YouTube Theatre: Gidget Grows Up (1969)

 Despite the fact that the series had flopped in its only season, ABC & Screen Gems decided to try Gidget again.

It took a year before "Gidget Grows Up" made the air as an ABC Movie of The Week, loaded with familiar faces. Sally Field was busy with The Flying Nun, so Harry Ackerman brought in Karen Valentine to assume the role of Frances "Gidget" Lawrence, now a college graduate, returning to the states after 2 years in Europe. Keep in mind, this was filmed a year before Valentine was cast in Room 222. Jeff "Moondoggie" Griffin (Paul Peterson, ex-The Donna Reed Show) has a brief reunion with Gidget before leaving for military service in Greenland.

Our cast includes Bob Cummings, taking over for Don Porter as Gidget's father, Edward Mulhare (The Ghost & Mrs. Muir), and Paul Lynde (Bewitched, Hollywood Squares).

A little bit of sunshine before Winter officially begins tomorrow night.

There would be another TV-movie or two before Gidget went back on the shelf until 1986's The New Gidget & Caryn Richman.

No rating. Just a public service.