The Girl in My Life

I was also a contestant on this show when I was 9 years old. My guest silhouette was Danny Bonaduce dressed in a clown costume-----I had thrown a neighborhood carnival for my 9th birthday to raise money for muscular dystrophy, hence the reason for the clown suit and my appearance on the show. I didn't have any idea they were talking about me until Fred came and got me out of the audience to go onstage. I really don't remember much about it, but I was the talk at school when everyone found out I was kissed on the cheek by Danny Bonaduce......and I got to go to the soundstage for a day with the Partridge Family! I also would LOVE to show this to my kids. They would get a HUGE kick out of it. If anyone ever finds a copy of the show, please list here--although Wikipedia states that the footage appears to be "lost". Thanks! :-)

The premise of the show was a good one, to honor women and girls for doing something kind, generous or memorable. Of course, as always happens in the entertainment business, things are not always as they seem. Mostly it was a sincere attempt to give a woman a gift to make her happy in a dramatic situation. Sometimes the result of our cross between Queen for a Day and This is Your Life did not please the woman who had been secretly brought to the show to be surprised. And some of the gimmicks were just dreamed up by the writers to add interest to the show - fiancé who had proposed to his girlfriend by scoreboard at Dodger Stadium, etc. But sometimes wonderful things occurred, such as bringing together siblings who had not seen each other since they were toddlers, giving a woman her dream grand piano after she had given so much to a group of foster children, bringing a soldier back from Vietnam for a few days to see his dying mother, etc. It was great fun to work for this show and many women did benefit, even in the midst of a "game show" and attempt to be commercially successful.

I was a field producer on TGIML. The host, Fred Holliday was a sweetheart as was Tom Naud and Brad Lachman. Our production company was TN Productions and for the first year our offices were at the old General Services studios in Hollywood. Later we moved to Toluca Lake. The men were paid far more than the "girls" and only one woman was "allowed" to write for the show. I started as a researcher and then was bumped up to a field producer. I started at $110/week. The men were making $225/week. It was the 70s and the women's movement was near. I produced one story with Sally Struthers and when I told her agent the producers wanted her to wear a dress, the agent told me that wouldn't happen. I learned a lot from working on the show. The most important lesson? Details! I'm still producing (just not in broadcast) and I learned how to bring the elements together to tell a good story. Rest in peace Fred.

As a child Roberts's younger brother Richard lost half his leg in an oil pumping rig by a baseball park Robert saved his brother's life by tying a tourniquet. The people from the girl in my life had seen the news coverage and put his mother on their show. At the age of 17 Robert Vavla enlisted in the USMC and went to MCRD in San Diego CA where he scored expert company high shooter on their rifle ranges. In the 1980s Robert got married and enlisted the US Army. Robert was injured in Operation Desert Storm. SGT Vavla was moved to the USNS Comfort on Feb 24th 1991. He was moved one week later to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) near Landstuhl, Germany. He was transferred to Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital LA. Robert Vavla was medically discharged in Jan 1992. He lives now in WA State with his wife Beth. Due to his injuries he now disabled and is on heavy pain medication he volunteers his time to sportsman and vets with disabilities and his 2 Dachshunds Mikie and Nickel.

I remember this so-so game show.

People would reveal the girl in their lives; mother, daughter, sister, friend. Someone who had helped them thru a difficult time.

I do remember the recovering alcoholic who thanked the woman in her life (seems so politically incorrect now to say 'girl').

There would be surprise reunions too, someone brought in from the other side. I think a guy was told he and a young woman would run a contest as vendors to sell peanuts or hot dogs to the audience. As the woman went to the other side, she was replaced with a long lost family member.

There was one girl brought on whose name was Mary Christmas.

And then Barbie showed up.

A woman who had at this time (Barbie wasn't 20 years old yet) had had more to do with making Barbie a success than anyone else.

There would be a delightful musical montage of Barbies that I still recall the tune from. It was very strong.

Sadly not a long running show of any kind.

But then game shows at that time, if Bob Barker didn't host them, they didn't run long.

Ah well.