[‘Tis the season for holiday specials on TV, so enjoy this “Whatever Happened To” rerun from May.]

Remember this?

Growing up in the late ’70s/early ’80s, that colorful, spiraling intro trumpeted the arrival of something truly special. Camping out in front of the family television, some fantastic treat would soon flood the screen. A Peanuts cartoon, perhaps? The Wizard of Oz? A Barry Manilow concert?

Yes to the last, though three of Manilow’s four television specials were actually broadcast on ABC, not CBS.

Only later did I learn that the Big Three networks stuffed their schedule with such stunt programming during so-called “Sweeps” months (November, February, May). Special attention is paid to network audiences during these periods, so the bigger the ratings (however artificially inflated), the bigger the advertising rates for commercial time.

To pump up their overall numbers, networks trotted out blockbuster movies, concerts, variety shows, etc. From stars rarely seen on the small-screen to musicians mixing it up with actors, these were no ordinary nights on the tube—they really were “special.”

Now, with a gazillion cable channels angling for eyeballs, there’s a regular venue for almost everything. And all are within easy reach of the remote. Today, sweeps might mean a supersized episode of The Office or bring The Price Is Right to prime time, but if you skipped the theatrical run of Transformers, you’re probably not waiting ’til it turns up on free TV. Not in this DVD age.

Certainly the gaudy, glitzy guest-star spectacles of yore are no more (Nick and Jessica nailed that coffin closed). [And even more recently, Rosie O’Donnell.] Though Dancing With The Stars treads some familiar variety-show waters, it’s an ongoing series, not a one-time event.

What was once considered special may no longer be so, but if your strong yearning for Mr. Manilow has yet to end, it is possible to hold him again. Looks like his vintage specials have made it to DVD.