MovieChat Forums > Gidget (1965) Discussion > If There Had Been A Second Season

If There Had Been A Second Season

posted 12 years ago by seas286
32 replies | jump to latest

Too bad ABC was stupid and cancelled this great show even after it shot into the top 10. If there had been a second season, what would you liked to of seen happen ?

I think they should have had John and Ann be expecting a baby and have to move in the house with Gidget and Russ.

LaRue's parents are seen from time to time played by well known actors.

Maybe an episode where John becomes jealous of Ann's doctor played by Ricky Nelson.

Some appearances by some of Gidget's neighbors Samantha and Darrin Stevens, Abner and Gladys Kravitz and Steve and Barbara Baxter (from Hazel).

[–] mactach 12 years ago

Uh if you read one of my previous posts. "Gidget ?" it was explained that it was canceled due to low ratings so let's not insult ABC. Most times networks aren't gonna keep a low rated series running.

[–] seas286 12 years ago

Sally Field said in interviews that the show became a top 10 hit in the summer of 1966. She said instead of ABC admitting their mistake and bringing it back, they put her in the Flying Nun that she hated with a passion.

I was just trying to have a little fun and see what ideas other fans would have liked to of seen.

[–] dsnyder1 11 years ago

The Flying Nun was stupid,& almost killed the career of a very talented Sally Field.

[–] mactach 11 years ago

Has nothing to do with the topic.

[–] dsnyder1 10 years ago

The previous post mentioned The Flying Nun,that was why I brought it up.

[–] tanstaafl74 10 years ago

Gidget was one of the most popular shows of that time. ABC was blowing smoke when they said low ratings. There's a whole litany of shows that had amazing ratings that were canceled because of "low ratings."

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[–] mactach 10 years ago

Obviously the ratings for the show weren't great otherwise it would of remained on the schedule.

[–] TheGraveLittleToaster 12 years ago

LSD, race riots and the draft.

[–] PretoriaDZ 12 years ago

And don't forget that Jeannie and Major Nelson lived right down the street. A few years later, The Partridge Family also lived on that street. What a great neighborhood!

[–] mactach 12 years ago

What do you mean by "They all live down the street from each other?"

[–] Henahey41 12 years ago

It would of been interesting to see what would of happend in the second season.

[–] TheLightFantastic 12 years ago

Exterior shots of Gidget were shot on the same ranch (Columbia Studios Ranch in Burbank) as Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie and a slew of other shows.

If you pay attention, you can see the Bewitched house (which I believe is right next door) in exterior shots. There are also a few episodes that use the same sets as Bewitched. In "Gidget's Career", Darrin's office at McMahon & Tate is used. In "Chivarly Isn't Dead", there is a scene shot in Sam and Darrin's living room. The show also used the living room and bedroom set from The Donna Reed Show in three episodes - "In God and Nobody Else We Trust", "Too Many Cooks" and "Take a Lesson". I'm sure there are other examples from other shared sets but these are the ones that come to my mind.
That's what people mean when they say the other characters like Sam and Darrin are neighbors. They're not really neighbors as the shows presumably take place in different fictional universes but fans of the show (and other Screen Gem productions) have noticed the same sets
and exterior shots.

[–] seas286 11 years ago

Screen Gems was notorious for redressing/reusing sets. In the later episodes of Hazel, she goes to work for Steve and Barbara Baxter (George's brother). They live in a Huge colonial style home. That house/set was also being used for the another screen gems series at the time "The Farmer's Daughter " starring Inger Stevens and William Windom. The house also made appearances on I Dream Of Jeannie and Bewitched (as the house being zapped by Endora).

[–] sadrian9 11 years ago

Great info -- thanks for the post!

[–] oh_oh_oh_yeach 11 years ago

They could of done three seasons. i liked the episode with pete duel dancing witht he kids.funny! don porter was good in it.

[–] mactach 11 years ago

Oh really?

What makes you think that?

[–] Dragon000 10 years ago

Nowadays, it would run for 3 seasons, with over 30 taped episodes! Let's face it, today with some shows, we only have 12 episode seasons. Look at how much Sally Field/Gidget grew up, and changed her style, over the several episodes that were taped.

At any rate, I own the DVD set and had no idea this was all one season. I figured it was at least two.

[–] mactach 10 years ago

It could of ran 3 seasons as well or more, but it didn't.

[–] rpressley 9 years ago

I would love to live on that street!

[–] keithdemonde 10 years ago

I'm 48 years old and i grew up watching Screen Gems programs such as Bewitched, The Flying Nun & I Dream of Jeannie but i never knew Gidget with Sally Field existed. I discovered the show watching COZI TV (New York City Ch. 114) and i immediately fell in love with the show and i do wish the show had survived to extend to at least 3 seasons. It's unfortunate that ABC gave up on the show. Who can resist Sally Field! several episodes struck my heart but i would say the episode where Gidget thought her father had read her diary was really good as well as the episode where Gidget fell in love with the older photographer (Daniel J Travante) The cast was pretty good too, I cannot find any information on actresses Betty Conner (Ann) & Jeanette Winter ( Larue) It's as if they fell off the phase of the earth. Sally Feild is a wonderful actress and i'm an admirer of her longevity in the business, so glad "The Flying Nun" didn't ruin her career (I'm watching it now on COZI)

[–] aghopeme 10 years ago

A couple of years ago I attended a movie dedication to Sally Field in Los Angeles. There was a Q&A right after the movie/tribute. Sally mentioned that she really loved Gidget and was upset it never ran a couple more seasons. She did say that the show became popular in the summer re-runs but the executives did not want to bring it back. It was such a wholesome and charming show. I love the characters.

[–] mactach 10 years ago

Unfortunately in most cases TV networks usually cancel shows once they see its ratings are no good and Gidget is probably not the only such case.

Only reason it might of made sense for ABC to change their mind is in the 60's the network was not as big and the other 2. It didn't have as many top rated shows and if the ratings were super hot during the summer, perhaps this show should of remained.

[–] jones7418 10 years ago

Sometimes ratings have nothing to do with it. Highly rated "Gilligan's Island" was cancelled because the guy running CBS at the time had a wife who wanted the low rated "Gunsmoke" to run for ANOTHER year.

[–] mactach 10 years ago

Like I said in most cases if not all.

[–] dsnyder1 10 years ago

I have heard about Gidget's ratings going up that summer,but ABC cancelling it anyway.A similar scenario occured in 1961.The now considered classic Dick Van Dyke Show struggled through one season & was cancelled by CBS.In May 1962 the production was shut down after a wrap & farewell party.That summer reruns got very good ratings,& Carl Reiner got a surprising call from CBS saying to start production again.It was initially placed after The Beverly Hillbillies that fall & ratings were respectable.Reiner cancelled it himself after the 1965-6 season.CBS also cancelled a whole slew of shows in 1971 because ratings were good in demographics other than the prime18-49 age group,some were even in the top 20.The highest rated was Mayberry RFD at # 6 for the year.Other shows cancelled were Hee Haw,which ran in first run syndication for decades,Green Acres,& The Beverly Hillbillies,but not Petticoat Junction as erroniously claimed frequently.It was cancelled the year before,losing ratings after losing Bea Benedaret to cancer.That's why it is referred to as the "rural purge"in so many accounts.Paul Henning's wife said they cancelled every show with a tree in it.

[–] mactach 10 years ago

OK while I see your point on mentioning The Dick Van Dyke Show what does the canceling all those shows in 1971 have to do with Gidget?

[–] dsnyder1 10 years ago

The point is shows have been cancelled despite good ratings.Another point is Gidget got good ratings that summer,but ABC did not decide to change the cancellation,the way CBS did with the Dick Van Dyke Show.

[–] mactach 10 years ago

Yeah but it didn't get good ratings during the season so there's no reason to compare it to all those other shows.

[–] dsnyder1 10 years ago

Neither did the Dick Van Dyke Show,but it was discovered by viewers in summer reruns,& was renewed,Gidget experienced the same thing,but ABC did not give it another chance.

[–] mactach 10 years ago

I heard you to first time!

[–] dsnyder1 10 years ago

You heard me to first time?

[–] sjbradford 10 years ago

There was some interest on ABC's part in bringing back the show after the show's ratings improved in summer of 1966. But after they cancelled it in May 1966, everyone's contract expired and they didn't want to go through the trouble of renegotiating.

Too bad, though. I think the show could have run 4 or 5 seasons and have been a staple in syndication like fellow Screen Gems shows Bewitched and Jeannie. Instead, it become seasonal filler - turning up occasionally in syndication in the summer, but never year-round because of the small number of episodes.