' bathroom is cited as a example). When her mother Francine finds out what happened and decides to ground her, Victoria argues with her and leaves the apartment, and takes a trip in the subway for a unknown destination. During the ride, Victoria kept thinking about how her mother couldn't understand how she can relate to what she is going through and wonders if her mother was never a kid... until a accidental slam on the subway car brake causes Victoria to fall on the floor.
When Victoria comes to a few seconds later, she starts noticing something different: The subway car is clean and no graffiti, people are dressed differently and when she get off the train she is shocked that her neighborhood is nothing like the present day... Its 1943. As she tries to figure out what happened, she runs into another 13-year-old teen named CiCi, with whom she becomes fast friends. Victoria also discovers that she and CiCi seem to have a lot in common, only to discover that after CiCi invites her to stay at her house that Victoria learns that CiCi's mother is Victoria's grandmother - and CiCi is the nickname of Francine, who'll be her mother in the future. This sudden surprise of fate gives Victoria a chance to learn a lot about her mother's past and at the same time learn about her own, which she will discover as she returns to the present day.
Production notes
Although the setting was New York City, most of the production and its 1940s setting was actually filmed in Canada.Awards
The program was nominated for 5 Daytime Emmy AwardDaytime Emmy Award
The Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
s in 1981, taking home 2 for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming - Art Direction/Scenic Design/Set Decoration" and "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming - Makeup and Hair Design."
Cast
- Mary Beth Manning as Victoria Martin
- Holland TaylorHolland TaylorHolland Virginia Taylor is an American actress of film, stage and television. Her notable television roles include Ruth Dunbar in Bosom Buddies, senator's wife Margaret Powers on Norman Lear's The Powers That Be, Judge Roberta Kittleson in The Practice and Evelyn Harper in Two and a Half...
as Francine Martin - Rachael Longaker as CiCi
- Elizabeth Ward as Nina Martin