Gidget: Too Many Cooks

Gidget: Too Many Cooks
ABC
December 29, 1965
Sitcom
DVD
B-

While there's some cute farce with Gidget juggling three dates for the same dance, including Moondoggie, the situation is so obviously set up for disaster that it's a wonder that Russ doesn't step in and prevent it.  This time Bonnie Franklin plays Jean, the host of a party where the parents appear to be entirely absent.  (Or maybe discreetly upstairs.)  Note that the 14th is on a Saturday, which doesn't really work for the '65-66 school year, as it would have to be August '65 or May '66.  And Jeff has been gone "a couple months."

Gidget: Chivalry Isn't Dead

Gidget: Chivalry Isn't Dead
ABC
December 1, 1965
Sitcom
DVD
B

This is notable both for its plot and its cast.  Gidget takes a stand, wanting the boys to show the girls more consideration, especially in regards to not asking them out at the last minute.  Her friends go along but then give in, while Gidget mostly holds her ground, winning the respect of her boyfriend, Mark.  I like Bob Random's performance here.  The actor has an edge to him (he was one of the bad teens in Village of the Giants around that time), but Mark also comes across as the brightest and most considerate of the guys.  I remember as a teen being more intrigued by him than Moondoggie, although both characters only got two episodes each.

On the distaff side, it's impossible to watch this and not exclaim over young Bonnie Franklin (Jean) and Barbara Hershey (Ellen).  If you're wondering how Franklin could play a mother of two teens a decade later on One Day at a Time, she was actually 21 here and not much older than her TV-daughters in the '70s.  She and Hershey definitely have star power and so their later success isn't at all surprising.  Both actresses would return to this show, but as different characters.

Rick Cooper (Ted), Pamela McMyler (Betty), Beverly Washburn (Marcia), and the aptly named Bob Beach (Pete) would also all return.  Martin Ragaway, who came up with the story, would write a few Brady Bunch episodes, among other things, while the author of the teleplay, John McGreevey, had done "A Hearse" and would write three more.