Today's Entertainment

BY GEORGE DICKIE Do a web search on "youthful exuberance" and you'll likely find a photo of Dawn Wells. Yes, the actress who will forever be remembered as wholesome Midwestern castaway Mary Ann Summers in the 1964-67 CBS sitcom "Gilligan's Island" is locked in our collective consciousness as someone blessed with eternal youth, which made her death last month at age 82 from COVID-19 all the more shocking. As Mary Ann, she evoked a perky, down-to-earth charm and was certainly more approachable than the more glamorous movie star Ginger Grant (Tina Louise). And she was also quite handy as she could cook, garden and do an assortment of other tasks. No wonder the Professor (Russell Johnson) and Gilligan (Bob Denver) gravitated to her. And Wells embraced the persona. A fixture at autograph signings, she relished being recognized in public as the character and even penned the 2014 book "What Would Mary Ann Do? A Guide to Life" to coincide with the series' 50th anniversary. Remembering the girl next door from 'Gilligan's Island' "Jann" From CTV in Canada comes this comedy series, which stars Canadian singer/songwriter/actress Jann Arden ("Workin' Moms") as a fictionalized version of herself, just out of a long- term relationship with a female partner and on a quest for renewed fame. Deborah Grover, Zoie Palmer and Elena Juatco are also in the cast. (ORIGINAL) "How I Met Your Mother" All nine seasons of this 2005-14 CBS sitcom about the adventures of a group of friends, using one character's recollections of those days to his two children as a framing device, comes to the streaming service. Jason Segel, Alyson Hannigan, Josh Radnor, Neil Patrick Harris and Cobie Smulders are in the talented cast. "Movie: Penguin Bloom" Bonding with an injured bird her kids brought home helps a woman (Naomi Watts, "Chuck") paralyzed in a freak accident find emotional healing in this 2020 drama from director from Glendyn Ivin ("The Cry," "Safe Harbour"). Andrew Lincoln ("The Walking Dead"), Jacki Weaver ("Silver Linings Playbook") and Gia Carides ("This Isn't Funny") are also in the talented cast. (ORIGINAL) "UFO Witness" (Available now, discovery+) In this new docuseries, Dr. Jennie Zeidman, who worked on Project Blue Book, opens up her archives to be reexamined by the next generation of UFO investigators. Aiding her is former federal agent and paranormal investigator Ben Hansen. How to watch: www.discoveryplus.com ($4.99/mo.) The STREAM Scene Where all the top choices can be found in one place! Page 8 January 25 - 31, 2021

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