  today's special was a canadian children's television show produced by clive vanderburgh at tvontario from 1981 to 1987. it was set in a department store, based on the flagship location of the now defunct simpson's in toronto. many sequences for it were shot at the queen street west and yonge street store after hours. == characters == === core characters === * jeff (jeff hyslop): a mannequin with a magic hat that makes him come to life when someone says "hocus pocus alimagocus". if it comes off of his head, he turns back into a mannequin. he can't leave the store or he will become one permanently (he can only go outside onto the building's roof or, in very rare episodes, when traveling by magic). because he has not been alive for very long, he knows little about many everyday objects (at least in earlier seasons). however, he is often shown to be a fast learner, a deep thinker, and a source of ideas. he is also a very talented dancer, which he gets to show off at some point in nearly every episode. though he wishes that he was not bound by the rules of the spell that keeps him alive, he puts his friends' needs first. * jodie (nerene virgin): the store's display designer. portrayed as a sweet, level headed woman, she functions as a mentor and teacher to jeff, who is relatively new to the world. he often works as her assistant in setting up the displays. although she has no established authority, she usually takes a leadership role among the characters. her words are often comforting to others, and she is always ready to help her friends with their problems. * sam crenshaw (puppet, bob dermer): the store's security guard. born in 1919, he is the oldest of the four main characters. he is a generally laid-back individual, as the years have worn him down. he often fails to notice or realize certain things around him at first, though when he does, he is known to get hysterical about it. he doesn't seem particularly bright and is sometimes clumsy, but he means well and is capable in his job. he is a retired member of the merchant marine, and his signature song is "singin' yo hee ho". he's a widower and also has a pet cat named penelope that muffy is afraid of. * muffy mouse (puppet, nina keogh): a mouse who speaks in rhyme and lives in th
1980s_Nickelodeon_shows 1981_Canadian_television_series_debuts 1987_Canadian_television_series_endings Canadian_children\'s_television_series TVOntario_shows Television_programs_featuring_puppetry Television_series_produced_in_Toronto