Rob Price
Gutbrain Records
rob + gutbrain.com = email

2013 August 23 • Friday

The pilot episode of the Gidget television series was much, much better than the Gidget movie.

Somebody realized that the movie didn't make it and got Frederick Kohner, author of the original novel, on board as "Creator & Script Consultant".

Sally Field is absolutely perfect casting in the title role and the pilot episode draws much of its material from the book. Gidget's mother has been killed off for the TV show, thus allowing Gidget's older sister to have a neurotically maternal concern that, abetted by her psychologist husband, generates much comic relief.

Gidget has an admirably close and honest relationship with her father, who must be one of the most understanding and easy-going fathers in sitcom history. (In the movie, Gidget's father was a hysterical dork with a much smarter and more composed wife.)

The Four Freshmen sing the great title song, written by Howard Greenfield and Jack Keller and very similar to "The Best Is Yet To Come". The excellent score for the pilot is by Dave Grusin.