Sally Field Does NOT Look Back Fondly At Her Sitcom Days...Especially The Flying Nun!

[Brian Damage]

Sally Field doesn't speak fondly of her days as The Flying Nun.

"Oh, c'mon. Really?" she told a packed audience at the Women's Conference this morning in Long Beach, Calif., during a session on leadership. "I wanted to be a real actor, to tell real stories." It was the early '70s and she felt she was going to get stuck forever in sitcoms. The scripts she was being sent at the time "went from stupid to even stupider."

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[Rezny@gmail.com]

Yeah.I heard the same thing years ago.And I've also heard that she liked "Gidget"A LOT better than "The Flying Nun"(as did I),and I've read that "The Flying Nun"was ABC's way of making it up to her,for cancelling "Gidget".She is now in the drama "Brothers and Sisters".Hey,by the way,remember the NBC ORIGINAL 1979 TV-movie drama "Sybil",with her and Joanne Woodward?

[Rezny@gmail.com]

And,ironically ,"Brothers and Sisters"is also an ABC show,as were "Gidget" and "The Flying Nun",so if she enjoys doing "Brothers and Sisters",(and she really must),ABC HAS made it up to her.And with the successes of "Smokey and The Bandit","Smokey and the Bandit 2","Sybil","Norma Rae",and "Murphy's Romance"(with James Garner),and "Places in the Heart"(for which she won an Oscar and said the famous speech "You like me.You REALLY like me".)it proves that Gidget really HAS grown up.

[Marvo301]

And,ironically ,"Brothers and Sisters"is also an ABC show,as were "Gidget" and "The Flying Nun",so if she enjoys doing "Brothers and Sisters",(and she really must),ABC HAS made it up to her.And with the successes of "Smokey and The Bandit","Smokey and the Bandit 2","Sybil","Norma Rae",and "Murphy's Romance"(with James Garner),and "Places in the Heart"(for which she won an Oscar and said the famous speech "You like me.You REALLY like me".)it proves that Gidget really HAS grown up.
Also Forrest Gump.

[Stuck In The '70's]

but it all started with her sitcoms. She should embrace it really. Both Gidget and The Flying Nun were not bad shows and she should be proud of them. It started her on her journey where she is now. Tom Hanks never badmouths Bosom Buddies. Sally should follow that example.

[comedyfreak]

You really need to see the extras on The Flying Nun, she had a tough time during that period. At the time some people thought the show was silly and she did a talk show appearance and told she wasn't very good. All this had an effect on her. Fred Gwyne felt the same way about the Herman Munster character and wouldn't talk about it for the longest time.

[McGillicuddy]

but it all started with her sitcoms. She should embrace it really. Both Gidget and The Flying Nun were not bad shows and she should be proud of them. It started her on her journey where she is now. Tom Hanks never badmouths Bosom Buddies. Sally should follow that example.
Sally should talk to Patty Duke.

[novarrofan]

Yes I agree. I'm a bit over Sally always bagging "The Flying Nun". So she had self esteem problems from the show, so have we all growing up!!! The show provided her with a starring role in a popular series which was ideally suited to her at that time. She had the opportunity to work with some amazing talents on the show like Madeline Sherwood, Marge Redmond, Vitto Scotti and numerous guest stars that were only an amazing influence on her developing her acting skills. Contrary to what Sally says it was the perfect vehicle for her at that stage in her career/life and I wish she would simply embrace the show for the time period it was made in. In 1968 Sally wouldn't hav ebeen offered the glamour romantic parts, she was perky and cute and funny which made Gidget/The Flying Nun perfect for her at that time. To be associated with a show that is still loved by fans 40 years later I think should be regarded as a honour and not something to constantly put down.

but it all started with her sitcoms. She should embrace it really. Both Gidget and The Flying Nun were not bad shows and she should be proud of them. It started her on her journey where she is now. Tom Hanks never badmouths Bosom Buddies. Sally should follow that example.

[cocytus]

Yes I agree. I'm a bit over Sally always bagging "The Flying Nun". So she had self esteem problems from the show, so have we all growing up!!! The show provided her with a starring role in a popular series which was ideally suited to her at that time. She had the opportunity to work with some amazing talents on the show like Madeline Sherwood, Marge Redmond, Vitto Scotti and numerous guest stars that were only an amazing influence on her developing her acting skills. Contrary to what Sally says it was the perfect vehicle for her at that stage in her career/life and I wish she would simply embrace the show for the time period it was made in. In 1968 Sally wouldn't hav ebeen offered the glamour romantic parts, she was perky and cute and funny which made Gidget/The Flying Nun perfect for her at that time. To be associated with a show that is still loved by fans 40 years later I think should be regarded as a honour and not something to constantly put down.

Yep...a check is a check. She beat out a number of better actresses to get the Flying Nun gig and she should be glad that she did.

[biffbronson]

From what I've read, the producers had been close to going with Ronne Troupe. What a break that would have been for Ronne's career! She had to wait a while to land the role of Polly Williams Douglas on My Three Sons, and by then the MTS series was in its final seasons.

[ansara1]

I agree. "Gidget" was cute but certainly not Shakespeare either and "The Flying Nun" outlasted it by two seasons. Though, she always speaks fondly of “Gidget”. Though the biggest irony of all is what she did a few years after "The Flying Nun". I've never understood how she can STILL always put down "The Flying Nun" because she wanted to be taken 'seriously' and do 'quality' work only a few years later to do ....the "Smokey and the Bandit" movies! If she should be ashamed of ANYTHING that would be it – but it is still “The Flying Nun” she continuously speaks negatively about! I mean she certainly didn't hone her acting abilities playing a bumpkin, sporting those 'Daisy Dukes' she wore in the “Smokey and the Bandit” movies. ...and which do people remember most - and most fondly - today, "The Flying Nun" or those "Smokey and the Bandit" movies? Come on, Sally - PLEEEEEEASE!


Yes I agree. I'm a bit over Sally always bagging "The Flying Nun". So she had self esteem problems from the show, so have we all growing up!!! The show provided her with a starring role in a popular series which was ideally suited to her at that time. She had the opportunity to work with some amazing talents on the show like Madeline Sherwood, Marge Redmond, Vitto Scotti and numerous guest stars that were only an amazing influence on her developing her acting skills. Contrary to what Sally says it was the perfect vehicle for her at that stage in her career/life and I wish she would simply embrace the show for the time period it was made in. In 1968 Sally wouldn't hav ebeen offered the glamour romantic parts, she was perky and cute and funny which made Gidget/The Flying Nun perfect for her at that time. To be associated with a show that is still loved by fans 40 years later I think should be regarded as a honour and not something to constantly put down.

[OH Nuts!]

I'm with both of you. It was a nice role. So I don't see what she's bit**ing about. And yes, Smokey and the Bandit was nothing to write home about.

[McGillicuddy]

Whatever reasons she has to resent The Flying Nun, she ought to keep it to herself.

[Stuck In The '70's]

I am a Smokey and the Bandit fan. lol It was just a fun movie to watch but I admit it wasn't great art. Sally has had a great career and everyone of these roles helped her get to where she is today. She shouldn't diss any of it especially when she knows there are many fans out there of her earlier work.

[retroTVfan4ever]

Maybe it's the "flying" part that she doesn't like. This was one of the last fantasy sitcoms, as by the late 60's fantasy themed shows were on the way out. I like the show a lot, but I think it would have been just as good if not better had they not gone with the flying gimmick and just made her a regular nun which got herself into pickely situations. The scenes where she flies are silly now, and were silly back then too. But aside from that I enjoy the show and I agree Sally Field should try to embrace it a little more. Many people including me like her for this show, the supporting cast was good also and overall it was a very enjoyable series. The 3rd and final season needs to come out on DVD!

[catlover79]

Hey Sally, we all have to start someplace!!

[old grouch]

While I have never been a big fan of 'The Flying Nun', it's a heck of a lot more entertaining than her commercials for Boniva.

[catlover79]

^ :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Rambo Stallone]

I bought Gidget for like $10 on DVD but it's very painful to get through it.I don't know why maybe it's a bit girlish so maybe The Flying Nun the same.I kind of gave up on That Girl after season 1 didn't really laugh it seem to dramedy romantic made by women. I can't say the same for Dick Van Dyke Show that is good that I'm watching and Mister Ed kind of silly but still funny.The Beverly Hillbillies absolutely classic comedy.It's very funny a one of a kind only Scruggs and Flats spoil it sometime when they play but they rarely on it.The words of Jed to Sally about her past pitiful.