That Girl: Season Three

There are certain television series that transcend the popularity they held during there original broadcasts. These shows attain cult classic status and become a part of our collective cultural consciousness. An example of one such show is ‘That Girl’ from the late sixties. On the surface this show would appear to be little more than a fun series about a young woman trying to make it on her own in the big city. There is, however, a deeper level to the series; it is a time capsule that gives us a retrospective view of that time in our history. The late sixties was a tumultuous time here in the States. The war in Viet Nam was raging and growing as was the opposition of the youth. The civil rights movement was gaining a foothold in the eyes of the public. Also starting up was the new movement called feminism; demanding rights and recognition for the women of the country. Fashion was changing to reflect this new women’s liberation with skirts getting shorter, colors brighter and an all pervading sense of female empowerment. This is where ‘That Girl’ comes in. During the fifties and early sixties almost every television sit-com was centered on the family. There was the dad who went off to work, the stay at home domestic mother and a few children who would raise a little mischief after school. The concept that a girl barely out of her teens would move away from home to New York City and live there by herself was simply unheard of. Add to this holding down a job and having an older boyfriend without the supervision of dad and you have something that only a few years previously would be a scandal. Perhaps the most startling aspect of this series’ concept was the young woman was working towards her dream of acting. The times were changing and it was becoming more acceptable for a young woman to live on her own. This series, in retrospect, was ground breaking in its own way and now we can revisit it thanks to DVD.

As the third season opens Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas) is actually making some head way in her quest to become a working actress. She has started to get parts in commercials and even a Broadway play. She is still dating her boyfriend, Don Hollinger (Ted Bessell). In the first episode of the season Ann has to take a flight to Miami in order to prepare for a commercial for an airline. Donald has some work there and joins her on the flight. In a plotline that was popular at the time Ann is certain she sees a man who wants to hijack the plane to Cuba. To make matters worse there is a flight attendant, Terry (Arlene Golonka) who is flirting with her boyfriend. Later in the season there is a two part episode where Ann and Donald go off to Los Angels together. Donald, a staff writer for the magazine Newsview, has to do a story about violence in LA. When they get there the hotel has some confusion with their reservations, separate rooms of course. When Ann’s father Lou (Lew Parker) calls the hotel asking for his daughter’s room and keeps getting Donald. He is in a panic that his wife Helen (Rosemary DeCamp) can’t calm down. Lou is certain that the couple is up to ‘hanky panky’. The thought that an unmarried young woman may be having sex with her boyfriend was something just not addressed on television at that time. While out there in LA Ann gets hired for some commercials for a new soda. The part required her to perform such stunts as jumping off cliffs, out of plane and explosions. The violence of the commercials brings Ann in direct opposition with Donald’s anti-violence article. Urban violence also is a theme when Ann is mugged in Central Park. When Donald picks her up from the police station he meets some officers in the park patrol who dress as women to catch muggers. Of course, Don has to join in on the stakeout.

Naturally some of the plots are typical old fashion sit-com faire. There is the almost mandatory take on ’12 Angry Men’ where Ann reports to jury duty and is the only one on the panel with a not guilty vote. There is also an episode where a rich woman has her eyes on making Don her seventh husband, much to the chagrin of Ann. While most of the episodes have light hearted plots it is fascinating to see just how much social change has progressed over the last four decades. Now we look at a twenty year old woman living in her own apartment and there is nothing special. Back then many such girls lived at home until they either went off to college or got married. Still, some of the plot points are universal only a few details are different. When Ann gets a residual check for $743.62 it is considered such a sum that the whole family is in on the decision on how see will spend it. An IRS bill of $2,600 seems to be a small fortune. One thing that seems to never change is the quandary of how a young woman working odd jobs can afford a spacious apartment in Manhattan. I guess it must have been a rent controlled place.

Today this series could very well be syndicated on the History Channel. Younger viewers may not get the jokes or appreciate the motivations behind the stories. For those of us old enough to remember watching this series first time round it is a blast from the past. Back then it was an escape from the war news and upset that aired nightly on the evening news. The same could very well be said about watching it now. We are still in a controversial war, the economy is down and social changes are being fought for. This series offers a little time away from the tension of the day.

Marlo Thomas has had a successful career before and after this but it is ‘That Girl’ that defined her. She was perfect for this role; the right actress at the right time. She gave us a young woman who was as bubbly as she was determined. She had her insecurities but pushed one to fulfill her dream of acting. Ann represented the new modern woman who could make up her won mind and act on it. Her mod outfits and flip hair style does date this show but the need to make a dream come true is lasting. I have a daughter about the same age as Ann would be in this season and I can’t wait to share this show with her. I want her to see just how far women have come in forty years. Ted Bessell is the typical sit-com boyfriend. He loves Ann and respects her but he is still the man and has to be heard. This traps Ann between her boyfriend and her father, another eternal theme. Bessell gives a lot of energy to the series with his flair for comedy.

When you think of classic television one distributor should come immediately to mind, Shout Factory. Whenever I find out that I am to preview one of their titles I know that I’m in for a treat. This case is no different. I fondly remember this series from the sixties and now watching it again after all these years have come to a different appreciation of it. The full screen video has held up quite well with only a few white spots in evidence. The Dolby stereo audio remix is clear and consistently good. There are even some interesting extras. ‘That Show...That Woman...The Creation of That Girl: The Woman on Both Sides of the Camera’ has a look at the part that Marlo Thomas played in bringing this series to life. There is a makeup test with Thomas that really dates the production. Finally there is a commentary track featuring Thomas and series creator Bill Persky. Thomas was one of the first women to be an executive producer, another sign of the changing times. This box set is just about the same as time travel, get it and enjoy it with the whole family.

Posted 08/24/07