Based (loosely) on a bestselling Frederick Kohner novel and a 1959 hit movie, this mid-‘60s sitcom introduced the American public to Sally Field, an effervescent, energetic teenager playing…an effervescent, energetic teenager. For her portrayal of the impulsive high schooler and surfer girl, Field seems to have channeled the then-recent Beach Party movies: her Gidget was prone to melodramatic outbursts, bouts of self-pity, and exclamations of truly horrible slang—can you think of another show from that era in which one character would describe someone as “a complete and total ick”? In the 32 episodes broadcast between 1965-66, Gidget confronted the normal crises that tended to bedevil teenage sitcom protagonists of the period—such as making two dates for the prom—but her misadventures also reflected (albeit in a small, mild way) the attitudes of the socially turbulent 1960s: Gidget joined rock bands, rebelled against authority, and even helped stage protests. But no problem was so serious that it couldn't be wrapped up within a half-hour, often with the help of her patient father (Don Porter). Unfortunately, Gidget hasn't aged all that well—it's gone from “silly” to “sappy” to “downright ludicrous” without ever having stopped off at “nostalgic.” In fact, the best thing about this collection is a featurette with recently filmed recollections from Field, who is surprisingly frank about both this show and The Flying Nun, which she did almost immediately thereafter. Optional. (E. Hulse)
Gidget: The Complete Series
Sony, 4 discs, 804 min., not rated, DVD: $39.95 Volume 21, Issue 4
Gidget: The Complete Series
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