by tripp
I was born in 1976. I have quite a list of TV shows from my youth, spanning almost every year of my life. Memories of The Dukes of Hazzard, of Sesame Street, of the Robonic 3 Stooges.
(As for that last one, I shit you not. I remember watching it on CBS at 6.30am on Saturdays. When I would be so excited about Saturday morning cartoons, I would wake up, without an alarm, at roughly 5.30am. And sit. Watching the test pattern patiently until 6, when The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle came on. According to these Wikipedia links, this had to be 78-79. I really can’t explain how I remember all these details. For years, I thought I had dreamed the Robonic 3 Stooges, because, seriously, who would ever make that cartoon? God bless the Internet.)
Anyway, I recall these shows as snapshots in time. And 3-2-1 Contact certainly fits that bill.
Today, my boss was singing the theme song. Of course, this planted it my head and sent me off to youtube to find it. This is a later version of the opening than the one I grew up with, but the music is the same — and much of the footage is the same (from the water drop on).
Holy crap, it still rocks. I just had to watch it again. I wish I knew why I found it badass. Ah, old memories.
So that was step one. Then I recalled that one of my first crushes was on one of the two female hosts on this show. The other was on Lynda Carter, from watching re-runs of Wonder Woman. Let’s also keep in mind that I was 3 or 4 at the time.
This crush was on the host named Trini. imdb tells me some interesting things: Trini’s real name is Ginny Ortiz. And she was also in The Warriors, which cracks me up, as I love that movie. Digging further online, it seems she hasn’t done much else movie/TV-wise and has been doing mostly theater work. And she is now married with a child.
It made me smile though — I mean, I had serious hots for this girl. I still do.
And so I went digging to find pictures of her today.
This is where you prepare to laugh.
The only one I found was a tiny headshot from The Warriors:
But youtube came through again — I found another 3-2-1 Contact clip where she was hosting. And I grabbed a few stills from it, so you don’t have to watch all of it — though you do get to hear her in the clip.
Laughing yet?
If not, perhaps it is because you haven’t seen a picture of my girlfriend (pictured on the left):
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I appear to be dating someone who is the same type as a girl I was in love with at age 3. On the TV. And yes, I am slightly creeped out by this whole thing. Did Ginny Ortiz actually inspire my tastes or was she merely the first woman I “knew” who matched them? Did she imprint me for life?
I have no idea. But I would like to travel back in time, meet myself and let him know that he has good taste.
(Also, I would be lying if I said that I didn’t hope she finds this. Sure, it’s a super weird story. But if Ms. Ortiz sees this, I hope she will leave me a comment. I’ll almost feel like my life will have been a glorious loop of…something. And before you call me creepy — who doesn’t want to hear from a TV star they were in love with as a child?)
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that is some seriously funny, funny stuff. i don’t think it’s coincidence. your idea of beauty just never changed. :) and as far as hearing from your childhood crush, yes, it is actually amazing… i was IN LOVE with wil wheaton (don’t laugh…) as a kid and when i was a writer at a cancer magazine i got the chance to correspond with him about some of his charity work. i would be lying if i said after many, many years it didn’t make me as giddy as a 10 year old.
lisa (the good version) :: feb 07 2008 :: 11:46 am
This is hilarious. A couple of my friends and I (who are about the same age as you) were talking about old TV shows, and 3-2-1 Contact came up. I was telling them that I had a SUPER crush on Trini.
I found this posting searching for pictures of her. Hilarious!! It’s good to know I wasn’t the only one who’s first “love” was Trini.
Jay :: feb 26 2008 :: 9:27 pm
Yeah, you’re not the only one. I was born in ‘74 and had a massive child crush on Trini. She’s got to be in her late 40’s or 50’s now, right? I bet she’s still hot.
Paul :: feb 28 2008 :: 12:14 pm
Thank you so much for those pics, I haven’t seen Trini in so long!!I was also born in 76′. I had a crush on her too!! I wanted her to be my girlfriend so bad. Whenever friends ask me who my 1st love or crush was i tell them Trini. I remember that I wanted her to tickle my feet. LOL, whatever THAT meant. I think she did leave an imprint on us, my last GF, and most girls I’m attracted to have long straight hair and a widows peak. I would love to meet her someday. Thanks for the info. Thank you Ginny!!
Adam :: mar 10 2008 :: 2:33 am
This is her now: http://theactorsadvantage.com/About%20Genevieve.html
ForkBender :: mar 19 2008 :: 1:56 pm
Dude,
I fell ya, one of the reason I found you site was because I was look for Ginny and boy did I ever
have a crush on her and by the way my first wife
looked dead on her, funny but its’ true, so join the club.
chuck :: may 05 2008 :: 5:19 pm
I found this site tonight while in the middle of emailing a friend. I was telling him about my prototypical perfect girl and how my concept of her was influenced by early 80’s TV and movies. I was also born in 1976 and had such a huge crush on Lynda Carter, Erin Gray, Trini (who I now know is Ginny Ortiz) and Karen Allen (from “Raiders of the Lost Ark”). I was Googling her because after nearly 30 years of knowing I had a crush on her, I couldn’t even remember what she looked like. This sure explains a lot, and I can safely continue having my crush. :)
Thanks!
RO :: nov 29 2008 :: 4:04 am
holy crap. i actually stumbled across this page for the very same reason. i’ve had a crush on Trini since i was a kid. And i find it strange that my adult life also has me liking girls that look like Trini. Literally all of my most liked females looked EXACTLY like her.
I guess she’s been laying blueprints for what guys will like when they grow up for quite some time.
just glad to see someone else noticed the same thing.
wow
Poe Diddley :: jan 01 2009 :: 6:12 am
Holy Crap I cant tell you how many times I’ve rubbed one out to Trini. The other chick whatever her name was wasn’t to bad either. I bet the colored guy on there always walked around with a woody. Trini was hot & you know she had a hairy bush too, oh man her white skin & her black hairy bush Too Sexy!
Scotty :: jan 03 2009 :: 6:19 pm
I would like to report that lesbians too fixed on Trini as a first crush. Thanks for the screenshots…
Zoe :: jun 14 2009 :: 12:13 am
alright fools… listen up. You guys (and some girls) should just give up on your fantasies. Everyone knows Trini is mine alone. I’m her NumBeR 1 Fan! MuHahaHEeHeheEHHheeHEhe!
ridiculous :: jul 24 2009 :: 12:39 am
We all wandered into this room for the same reason. And still no big-eyed, beautiful Ginny. I hope she reads and reponds someday, dude.
sid crum :: aug 21 2009 :: 2:43 am
I was looking for information on 321 contact cast members and found this site. Good to know I’m not the only one who thinks about those guys and how much they influenced our lives, now and then. ForkBender above has the most recent info on Trini, I am still looking for the rest of the cast.No special reason,just wanted to see how they are.
Eddieinchicago :: nov 28 2009 :: 2:50 am
I couldn’t resist Trini back when 3-2-1 Contact was on. (The science on the show was awesome, too. How about that animation showing the kid on the hill overlooking a town as time accelerated to 1000 years per second?) I love my wife, but it’s too that bad she doesn’t look like Trini. Whew!
MikeAG :: dec 28 2009 :: 8:48 pm