ABC Afterschool Specials (TV Series) Daddy, I'm Their Mama Now (1982) User Reviews

Awww! Look how cute little Jason Hervey was! Decent After School Special

[mamamiasweetpeaches · 5/10 · 12 July 2005]

I saw this recently because I have the AFTERSCHOOL SPECIAL box set. It is about a man who is a second rate Country Western singer. His wife died recently. He has three children, all named after Country singers (Loretta, Johnny and Roy). The girl, "Retta" is now a Mom figure for the boys. Sure enough they're all "Why don't you just mind your own business and leave us alone?" not realizing that watching them IS her business. Of course cooking, cleaning and chasing two boys around is no picnic, especially for a twelve year old girl who has a lot on her plate and no time for friends and a childhood of her own. The casting here is great. Remember the older obnoxious brother on THE WONDER YEARS (Jason Hervey)? He's a sweet little boy chomping down on peanut butter and banana sandwiches in this! And the older brother is Jason Lively from European VACATION and NIGHT OF THE CREEPS! He's the older brother who tip toes about trying to have his own adventures. This movie has two titles. One is DADDY I'M THEIR MOMMA NOW and the other is THE NIGHT SWIMMERS, because the kids like to sneak into a neighbor's yard and swim in his pool at night and live the life of luxury. While they swim Dad is at the local Honky Tonk playing the only two songs he knows: both about being widowed! (About the third time he launches into his schtick about his "poor wife dying...Thank God I still got my kids" his whole band, including a put-upon spinster girlfriend, look like they're ready to just get up and quit! At the end (after an accident I won't give away here) Dad realizes that the kids need a little more attention and a little more time just being kids. Good but not great.

Ok, but nothing special (Day-time TV movie)

[srmccarthy · 5/10 · 28 January 2002]

This short movie is ok, but don't rush out to get it with high expectations. It is just an old fashioned day time tv movie that plays like a soap opera. When Retta's mother dies, she tells her father that she can look after herself and take care of her two younger brothers as well. However, as time goes by, she desires her own childhood, but can not bring herself to admit it. Being a child herself, she and her two brothers make it a practice to sneak a dip in the next door neighbors swimming pool. (This is the reason for the alternative title "Night Swimmers". Then one night.....

<Possible spoiler> .... a near tragedy brings her to confess her mistake in growing up too fast and desire to enjoy her childhood.