Terrible Things My Mother Told Me

"Terrible Things My Mother Told Me" is a 1988 episode of the American television anthology series ABC Afterschool Special, directed and produced by Susan Rohrer. It stars Beth Howland, Katherine Kamhi and Ian Ziering. Plot Hard-working 16-year-old Julia does not realize that her mother Eleanor - who alternately harasses and ignores Julia, while doting on lazy younger daughter Katie - is being emotionally and verbally abusive. But when Julia is given the lead in a school play directed by popular Randy, she realizes she is every bit as worthy of Eleanor's support and encouragement as her pampered sister. Julia gets Eleanor to open up and find out where her anger comes from. Eleanor reveals a childhood incident in which she accidentally cracked a delicate plate and her mother's violent reaction to it. Realizing what the plate crack has done to her, she smahes it. Julia replies, "Nice shot!" and they embrace. Cast Beth Howland as Eleanor Flemming Katherine Kamhi as Julia Flemming Ian Ziering as Randy Forrester Ita DeMarco as Katie Flemming Stephen James as Mr. Bacharan Carol Goodheart as Mary Forrester Stephanie Winters as Beth Sotheby Release The film was premiered on January 20, 1988, on ABC as the fifth episode of the 16th season of ABC Afterschool Special.