I want to reach back and dig up the one of the roots – a genesis if you will – of many, many pop crushes to come and go in my life. One of the first television characters I can remember blushing over; that I liked for some reason (only later to discover what reason – I tell you this stuff is hard-coded) and could not take my eyes off of – even in pre-double digit age years – was Col. Wilma Deering from BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY played by the elegant, beautiful, and fabulous Erin Gray.
Name: Erin Gray
Birthday: January 7, 1950
Miscellanea: She is a Tai Chi master and was up for Captain Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager (wtf? YES PLEASE!)
When We Met
It is possibly one of my earliest memories – watching BUCK ROGERS on tv both when it was originally on and in its limited re-runs. I remember the lucky robot of Col. Wilma Derering’s affections, Twiki, and how cool it would be if Twiki was me. That thought has a whole different scope of implications now that would probably fit in a William Gibson novel.
The screen was slave to Gray’s Col. Deering. Now, much later in life, I realize the reason for that is the crazy tight white jump suit (and various similar attire) that Gray wears throughout the series. I was young enough back then where I did not know exactly why I was fascinated by Wilma, but I think in retrospect it is pretty obvious. She was a stunner, for sure, but also gave a young boy a very close approximation of nudity that was hauntingly enticing. Back then and in my early pre-teen days, I was not sure what the difference was between a real naked woman and a naked Barbie. It’s an uncomfortable age for boys because an undressed Barbie doll laying around seems a naughty treat that one would try not to touch or stare at – but one could not help. And watching Wilma on screen was a lot like that – what was the difference between seeing Wilma with a nearly painted on white body suit and seeing Wilma naked? Back then, as a child, I was not so sure there was a difference and I felt that naughty secret was mine to greedily nurture at every chance I got.
Our Relationship
The relationship started out hot and heavy. Erin Gray was an omnipresent figure on television in the early 80s. Guest turns on some of my favorite tv shows solidified my never wavering crush. She stopped by such favorites as MAGNUM PI, THE FALL GUY, FANTASY ISLAND, BJ & THE BEAR, and SIMON & SIMON. That pretty much was tv for me back then and I could spot Erin from the moment she stepped on the screen. Later in the decade she also did turns on HUNTER (Gray & DeeDee McCall!) and THE HITCHIKER.
What most folk probably still remember Gray for was her role as Kate the Secretary (how liberating!) on 80s tv staple SILVER SPOONS. Kate was awkward and shy as the millionaire Stratton’s secretary and, in a typical subtle and non-sexist (eye roll) television way, she eventually “marries-up” and is rescued in an every woman’s fantasy type situation by the child-at-heart millionaire Stratton. But that’s not the point. The point is that Gray was in a class of her own on the show. Although she was just the secretary, she was amazingly elegant and, as always, drop dead gorgeous. How either of the males in that house could be around her without getting tongue-tied and flustered is beyond me. I would have rode that stupid train around staring at her with a goofy grin on my face if it were me. Probably drooling in an idiot manner while trying to figure out how to turn a campy 80s tv show into a type of Nabokov novel with me being Lolita and Gray… I mean, I would not be a little girl, but… er, well, you get the picture. By the time of SILVER SPOONS’ run, I was of an age where I could appreciate the beauty (we’d now say hawt!) and grace of Gray.
When It Was Over
Gloriously our relationship has never ended, but rather has fell into a comfortable friendship. Not too long ago I was pleasantly surprised to see Gray as a pretty major role in the JASON GOES TO HELL movie. The movie was not particularly good, but I enjoyed it a nice bit more than I would have due to Gray’s presence. That was honestly the last we met, but I see she is still a staple on television in guest roles and as a regular. She also apparently guest-starred in the steamy late night show SILK STALKINGS twice – as two different characters – in the late 90s. I unfortunately missed those.
I’m not much of a tv guy (like in a I-don’t-have-cable-but-stream-shows-I-like type of not much of a tv guy), so I’m not sure how often I will cross paths with the elegant now aged 59 Gray. But like the old friends that we are, I know I can count on our past memories.
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