The Best of Times (1981)

The Best of Times is a fascinating little time capsule: an ABC pilot that plays like an ’80s teen variety show, bouncing from laugh-out-loud sketches to surprisingly candid, sometimes darker teenage thoughts, all splashed with singing and dancing for extra pop. Its secret weapon is a young Nicolas Cage, already radiating that unmistakable, go-for-broke enthusiasm that makes even the silliest moments feel joyfully alive. There’s a scrappy charm to how it swings between comedy and sincerity, and that tonal tightrope is exactly what makes it memorable. It won’t be for everyone—its TV-movie roughness and anything-goes format can feel oddball—but if you enjoy underrated curios, early-star sightings, or “so bad it’s good” gems with real heart, it’s absolutely worth a look.

The Best of Times is clearly aiming for an ’80s teen variety-show vibe—part laugh-in, part musical, part “let’s get real” coming-of-age TV experiment. The problem is the tone whiplash: it bounces from corny sketch comedy and cheerful singing to suddenly heavy teenage anxieties, and the shifts can feel not daring, but confusing and oddly unsettling. If you like coherent storytelling or jokes that land consistently, this will likely play like a jarring fever dream rather than a hidden gem. On the flip side, if you’re into strange TV curios, time-capsule camp, and pilots that swing big even when they miss, it has a weirdly watchable novelty.