Buzz
It’s more than a TV show, it’s a voice for unrepresented young people
. A mind-blowing review from The Guardian.
Victim or inspiration? An article from Katy, producer of “The Specials” on her belief that documentaries are falling short in their portrayal of people with intellectual disabilities.
“The Specials” won the Webby Award and the People’s Choice Award for Reality in 2010. The Webby Awards folk got behind us again in 2014 when we launched on US television.
“Anyone who watches this show without being moved is made of coal.”
Entertainment Weekly interviewed our Executive Producer Carolyn Strauss when the show went out on OWN: Oprah-approved “Specials” stars intellectually disabled 20-somethings.
This BBC News article tells the story of how the show ended up on OWN: Thrones team helps UK web series onto Oprah network.
People magazine chose “The Specials” as part of their People picks which feature the best things in all media.
“I am geir from norway. I am 16 years old. I have downs syndrome. I like your films.”
“The Jury has unanimously decided to reward this audacious, polished, touching and funny work. This Web Series knows how to stage an original universe, freed of all voyeurism and conventional good feelings.”
The CBS News article What makes "The Specials" reality series so special? gives a little history of the show and talks about its launch on OWN.
“Joyously heart-opening.”
Jack Mize did a long interview with Katy and Dan covering the whole history of the show up to the point at which it went out on OWN: The Specials – Creators of OWN Network’s Groundbreaking New Reality Show.
The BBC Radio 4 programme interviewed Sam and Dan just before the show was about to be launched on OWN: An online doc soap about a group of disabled housemates is about to get a new audience.
net magazine is the world’s best-selling magazine for web designers and developers. They interviewed Katy and Dan for their article The brains behind… The Specials.
“I love, love, love your show!”
The Guardian newspaper covered the launch of the web series in their article “Friends meets Skins” with a difference.
Finalists in the Original Series category, September 2010.
A weekly magazine about the UK’s television industry. Broadcast wrote an article announcing that “The Specials” was going to be broadcast on OWN: UK indie KADA wins Oprah order.
“It’s about time someone made a reality show worth watching!”
The release of the web series was featured on ITV Meridian Tonight.
The BBC’s disability website Ouch, interview Lewis.
A review of "The Specials" on Tubefilter.
Mencap is the United Kingdom’s leading charity for people with learning disabilities. Their Viewpoint magazine did an article about us when we originally lauched the show called Soap and glory. A review of “The Specials” by Mencap.
Listen to our first interview on the BBC Radio 4 programme “You and Yours”.
The Huffington Post covered the launch on OWN and also did an article featuring Megan talking about the Special Olympics.
BBC South followed “The Specials” to New York for the star-studded Webby Awards ceremony in 2010 and returned in 2014 to cover our US television launch night.
“The more you know them, the more you feel for them…”
“We are delighted to see The Specials back!”
Nominated for a Rockie Award for Best Youth Non-Fiction in 2015.
Rosie O’Donnell recommends “The Specials” as a beautiful reality show
and recommends it to her listeners.
