Editing The Day After (section)

=== Broadcast ===
''The Day After'' was initially scheduled to premiere on ABC in May 1983, but the post-production work to reduce the film's length pushed back its initial airdate to November. Censors forced ABC to cut an entire scene of a child having a nightmare about [[nuclear holocaust]] and then sitting up screaming. A psychiatrist told ABC that it would disturb children. "This strikes me as ludicrous," Meyer wrote in ''[[TV Guide]]'' at the time, "not only in relation to the rest of the film, but also when contrasted with the huge doses of violence to be found on any average evening of TV viewing." In any case, a few more cuts were made, including to a scene in which Denise possesses a [[diaphragm (contraceptive)|diaphragm]]. Another scene in which a hospital patient abruptly sits up screaming was excised from the original television broadcast but restored for [[home video]] releases. Meyer persuaded ABC to dedicate the film to the citizens of Lawrence and also to put a disclaimer at the end of the film after the credits to let the viewer know that ''The Day After'' downplayed the true effects of nuclear war so it could have a story. The disclaimer also included a list of books that provided more information on the subject.

''The Day After'' received a large promotional campaign prior to its broadcast. Commercials aired several months in advance, and ABC distributed half-a-million "viewer's guides" that discussed the dangers of nuclear war and prepared the viewer for the graphic scenes of mushroom clouds and radiation burn victims. Discussion groups were also formed nationwide.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Atomic War Film Spurs Nationwide Discussion|last=McFadden|first=Robert D.|date=November 22, 1983|work=The New York Times}}</ref>