DAY 176: Gidget

Series Run : 1965-1966

32 episodes

Network: ABC

Series Premise (as far as I can tell):

High schooler Gidget navigates the hip surfer world and her high school

Episode Watched: Ego-A-Go-Go (Season 1)

Episode Summary: Gidget makes a date with a geek to make him feel better, only to have the geek dump her.

My Thoughts: My history with Gidget consists of making fun of my sisters watching the 3 Gidget movies during summer vacations. To my surprise, a tv show existed that spun off from those movies, and that show starred future Academy Award winner Sally Field. Much like our earlier viewing of Caroline in the City, this show takes on the personality of the young and bubbly Sally Field. She is smart, witty, funny, and the personification of a young high school girl. Her father plays the strong, understanding wise man in her life, and the jokes are fast and numerous. This episode has the added bonus of future star thespian, Richard Dreyfus, playing a character named so eloquently as, “Durf the Drag”. That character name alone should be enough of a hook to get you to watch this. But if it isn’t enough, come for the quite charming story and the fun atmosphere this show resides in. A pleasant surprise in the lore of sitcom-dom, and one that is much better than the movies from which it spawned.

 Memorable Quotes:

“Not that Truth! I haven’t made it up yet” -Gidget

“Since his head swelled, the distance from his head to his ears are in light years”-Gidget

“Then my mother with her ‘late bloomer’ take, I guess I went right into orbit”– Durf

Acting Notables:

Sally Field- Gidget

Don Porter- Russell

Richard Dreyfuss- Durf the Drag

Tomorrow: A short rebirth of a 60’s icon

DAY 118: Mr. Belvedere

Series Run : 1985-1990

117 episodes

Network: ABC

Series Premise (as far as I can tell):

Gentleman world traveling butler comes to live in Sports Writer’s house

Episode Watched: Strike (Season 2)

Episode Summary: George’s paper goes on strike, wreaking havoc with the day-to-day routine and wants/needs of the household

My Thoughts: Two days ago this post would be telling you about how Mr. Belvedere was the greatest man-servant ever depicted on television. Since Mr. French of Family Affair took that mantle, instead we will have a more reserved review of this show. While Mr. Belevedere is still quite formidable as a butler in of himself, I was shocked to see just how rude, selfish and obnoxious the kids of this household were. Additionally, the mom/wife character is depicted as flighty and dumb, and Bob Uecker is a macho male disciplinarian with no domestic skills at all. In short, the show really consists of Mr. Belvedere being condescending in one way or another to every member of this household, making you wonder why he agreed to work for them in the first place. I suppose one could say, he was bored traveling the world and working with the highest level of royalty and leaders, and wanted to be somewhere in which he would feel superior, even though the family would treat him as an inferior. Which again just puts him on that pedestal of awesome TV butler. In this entry, George’s paper goes on strike, he ends up at home for a month, screwing up Mr. Belvedere’s chores, and the kids whine because they can’t have a new car, a trip to Europe, or the foods they like. By the end we are  given a heavy dose of sentimentality as the kids try to ban together to give money to the parents (a plot line the Brady kids pull off a lot better- search for the stars anyone???) and Mr. Belvedere ends, as he does each show, writing in a diary summarizing the stupefying exploits of this family he willingly does servant work for. A terrific example of 80’s sitcoms at work, maybe with a more subtle edge to it than most.

 Memorable Quotes:

“Its practical. With these wheels he’ll pick up practically every chick in town!” -George

“I’m a guest Wesley, not a hostage” -Mr. Belvedere

“I mean you save a sheik’s life and they’ll do anything for you” – Mr. Belvedere

Acting Notables:

Christopher Hewett- Mr. Belvedere

Bob Uecker- George

Rod Stone- Kevin

Tomorrow: A rather uninspiring BBC entry