Sunset Daze

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Will Jack ever get to first base with Katherine? Will Sandy be voted Prom Queen? Why wasn't anyone supervising LaWanda's pajama party, and who were the vandals responsible for toilet-papering the neighbor's yard? No, these aren't twists in the newest high school reality show for teens: Jack is 72, Sandy is 64, and LaWanda is 74.

Welcome to Sunset Daze, RLTV's outrageous new series set in—and it couldn't be more aptly named—the town of Surprise, Arizona. In Sun City, the world's largest seniors community, the daily dramas seem more like spring break than retirement with an incongruous mix of beauty pageants and hernia operations, new tattoos and back problems, flashmobs and comb-overs. As Jack says, "Getting old is not for sissies."

Feisty, hilarious, and unrestrained, Sunset Daze is a show like no other: a documentary series that is as captivating and entertaining as any prime-time fiction—with the addictive drive of a soap—while at the same time breathing new life into what it means to be retired. The show is centered on a group of seniors who are most definitely not going gently into that good night; ageing gracefully is the furthest thing from their minds.

Meet The Cast

Ann

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HOMETOWN: Collinstown, Ireland

Ann was born and raised in Ireland. She believes in firmly following her heart, which includes fulfilling a lifelong dream of skydiving at the age of 61... hard to believe considering she was a nun for over 2 decades!

After 21 years of service to the church this Irish lass realized that she was "trying to be someone I was not," and decided it was time to hang up her habit and live a secular life. Soon after, Ann met her now husband John, fell in love and got married at 46.

Being an ex nun, Ann is no stranger to devotion but now says her greatest pride in life is John. And this sentiment is obviously returned when Ann recalls John saying, "the best thing about retirement is going to be having more time to hug you in the morning." And if that is not romantic enough, when John found out a few years ago that his sight was failing Ann told him, "I will see for both of us!"

Determined to stay positive Ann has planned many local adventures to make the most of their time. She believes the only thing that really holds a person back is fear and this Irish gal is as fearless as they come!

Sandy

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HOMETOWN: Portland, OR

Look up fun in the dictionary and you'll see a picture of Sandy. She’s a 68-year old with a real zest for life.

Sandy and her best friend Joanne are avid golfers. Sandy is a member of the American Singles Golf Association. She is also active in charity work for Eve's Place, a home for victims of domestic violence.

Sandy moved to Sun City Grand with her husband 6 years ago. He unexpectedly passed away shortly after the move. In honor of her husband and their stepfather, Sandy and her two daughters got matching tattoos. Sandy says if it weren't for her family and her very tight knit group of friends, she's not sure she would have survived her husband's sudden passing.

Today, Sandy is slowly beginning to enter into the dating world. And while she says it's drastically different than she remembers, she knows her girlfriends are always by her side... especially when it's time for a "Double Pinot Grigio" at their local hangout, Dillon’s Restaurant.

Gail

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HOMETOWN: New York, NY

Perhaps it's her fiery red hair or her feisty New York accent, whatever the reason, Gail is a sassy senior who is truly larger than life.

Gail had a modest upbringing amidst the hustle and bustle of New York City. Surrounded by a musical family, she was practically born to entertain. And entertain she did, appearing on stage from the age of 16. She performed at weddings and social events, all the while working to earn enough money to attend New York's prestigious Academy of Dramatic Arts. Gail also sang with a 17th piece band for 13 years while working as a vocational rehabilitation counselor.

Some of Gail's achievements include appearing in a few Off-Off-Broadway shows and recording an album under the name Gail Sunday. Yet her most memorable performance may be with the USO tour in Greenland where she took the term "break a leg" a little too seriously. Despite a nasty fall that left her with a broken foot, Gail insisted that they "put her in a cast and she would sit in a chair and sing." For this consummate performer, the show must go on... ALWAYS!

Gail has once again returned to her love, the theater. She is an active member of the Drama Club, not only serving on the Board but also on the play review committee for both the Drama Club and Readers Theater. Beyond performing in numerous plays, the ever-ambitious Gail has added "director" to her list of achievements, recently helming the theatrical production of Drop Dead.

Ron

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HOMETOWN: Columbus, OH

There is nothing that Ron can't do if he sets his mind to it. This is why he has decided to run for one of the empty spots in Sun City Grand's Board of Directors.

Ron retired in 2001 from a Lincoln Mercury dealership where he was a salesman. During his years in sales, Ron received numerous awards for outstanding sales at city, state and national levels. Ron has always been an entrepreneur in and around Columbus, Ohio. The family owned and operated two restaurants in Columbus, one of which was the largest minority-owned restaurant in the city.

The founder of Double R Enterprise, a booking and promoting agency, Ron has promoted entertainers such as Al Green, The Chilites, Chuck Jackson, Millie Jackson and Bobby Blue Bland. Ron just completed a two year term as President of the largest African American golf club in the Western States Golf Association. Ron is also a member of an advisory Board for a local business in Phoenix which allows him to stay in touch with the entertainment and restaurant business. In addition, Ron is currently trying to raise money for his favorite charity, the "Clearview Legacy Foundation."

Ron and his wife Kay have been married for 41 years. They have four children and six grandchildren.

Jack

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HOMETOWN: Baltimore, MD

If you ask Jack, he'll be the first to admit he was born very young. Jack grew up in the Baltimore, MD area and enjoyed a storybook childhood.

Once he reached the age of 18, Jack joined the Army Medical Corp., assisting injured sick service men around the world. It was during his time in the military that Jack embraced the importance of humor in his life.

Jack returned to Baltimore after his time in the Army and enrolled in school. To keep his comedy flowing he would travel to New York City to collaborate with friends and submit jokes to working comics in hopes of making a little extra money.

Now single and retired, Jack enjoys dancing, The Singles Club and a good burger. He has his eye on a woman he's been courting for a few months, but for some reason he can't seem to seal the deal.