User reviews

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.

I won the biggest prize ever on the show. It was a VW Bug they customized with my name on the side. A bright yellow VW that said "Cindy's Bug" prominently on the side! They flew my sister to L.A. from Detroit after judging her letter "Show worthy and/or good TV" for that year. It was a complete surprise to me and my mom got me to the studio on the pretext of possibly meeting David Carradine. At that time I would have jumped off a pier just to swim where David Carradine fished! The show usually ended up as a "tear jerker" and this one followed tradition. Fred Holliday was cheerful and debonair as he asked "Would you like to take a trip down memory lane?" Wow, I was still looking for David and why did this guy think I had some memories? I didn't have any idea that it was my sister in silhouette on the stage reading that heartfelt letter about me, nor did I identify her voice (It didn't sound like David). I was completely overhauled when I heard "My name is Nancy, Cindy is my sister".

As one will see from pages 183 and 184 of my biography of Jackie Jensen, The Golden Boy (see Amazon), Jackie Jensen duped his (second)wife Katharine into attending the show. She won a much-needed washer and dryer combination. This occurred in September 1974, which was probably near the end of the show's run. She thought the show was "drivel," and an usher had his hands full keeping her in her seat until Jack's appearance. From the information Katharine provided when interviewed for the book, Jack's silhouette first appeared behind a curtain, and she recognized his voice. She was spotlighted in the audience, which caused her much embarrassment. She reported she was "hefted" onto the stage. Jack told to promise she wouldn't tell anyone she was on the show, but the baseball team Jack was coaching (Cal Bears) had gotten wind of it ahead of time and watched the show in their locker room.

I was a 4th grader from a Los Angeles elementary school chosen to represent our school along with several other school members. The "girl" was our school's crossing guard who was honored for throwing herself in front of cars to save school children from being hit by cars who failed to stop at the crosswalk. I remember her being put into an ambulance several time during my 6 years at the school. My part was to stand on a platform with the other children and wave to her when cued as a part of her "moment on stage". It was an interesting experience. I am also among others looking for copies of the programs. So far I have not found any sources. If anyone does please post it here! Thanks.

I was a guest on this TV show back in 1975. The show re-united me and my sisters after 17 years of separation. We 5 girls were placed in an orphanage in 1958 and left there by our father. My 2 youngest sisters were adopted (by the same family). We remaining 3 stayed in the orphanage until we were 18. We were in the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Children's Home in Knightstown, Indiana. In 1975, we were united on national television!! What a fantastic moment for 5 little orphans.

Unfortunately, we did not tape the show. If anyone out there would have a taping of this show, I will be most happy to hear from you.

Thanks. Mona

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 on the show as a kid for my mother she was a winner and received a living room set. does anyone know who to get copy's of the show ether buy or download or do you think a site might have some thing this old to watch. I was on the show as a kid for my mother she was a winner and received a living room set. does anyone know who to get copy's of the show ether buy or download or do you think a site might have some thing this old to watch. I was on the show as a kid for my mother she was a winner and received a living room set. does anyone know who to get copy's of the show ether buy or download or do you think a site might have some thing this old to watch.

ABC-TV's "The Girl In My Life" was a schmaltzfest featuring Fred Holliday rewarding women nominated by viewers as worthy of receiving prizes and the national spotlight. This non-game show originally aired afternoons around during roughly the same period as games like the (then) new "You Don't Say", "The MoneyMaze" and "Rhyme and Reason".

Being a guy, I wasn't able to get into this lovefest but, for some reason, I can still hum the theme song.

If memory serves me, the show was a Carruthers Company production (the folks behind the 80's hit "Press Your Luck") and Tom Naud Productions (the folks behind the not-so-popular "Rhyme And Reason").

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.

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! :-)

I can't remember how I was duped into going to the studio, but it was a complete surprise when they came down to the audience and brought me up on stage. I was one if the organizers of a group that was planning a wagon train across the US to celebrate the bicentennial. I had also written a theme song for the group. Anyway, I would kill for a copy of the show but, apparently, the masters were lost.

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.