I scour across the Internet and find TV shows with only 1 season, watch them, see if I enjoyed them, talk about them here and put them in a list of 1-Season Wonders. It sounds easy as it looks, right? No, you actually have to find these shows, watch through them hoping they're not as painful as they were the first time, and debate with yourself to see if it makes the list. If that sounds challenging and you want it that way, then let's do it.
Ahh the 1960s. Such a wonderful decade. Bright sun-shinny days, happy kids having fun, dancing, surfing, Model-T cars, government, war, McCarthyism, segrega--uhh, anyway, the sixties were awesome not only in real life events (except the bad ones), it was awesome in television. The characters and plots were bright, realistic, and either gritty or silly. One of the latter, this edition's show, was really bright (because it takes place at the beach most of the time), realistic (because some of the characters know how to surf) and it is silly (but not Batman or Monkees or Bewitched silly, but it's up there.) Also, as we heard from Seth MacFarlane at last years' The Oscars, the title character is played by the legendary and certainly hot Sally Field. It's Gidget.
Before there were shows like "Moesha", "Boy Meets World" and "Saved by the Bell", we had Gidget. A look into the world of a normal, typical teenager going through things we went through as teenagers. This show definitely had all a sitcom in the 60s had for the 18-49 demographic: the beach, hot guys, dancing like you're on American Bandstand, quirky best friend(s), and one or two parents that are always strict and caring. And that's what Gidget was all about.
Gidget may seen like a boy-crazy character of a 60's sitcom, but she's more than that. She's pretty sophisticated and charming character who's up to learn about life and being assertive and proud of herself, with her family and friends by her side. In fact, on one hand, Gidget was utterly enjoyable and, at times, hilarious to look at. That's attributed to Sally Field in her first television role. Field really committed to the role, giving us some moments that make us laugh, some that made us cry and some in between. You might never know what Gidget would be up to next (unless you've been religiously watching reruns or on DVD.)
Gidget's father Russell was like many 60's sitcom dads. They are always wise and calm, yet can be strict when the time comes. But at all times, he's very sweet. He always had the right thing on his mind, and was that guy to go to if you really need help. Plus, he's hilarious when he acts goofy.
I can even enjoy Larue for being the goofy yet sweet and dependable best friend. She is always there for Gidget even if it sacrifices her own devices. Larue was the voice of reason for Gidget during hair-brained schemes, but goes along because she cares for her.
On the other hand, Anne and John were so annoying. Like "take a gun to your head" annoying. They may care for their little sister/sister-in-law, which is understandable, because of her behavior. But other than that, the things she do and say makes me want to bash my head against a wall. I don't know if they suffer any disorders or neuroses, because that's what they act like.
Why I Love This Show: is that, even though this show is old (and, you know, a season long), it actually holds up today with what teenagers do and the morals they should learn. Just replace dancing with clubbing, sleepovers with sex, and mild drug use with heavy drug use. It also teaches us good morals we could use unlike the many sitcoms that don't like The Monkees or The Beverly Hillbillies, like learning to feel good with yourself, having your best friends' backs like they would have yours, and learning to appreciate the things you have in life as there are people who don't.
The show aired on ABC from September 15, 1965 to April 21, 1966.Reruns after its initial run aired in syndication for decades, with two made-for-TV movie sequels airing years later, 1969's Gidget Grows Up and 1972's Gidget Gets Married, along with a syndicated reboot, The New Gidget. Decades after its cancelation, Gidget has maintained a big and devoted cult audience. Reruns can now be found on Crackle, Hulu, and Antenna TV, a digital subchannel airing sitcoms and dramas from the 1940s to the 1990s. The Monkees and (starting this fall) Bewitched can also be found there.
Favorite Character: Gidget. She was smart, sophisticated and crazy (sometimes all at once). She wasn't like many female characters of the 60s. She wasn't boy-crazy all the time, and acts like what a teenage girl going on adolescent should be like.
Favorite Episode: "Like Voodoo". The part where she makes a plan to stop the curse gives me the chills, but made me laugh as well.
And there it is, Gidget, the second addition of the 1 Season Wonder segment, added to the list of 1 Season Wonders and will forever be known as the show that put Sally Field on the map and forced her to go to a show she hates to the grave, The Flying Nun.
Tune in next time when I review a show that made two of the greatest characters in nonfiction history best friends and helps a guy solve a problem (keeping Earth alive)...and made some of the most religious groups up in arms that they forgot it's fiction.
I'll see you next time, but until then, keep your television shows close and the pieces of crap closer.
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