13. The Flying Nun
What it is: There isn’t much mystery in this show, the title pretty much says it all. A very young and fresh-faced Sally Field plays Sister Bertrille, a nun with extraordinary abilities. It focused on the adventures of a convent of nuns in Puerto Rico, and most of the comedy and action centered on Bertille’s flying abilities. The show aired on ABC from 1967-1970 and was about as fun and harmless as a show can be.
The yuck factor: There’s really not much to be grossed out about in this show. It came on the heels of Fields’ smash hit Gidget, and was a way to keep her in front of audiences while she decided her career trajectory.
Although Field didn’t love the role at first, and critics widely panned it, the show was a pretty big hit with viewers — probably due to Sally Fields’ broad appeal and her loyal fans. The show stayed at the top of the ratings for much of its run.
Although some of the show was filmed on the Warner Bros. backlot, a good bit of the episodes were shot on location in Puerto Rico. Catholic officials were on set to advise and consult about what was appropriate or not in their depiction.
Where and how: You can watch the pilot on YouTube, but subsequent episodes are a little harder to come by. You can find lots of fun clips with Sally Field performing the show’s signature slapstick, and that’s good enough. Trust me.