The password here is "image" and lots of it. Not what you think. Everything goes south for Gidget when she goes on a blind date with Larue's older cousin from New York, Roger (played by James M. Crawford). He gets her a "kid" movie ticket --not an ADULT movie ticket? How insulting!
More damage to come when Professor Lawrence, hoping to soothe her damaged ego, buys her a dress that would make her look like Shirley Temple? He's also tutoring a student (played by Mellisa Murphy), about the same age as a Gidget, but treats her as an adult?
What to do about these insults?
Time to change, and big time. Gidget believes its all in the wardrobe department, and how about a makeover with a frilly, way over the top Mae West gown?
You have to admit, it's a pretty cool selection.
But does she make her point?
There's a funny gag scene with Larue, concentrating on "eye exercises" to improve herself, or something like that. Lynette Winter is funny to watch no matter what she does.
Written by Barbara Avedon, the master of sitcoms, who was working on tne DONNA REED SHOW at the time, later to create CAGNEY AND LACY. She began her career writing MR. MAGOO cartoons. Melissa Murphy, not too long after this episode, joined the cast of SEARCH FOR TOMORROW.
You can tell the wardrobe department was having fun. We also get a glimpse, in the last scene, of Gidget's house, which was actually next door to the PARTRIDGE FAMILY house. Unfortunately, it was all torn down in 2023 to make way for new soundstages on the Warner Brothers lot in Burbank.
SEASON 1 EPISODE 8 remastered Columbia/ABC dvd box set.