![Image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZTkxOTIzOWItMjQyNS00NDkzLWFjNDgtZmU2YzM0YmYyNjEyXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_QL75_UY281_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg)
In his 1992 piece "Reflections after 25 years at the movies," the late, great film critic Roger Ebert observed: "Look at a movie that a lot of people love, and you will find something profound, no matter how silly the film may seem." You can extend that sentiment to any other artistic medium, television included. Even a fluffy slapstick show like "Gilligan's Island" has an unspoken depth that's kept viewers coming back to it decades after it went off the air.
According to creator Sherwood Schwartz, who passed away in 2011 after a long, prolific TV career, people were quick to assume the '60s sitcom began as a comedic spin on the Robinson Crusoe story. However, he maintained that the series was really born out of his desire to make a show about what might happen if a group of people from different walks of life somehow found themselves stuck together and...
According to creator Sherwood Schwartz, who passed away in 2011 after a long, prolific TV career, people were quick to assume the '60s sitcom began as a comedic spin on the Robinson Crusoe story. However, he maintained that the series was really born out of his desire to make a show about what might happen if a group of people from different walks of life somehow found themselves stuck together and...
- 7/13/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
![Image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYWQ1N2JjYTktMDZjYy00YzlmLWJlMjYtNTZiZTI4YzVjNTIzXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_QL75_UY281_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg)
The act of creation can be a difficult process. Painful even. Sometimes excruciating. Take, for instance, the writing of the "Gilligan's Island" pilot.
Sherwood Schwartz was no babe in the entertainment industry woods when he set out to bring the tale of the S.S. Minnow's two-man crew and five passengers getting shipwrecked on an uncharted island somewhere far off the coast of Hawaii. He broke into show business as a radio writer for The Bob Hope Show in 1938, and found additional work on the radio version of "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." He segued to television in the 1950s when he joined the staff of the early sitcom "I Married Joan," put in six years on "The Red Skelton Show" and was ready to pitch a show of his own in 1963 when he hit upon the idea of a particularly calamitous three-hour boat tour.
"Gilligan's Island" may be...
Sherwood Schwartz was no babe in the entertainment industry woods when he set out to bring the tale of the S.S. Minnow's two-man crew and five passengers getting shipwrecked on an uncharted island somewhere far off the coast of Hawaii. He broke into show business as a radio writer for The Bob Hope Show in 1938, and found additional work on the radio version of "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." He segued to television in the 1950s when he joined the staff of the early sitcom "I Married Joan," put in six years on "The Red Skelton Show" and was ready to pitch a show of his own in 1963 when he hit upon the idea of a particularly calamitous three-hour boat tour.
"Gilligan's Island" may be...
- 7/13/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
![Image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYjBiYTBjMzQtYmIwNS00ODkxLTk3OTUtZTBlNTU0OGRjYWQwXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_QL75_UY281_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg)
One needn't recount the premise of "Gilligan's Island." One only needs to listen to the theme song.
When Sherwood Schwartz was first casting his sitcom "Gilligan's Island" back in 1964, he knew that finding the right actor to play the Skipper -- Jonas Grumby, the captain of the S.S. Minnow -- was going to be a challenge. He had envisioned the title character as a shrimpy, thin man, and he knew that he wanted Bob Denver, previously the star of "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," in the role. To provide a physical contrast, Shwartz wanted the Skipper to be large, imposing, and capable of yelling in rage. But, and this was key, the Skipper also had to be lovable. In an interview with the Television Academy Foundation, Schwartz was explicit in saying he wanted a teddy bear of a man. Someone who was big and round, but also imminently cuddly.
When Sherwood Schwartz was first casting his sitcom "Gilligan's Island" back in 1964, he knew that finding the right actor to play the Skipper -- Jonas Grumby, the captain of the S.S. Minnow -- was going to be a challenge. He had envisioned the title character as a shrimpy, thin man, and he knew that he wanted Bob Denver, previously the star of "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," in the role. To provide a physical contrast, Shwartz wanted the Skipper to be large, imposing, and capable of yelling in rage. But, and this was key, the Skipper also had to be lovable. In an interview with the Television Academy Foundation, Schwartz was explicit in saying he wanted a teddy bear of a man. Someone who was big and round, but also imminently cuddly.
- 7/12/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
![Image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BOWRmOGVjNTYtZTk0OC00MmE1LTkwODgtYWY2ZmFkMzY5MTZkXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_QL75_UY281_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg)
The development of a television show is always kind of a wacky, potentially surprising thing, but the creation of the classic CBS television series "Gilligan's Island" is truly one for the books. Series creator Sherwood Schwartz, who would also go on to create the immensely popular "The Brady Bunch" for ABC, famously developed the series purely based on his idea for the theme song. In his defense, it's an earworm and it explains the entire backstory for the show, so it's basically perfect as far as theme songs go, but there were some folks at CBS who just weren't entirely sold on the concept. In fact, the president of CBS at the time, Jim Aubrey, absolutely hated the show and wanted nothing to do with it!
Eventually, it was Aubrey himself who greenlit "Gilligan's Island," surprising Schwartz and everyone who helped create the initial test pilot. In the book "Sitcom...
Eventually, it was Aubrey himself who greenlit "Gilligan's Island," surprising Schwartz and everyone who helped create the initial test pilot. In the book "Sitcom...
- 7/6/2024
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
![Jim Backus, Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Tina Louise, Russell Johnson, Natalie Schafer, and Dawn Wells in Gilligan's Island (1964)](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjM1Mjg3NzU4M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNzE3ODMyMTE@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,3,140,207_.jpg)
![Jim Backus, Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Tina Louise, Russell Johnson, Natalie Schafer, and Dawn Wells in Gilligan's Island (1964)](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjM1Mjg3NzU4M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNzE3ODMyMTE@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,3,140,207_.jpg)
Those of us who love TV often take the standard plot devices known as TV tropes for granted, especially tropes that have been around for a while.
Yet, some TV tropes can disappear or nearly disappear, and new ones can emerge with the changing times.
Technological changes are often to blame for changes in the TV trope landscape.
Entire Shows Can Become Obsolete Due to Technological Advancements
Growing up in the 1980s, I developed an affinity for watching reruns on Nick at Nite, a programming block devoted to older television programs.
After Nickelodeon launched Nick at Nite, an entire generation of us grew up loving shows with first runs that ended well before we were born.
Related: The Best Shows for Kids That Had No Disney or Nickelodeon Ties
Among those programs were series like Gilligan's Island and Lassie, the former about getting stranded on an island and the latter...
Yet, some TV tropes can disappear or nearly disappear, and new ones can emerge with the changing times.
Technological changes are often to blame for changes in the TV trope landscape.
Entire Shows Can Become Obsolete Due to Technological Advancements
Growing up in the 1980s, I developed an affinity for watching reruns on Nick at Nite, a programming block devoted to older television programs.
After Nickelodeon launched Nick at Nite, an entire generation of us grew up loving shows with first runs that ended well before we were born.
Related: The Best Shows for Kids That Had No Disney or Nickelodeon Ties
Among those programs were series like Gilligan's Island and Lassie, the former about getting stranded on an island and the latter...
- 7/2/2024
- by Jessica Kosinski
- TVfanatic
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The entirety of the hit ABC drama series "Lost" just dropped on Netflix, meaning a whole new generation and a whole new audience will get to experience one of the best and most influential shows of the past 20 years through the most popular streaming service on the planet.
These new audiences will be introduced to the highs (like the best music score in TV history) and lows of this drama about castaways having to survive on a mysterious island, and they'll do so years removed from the heated conversations that made this a controversial and incredibly popular show. TV is very different today than it was when this show premiered 20 years ago, in no small part thanks to "Lost" itself. Serialization and expansive mythologies may be commonplace now, but mystery boxes with dozens of ongoing plots providing fuel for dozens of Reddit threads full of speculation weren't the norm back then.
These new audiences will be introduced to the highs (like the best music score in TV history) and lows of this drama about castaways having to survive on a mysterious island, and they'll do so years removed from the heated conversations that made this a controversial and incredibly popular show. TV is very different today than it was when this show premiered 20 years ago, in no small part thanks to "Lost" itself. Serialization and expansive mythologies may be commonplace now, but mystery boxes with dozens of ongoing plots providing fuel for dozens of Reddit threads full of speculation weren't the norm back then.
- 7/2/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
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Few pieces of human anatomy caused quite as much pearl-clutching among conservative media moralists in the 20th century as the uncovered belly button. Marilyn Monroe was barred from exposing her naked tummy up until George Cukor's never-finished 1962 film, "Something's Got to Give," while even Disney fan afoul of Hays Code era censors after threatening to reveal the titular character's navel in 1941's "The Reluctant Dragon." NBC similarly kept a close eye on Barbara Eden's unclothed midriff to ensure there was no funny business with Sidney Sheldon's '60s sitcom "I Dream of Jeannie" (although Eden later claimed it was a non-issue until members of the press made a fuss about it).
It would, of course, be more accurate to say that the exposed female waistline was responsible for most of this hand-wringing. William Shatner spent the '60s flaunting his abs to his heart's content on "Star Trek: The Original Series,...
It would, of course, be more accurate to say that the exposed female waistline was responsible for most of this hand-wringing. William Shatner spent the '60s flaunting his abs to his heart's content on "Star Trek: The Original Series,...
- 6/30/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
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When Sherwood Schwartz first came up with the idea for his 1964 sitcom "Gilligan's Island," he was less concerned with its uncharted tropical island setting as he was with cramming people with disparate backgrounds into a situation where they couldn't leave each other. He initially liked the idea of making a workplace drama, but, he felt, that wasn't isolated enough. He eventually figured that if a varied cast of characters was stranded, alone, in a remote location, then comedy and story would naturally follow.
Schwartz developed his concept into "Gilligan's Island," wherein a tour boat captain (Alan Hale), his first officer (Bob Denver), a millionaire (Jim Backus), his wife (Natalie Schafer), a professional actress (Tina Louise), a farm girl (Dawn Wells), and a scientist (Russell Watson) take a Hawai'ian sea tour, only to be pulled off course by bad weather and stranded on a lost island in the Pacific. The series...
Schwartz developed his concept into "Gilligan's Island," wherein a tour boat captain (Alan Hale), his first officer (Bob Denver), a millionaire (Jim Backus), his wife (Natalie Schafer), a professional actress (Tina Louise), a farm girl (Dawn Wells), and a scientist (Russell Watson) take a Hawai'ian sea tour, only to be pulled off course by bad weather and stranded on a lost island in the Pacific. The series...
- 6/30/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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"The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle" remains, even at this late date, one of the best TV theme songs of all time. It did its job in an exemplary fashion, explaining the premise of the series and introducing all the characters, all with one of the catchiest earworms ever conceived. The song was written by "Gilligan's Island" creator Sherwood Schwartz and composer George Wyle. The original idea for "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle" was to give it a more upbeat, calypso sound, so a "tropical" theme was composed for the original "Gilligan's Island" pilot episode. However, Schwartz eventually changed gears on the song, feeling that a sea shanty would be better placed. It was a wise decision.
Additional verses for "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle" can be heard over the show's closing credits, with one notable lyric having left fans speculating on the classical origins of the series for many years.
Additional verses for "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle" can be heard over the show's closing credits, with one notable lyric having left fans speculating on the classical origins of the series for many years.
- 6/22/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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I have yet to task a team of scientists with actually proving this theory, but I contend that there's a glitch in our universe that grants every person who hears the theme song to the 1964-1967 television comedy "Gilligan's Island," even if it's just a single time, with the unerring ability to recall the lyrics and tune of the song in their entirety from that moment until the moment they shuffle off this mortal coil. The melody seems to have been scientifically engineered to stick in peoples' brains, and since the lyrics of the song explain the backstory and premise of the entire show, the idea of having tons of people wandering around with the whole thing stuck in their heads must have been very helpful to creator Sherwood Schwartz and broadcast network CBS.
But before "Gilligan's Island" ever made it on the air, before the network executives secretly added...
But before "Gilligan's Island" ever made it on the air, before the network executives secretly added...
- 6/19/2024
- by Ben Pearson
- Slash Film
![Image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMGM3Njg2NmYtNzQxOC00OTEwLTg2NmQtMTJmMDRhOGRlZWFiXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_QL75_UY281_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg)
Younger audiences might know him as the dude who played Ego in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," but for everyone else, Kurt Russell is a Hollywood legend. That reputation was cemented in the 1980s, during which time Russell landed starring roles in such classics as "Escape From New York" (1981), "The Thing" (1982), and "Big Trouble in Little China." (1986). But he managed just as illustrious a run in the '90s — even if you only count his role in George P. Cosmatos' seminal 1993 Western "Tombstone."
While "Tombstone" isn't quite Kurt Russell's best film — it is surely among the finest entries in the man's filmography. Telling the story of Wyatt Earp (Russell) and the legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral, "Tombstone" became an instant classic of the modern Western when it debuted, with Val Kilmer stealing the entire show as Doc Holliday. But Russell certainly delivered as the legendary lawman, and in the process,...
While "Tombstone" isn't quite Kurt Russell's best film — it is surely among the finest entries in the man's filmography. Telling the story of Wyatt Earp (Russell) and the legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral, "Tombstone" became an instant classic of the modern Western when it debuted, with Val Kilmer stealing the entire show as Doc Holliday. But Russell certainly delivered as the legendary lawman, and in the process,...
- 6/16/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
![Image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNmMwNzA4YWYtYTAwNy00MWEwLWIzNTQtYzk0NzBmZjg0YjNjXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_QL75_UY281_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg)
Sherwood Schwartz's 1964 sitcom "Gilligan's Island" occupies a strange space in popular culture. Thanks to decades of reruns, the series became deeply embedded into the American subconscious, becoming one of the bedrocks of 1960s television. There was a time when everyone in a certain age bracket learned all about "Gilligan's Island" without even trying, and no Gen-Xer worth their weight in clove cigarettes couldn't sing the show's theme song. At the same time, however, "Island" was widely derided by critics and audiences alike for being silly "low art" entertainment, reliant on silly slapstick over any sense of realism. "Gilligan's Island" was ubiquitous, but it wasn't necessarily respected.
The cast of "Gilligan's Island" were victims of their own popularity. Bob Denver, Alan Hale, Dawn Wells, Russell Johnson, and Tina Louise all continued to work after the series -- and they all have broad, decades-long careers in entertainment besides -- but they...
The cast of "Gilligan's Island" were victims of their own popularity. Bob Denver, Alan Hale, Dawn Wells, Russell Johnson, and Tina Louise all continued to work after the series -- and they all have broad, decades-long careers in entertainment besides -- but they...
- 6/15/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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Perhaps the most overlooked series in the "Star Trek" canon ("Short Treks" and "Very Short Treks" notwithstanding), "Star Trek: The Animated Series" may be accepted as the final two years in the U.S.S. Enterprise's five-year mission. "Star Trek: Tas" debuted on September 8, 1973, four years after the cancelation of "Star Trek," to reunite the original cast and writers to explore Starlfeet's adventures in a 30-minute, animated format. The animation was provided by Filmation, the studio that had previously overseen multiple Batman and Superman cartoons, Archie cartoons, "Gilligan's Island" spinoffs, and which would go on to produce the ultra-popular "Fat Albert," "The Groovy Goolies," "BraveStarr," and "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe." Filmation shows were popular among kids, but their animations tended to be stiff and inexpressive. The most prominent feature of "Star Trek: Tas" is how static it looks.
However, the shortened runtime forced the writers of "Tas...
However, the shortened runtime forced the writers of "Tas...
- 6/9/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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Movies and television have often had a push-pull relationship. When brands and intellectual properties became king near the start of the 21st century, TV became the place to go for creatives who wanted to tell bold and original stories to a mainstream audience. In contrast, the social revolutions of the 1960s saw networks burying their heads in the sand, serving up a buffet of conservative-leaning sitcoms where just about everybody was white, straight, and Christian, nobody had sex or cursed, and things like the Civil Rights Movement or the Vietnam War might as well be happening on Neptune. Meanwhile, the pictures swung in the opposite direction; the rise of New Hollywood meant that the escapist studio fare of yore was no longer fashionable.
It was in this climate that Norman Lear came up with the idea for "All in the Family," inspired by the British dramedy series "Till Death Do Us Part...
It was in this climate that Norman Lear came up with the idea for "All in the Family," inspired by the British dramedy series "Till Death Do Us Part...
- 6/8/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
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Imagine watching Nick at Nite back when shows from the 1950s through to the '70s dominated the programming block. It just so happens that "Gilligan's Island" season 1, episode 19, "Gilligan Meets Jungle Boy," is on. By and large, you know what to expect: Gilligan (Bob Denver) getting up to slapstick mayhem; Jonas Grumby, aka "The Skipper" (Alan Hale Jr.), on the verge of blowing a fuse over his first mate's antics; and the shipwrecked passengers of the SS Minnow staging yet another comically failed attempt in their Sisyphean quest to escape the titular island. Sherwood Schwartz's supremely silly sitcom series was nothing if not consistent in its formula.
It's at this point that a 13-year-old Kurt Russell shows up with no shirt and a leopard loincloth on.
"Jungle Boy" does indeed hit all the anticipated beats for an episode of "Gilligan's Island." It also, in true to form fashion,...
It's at this point that a 13-year-old Kurt Russell shows up with no shirt and a leopard loincloth on.
"Jungle Boy" does indeed hit all the anticipated beats for an episode of "Gilligan's Island." It also, in true to form fashion,...
- 6/3/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
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Popular early TV comedy "Gilligan's Island" faced some obstacles throughout its 3 season run, from a cast that changed between pilot and series to a bad response to the initial pitch to a planned fourth season that was cut short when the show was seen as getting in the way of "Gunsmoke." But one of the first problems the series' creator had to deal with on the show had nothing to do with network expectations, and in fact sounds a bit like a plot from the series itself. Before the show ever went to air, its Hawaiian production area was swarmed with a seemingly endless army of frogs.
Series creator Sherwood Schwartz once told the Television Academy that the pilot shoot for the series involved a daily slog through a sea of frogs that piled up outside his door in Hawaii. "We shot it in the same place where they did 'South Pacific,...
Series creator Sherwood Schwartz once told the Television Academy that the pilot shoot for the series involved a daily slog through a sea of frogs that piled up outside his door in Hawaii. "We shot it in the same place where they did 'South Pacific,...
- 5/28/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
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Back in 1961, Newt Minow, then the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, gave an infamous speech about the state of modern television. Minow, who had just been appointed to his position, noted that nothing is better than good TV, "But when television is bad," he said, "nothing is worse." He invited his listeners to sit and watch any random 24 hours of TV and assured them that "what you will observe is a vast wasteland."
"You will see," he continued, "a procession of game shows, formula comedies about totally unbelievable families, blood and thunder, mayhem, violence, sadism, murder, Western bad men, Western good men, private eyes, gangsters, more violence, and cartoons. And endlessly, commercials — many screaming, cajoling, and offending." More than anything, he said, you will find boredom. Minow believed that there was a disconnect between what TV stations were providing and what an intelligent viewing public wanted to see.
Some...
"You will see," he continued, "a procession of game shows, formula comedies about totally unbelievable families, blood and thunder, mayhem, violence, sadism, murder, Western bad men, Western good men, private eyes, gangsters, more violence, and cartoons. And endlessly, commercials — many screaming, cajoling, and offending." More than anything, he said, you will find boredom. Minow believed that there was a disconnect between what TV stations were providing and what an intelligent viewing public wanted to see.
Some...
- 5/25/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
![Image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjBlZDUzZTEtMWRhYi00NGQxLTg2NTgtZjUzMDJiMmNlN2U0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UY281_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg)
Jim Backus' first major acting gig was playing a snotty millionaire named Dexter Hayes on the 1940 radio serial "Society Girl." This was to kick off a decades-long career in radio, film, and television, wherein Backus invented multiple indelible characters that remain a part of the pop fabric to this very day. He appeared on "The Jack Benny Program" and even briefly had his own TV show, "The Jim Backus Show" in 1957. He famously played the voice of Mr. Magoo from 1949 until his death in 1989, and starred in "Rebel Without a Cause." He was adept at playing clueless weirdos and self-absorbed egotists, although he had a great deal of comedic range. Be sure to listen to his hit comedy single "Delicious!" sometime. He elicits laughter without saying anything. I could list more credits, but we'd be here all day; Backus starred in over 100 films and shorts, and several dozen TV shows.
- 5/18/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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Prior to 1964 -- the year "Gilligan's Island" debuted, comedian and actor Jerry Van Dyke already had an expanding showbiz career. In 1963 alone, he appeared in the films "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," "Palm Springs Weekend," and "McClintock!" He also had a few guest appearances on his brother's sitcom "The Dick Van Dyke Show," and regularly turned up on talk shows to perform and converse.
It was in 1964 that Van Dyke was offered the title role in Sherwood Schwartz's "Gilligan's Island," still in development at the time. Van Dyke couldn't have predicted that "Gilligan's Island" would last for 98 episodes and become one of the most widely recognized sitcoms in TV history, so turning it down didn't seem like much of an event. As the public now knows, the title role in "Gilligan's Island" went to comedian Bob Denver, star of "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis."
Van Dyke would subsequently...
It was in 1964 that Van Dyke was offered the title role in Sherwood Schwartz's "Gilligan's Island," still in development at the time. Van Dyke couldn't have predicted that "Gilligan's Island" would last for 98 episodes and become one of the most widely recognized sitcoms in TV history, so turning it down didn't seem like much of an event. As the public now knows, the title role in "Gilligan's Island" went to comedian Bob Denver, star of "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis."
Van Dyke would subsequently...
- 5/11/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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There are many different reasons why the shows so beloved by audiences and with perfect ratings are being canceled. But most of them are really strange and illogical, like a beef among cast members of the network’s desire to let go of something they are tired of.
One of the cases of an unfair cancellation happened many years ago on CBS with Gilligan's Island, one of the most successful comedy series of the time. It premiered in 1964 and lasted for three seasons, wrapping up in 1967. After that the series was revived multiple times over the years in different forms of TV, but it’s another story.
So why exactly was Gilligan's Island so adored by the viewers? Well, the 60’s sitcoms just hit differently. They are fun and silly and they are truly iconic, because even after so many years, the fans of the shoe say it still hasn't...
One of the cases of an unfair cancellation happened many years ago on CBS with Gilligan's Island, one of the most successful comedy series of the time. It premiered in 1964 and lasted for three seasons, wrapping up in 1967. After that the series was revived multiple times over the years in different forms of TV, but it’s another story.
So why exactly was Gilligan's Island so adored by the viewers? Well, the 60’s sitcoms just hit differently. They are fun and silly and they are truly iconic, because even after so many years, the fans of the shoe say it still hasn't...
- 5/10/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Rachel Bailey)
- STartefacts.com
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The line between reality and fiction in television hasn't always been obvious to people. Be it "Gilligan's Island" viewers badgering the Coast Guard to rescue the S.S. Minnow's poor shipwrecked crew or grown-up "Sesame Street" fans believing that Sonia Manzano and Emilio Delgado (who played married couple Maria and Luis for four decades) were actually hitched, history is littered with anecdotes of audiences assuming what they're seeing on their TV screen is actually happening. Despite the leaps and gains in the masses' media literacy over time, folks still need help understanding how even docuseries and so-called reality shows can easily manipulate the truth (as creators Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie satirized with "The Curse").
When Sally Struthers was cast as Gloria Stivic (née Bunker) in "All in the Family," she was, for all intents and purposes, a nobody. Save for her stint on "The Tim Conway Comedy Hour" the...
When Sally Struthers was cast as Gloria Stivic (née Bunker) in "All in the Family," she was, for all intents and purposes, a nobody. Save for her stint on "The Tim Conway Comedy Hour" the...
- 5/5/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
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The premise of Sherwood Schwartz's '60s sitcom "Gilligan's Island" is laid out clearly in its theme song. Five passengers set sail on the S.S. Minnow with its captain and first mate, hoping to enjoy a three-hour tour of Hawaii. The ship hit rough weather, however, was dragged many miles off course, and washed up on the shores of an uncharted tropical island. The seven characters had to use their wits to survive, along with the contents of the inexplicably massive suitcases they all brought along. "Gilligan's Island" took place in a broad, slapstick universe, so any concerns of actual survival weren't addressed in any kind of meaningful way; Gilligan (Bob Denver) seemed to gain sustenance from energy-producing pratfalls.
One of the castaways was Ginger Grant (Tina Louise), a glamorous professional actor who brought along a lifetime supply of eyeliner. Throughout the series, Ginger would tell stories about...
One of the castaways was Ginger Grant (Tina Louise), a glamorous professional actor who brought along a lifetime supply of eyeliner. Throughout the series, Ginger would tell stories about...
- 5/4/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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"Gilligan's Island" may be viewed as a classic sitcom now, but when the silly series about a group of island castaways aired from 1964 to 1967, it was far from a sure bet for its home network, CBS. As Laura Morowitz writes in the book "Critiquing the Sitcom," the series was "championed by the public" yet "routinely derided by critics." Anything but a classic in its time, the series ultimately became an enduring part of TV history thanks to its seemingly endless replays in syndication. According to Morowitz, it "would come to be the most repeated series in television history."
During its original airing, "Gilligan's Island" was pushed around the prime-time schedule like brussel sprouts on a picky kid's plate. It switched time slots three times during its relatively short run and was finally canceled in 1967. Except, the cancelation of "Gilligan's Island" wasn't straightforward; by several accounts, it came after the show had already seemingly been renewed,...
During its original airing, "Gilligan's Island" was pushed around the prime-time schedule like brussel sprouts on a picky kid's plate. It switched time slots three times during its relatively short run and was finally canceled in 1967. Except, the cancelation of "Gilligan's Island" wasn't straightforward; by several accounts, it came after the show had already seemingly been renewed,...
- 4/22/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
![Image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzNkYTgzMmUtY2UxYi00ZDA5LTgyMmMtNDQyYjI2OWFkMzdjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UY281_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg)
The premise of Sherwood Schwartz's 1964 sitcom "Gilligan's Island" is succinctly laid out in its indelible theme song, written by Schwartz and George Wyle. The S.S. Minnow, helmed by Captain G. Jonas Grumby (Alan Hale) and his first officer Gilligan (Bob Denver) took on five passengers for a three-hour boat tour of Hawai'i. The ship hit some bad weather, got lost at sea, and washed up on an uncharted island somewhere in the Pacific. Now the two sailors, along with a millionaire (Jim Backus), his wife (Natalie Schafer), a movie star (Tina Louise), a professor (Russel Johnson), and a lottery-winning tourist (Dawn Wells), have to learn to survive, all to comedic effect.
"Gilligan's Island" has no themes of actual survival, instead rolling with its slapstick elements; the series clearly takes place in a cartoon reality. As such, the characters play as broad archetypes, mugging and screaming in an unrealistic fashion.
"Gilligan's Island" has no themes of actual survival, instead rolling with its slapstick elements; the series clearly takes place in a cartoon reality. As such, the characters play as broad archetypes, mugging and screaming in an unrealistic fashion.
- 4/22/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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Roman Gabriel, who still holds the Los Angeles Rams team record with 154 touchdown passes, died Saturday at his home in Little River, South Carolina, at 83. His death came from natural causes, according to his son, Roman Gabriel III.
Gabriel was the No. 2 draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 1962 out of North Carolina State. He was the first Filipino-American quarterback in the NFL and the league Mvp in 1969.
He played in four Pro Bowl games, three with the Rams in the late 1960s and another with the Eagles in 1973. But he reached the postseason only twice, and his Rams were eliminated in the first round both times.
“We mourn the loss of Rams legend and football pioneer, Roman Gabriel,” the Rams said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Gabriel was a two-time player of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference for North Carolina State. He was inducted into...
Gabriel was the No. 2 draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 1962 out of North Carolina State. He was the first Filipino-American quarterback in the NFL and the league Mvp in 1969.
He played in four Pro Bowl games, three with the Rams in the late 1960s and another with the Eagles in 1973. But he reached the postseason only twice, and his Rams were eliminated in the first round both times.
“We mourn the loss of Rams legend and football pioneer, Roman Gabriel,” the Rams said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Gabriel was a two-time player of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference for North Carolina State. He was inducted into...
- 4/21/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
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One of the most famous moments in TV history came on September 26, 1962 with the airing of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" episode "Never Name a Duck," the first episode of the second season. During the opening credits of the show, Rob Petrie (Van Dyke) entered through his front door while the upbeat theme music (composed by Earle Hagan) played on the soundtrack. The announcer shouted out the names of the stars: Dick Van Dyke, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Larry Matthews, and Mary Tyler Moore. Rob stepped out of a foyer and immediately tripped over a large ottoman in his way. Van Dyke, a brilliant physical comedian, tumbled all the way over, rolling over his shoulder and landing on his back. It remains, to this day, one of the most celebrated pratfalls in the history of the medium.
For many years, certain audience members assumed the fall was accidental and that the show's creator,...
For many years, certain audience members assumed the fall was accidental and that the show's creator,...
- 4/8/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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The Omen was a blessed success upon its release, earning a spot among the top 10 highest-grossing films of 1976. One of those ticket buyers was Wes Craven, who had already made his debut with The Last House on the Left and was gearing up for his sophomore film, The Hills Have Eyes.
“I remember thinking, ‘Big studio, won’t have a cutting edge to it. Gregory Peck, how can he be scary? I like him, but.’ And it was. I was totally amazed,” the master of horror recalled in a 2006 DVD special feature in which he waxes poetic about The Omen for some 20 minutes.
“I think [Richard] Donner is just one of our primo filmmakers.” Craven had been watching the future Superman and The Goonies director’s work since his early days helming episodes of classic TV shows like The Twilight Zone and Gilligan’s Island. “Every so often, he just knocks something...
“I remember thinking, ‘Big studio, won’t have a cutting edge to it. Gregory Peck, how can he be scary? I like him, but.’ And it was. I was totally amazed,” the master of horror recalled in a 2006 DVD special feature in which he waxes poetic about The Omen for some 20 minutes.
“I think [Richard] Donner is just one of our primo filmmakers.” Craven had been watching the future Superman and The Goonies director’s work since his early days helming episodes of classic TV shows like The Twilight Zone and Gilligan’s Island. “Every so often, he just knocks something...
- 4/5/2024
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
![Image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDY2NmU5M2EtMTQ1ZC00OWExLThhZGMtNzdkMDRiMDAyMjM1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,0,140,140_.jpg)
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Barbara Baldavin, who appeared on three episodes of the original Star Trek and recurred on Medical Center before working in the casting department on shows including Dynasty and Trapper John, M.D., has died. She was 85.
Baldavin died Sunday of congestive heart failure at her home in Manhattan Beach, her son Marc D’Agosta told The Hollywood Reporter.
Baldavin portrayed phaser control officer Angela Martine on two first-season episodes of NBC’s Star Trek in 1966. On the first one, her wedding to Starfleet officer Robert Tomlinson (Stephen Mines) — with William Shatner’s Capt. Kirk presiding — was interrupted by a Romulan attack.
She then returned as Lt. Lisa, a communications officer and court reporter, on the series finale, “Turnabout Intruder,” which aired in June 1969.
Baldavin played Nurse Holmby on 51 episodes during the last six seasons (1970-76) of CBS’ Medical Center, starring Chad Everett and James Daly. She had appeared as another character on the first season.
Baldavin died Sunday of congestive heart failure at her home in Manhattan Beach, her son Marc D’Agosta told The Hollywood Reporter.
Baldavin portrayed phaser control officer Angela Martine on two first-season episodes of NBC’s Star Trek in 1966. On the first one, her wedding to Starfleet officer Robert Tomlinson (Stephen Mines) — with William Shatner’s Capt. Kirk presiding — was interrupted by a Romulan attack.
She then returned as Lt. Lisa, a communications officer and court reporter, on the series finale, “Turnabout Intruder,” which aired in June 1969.
Baldavin played Nurse Holmby on 51 episodes during the last six seasons (1970-76) of CBS’ Medical Center, starring Chad Everett and James Daly. She had appeared as another character on the first season.
- 4/1/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. Kirk and Spock. Joey and Chandler. Memorable TV pairings are a dime a dozen, but truly legendary combinations like these, in which the actors are operating at the peak of their powers and their shared chemistry is off the charts, are much harder to come by. One such couple (of the non-romantic variety) that has entered that hallowed pantheon is Gilligan and the Skipper from the classic 1960s sitcom "Gilligan's Island," where actors Bob Denver and Alan Hale Jr. became beloved stars playing two of the seven castaways who became stranded after a storm washed their characters up on an island during the fateful three-hour tour we hear about in the show's ear-wormy theme song.
Sherwood Schwartz, the show's creator and producer, knew how crucial it was to cast the right performers for these roles, and for him, the Skipper was actually the hardest part...
Sherwood Schwartz, the show's creator and producer, knew how crucial it was to cast the right performers for these roles, and for him, the Skipper was actually the hardest part...
- 3/30/2024
- by Ben Pearson
- Slash Film
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Spoiler Alert: Do not read ahead if you have not watched Season 11, Episode 4 of “The Masked Singer,” “TV Theme Night,” which aired March 27 on Fox.
“Extra” host Billy Bush won’t get an extra shot at “The Masked Singer.” The entertainment newsmagazine anchor and one-time morning drive radio host was the next celebrity to be unmasked on Wednesday’s “TV Theme Night” edition of “The Masked Singer.”
“I’m not a great singer,” Bush said. “If you can’t make it with the lips, make it with the hips. If you’ve never done something that’s a little on the scary side — and this is scary — say yes!”
For Bush, none of the panelists got it right. Robin Thicke guessed Anderson Cooper. Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg picked Seth Meyers. Ken Jeong picked Ryan Seacrest. New panelist Rita Ora said it was Andy Cohen.
Lizard (for the second week in a row...
“Extra” host Billy Bush won’t get an extra shot at “The Masked Singer.” The entertainment newsmagazine anchor and one-time morning drive radio host was the next celebrity to be unmasked on Wednesday’s “TV Theme Night” edition of “The Masked Singer.”
“I’m not a great singer,” Bush said. “If you can’t make it with the lips, make it with the hips. If you’ve never done something that’s a little on the scary side — and this is scary — say yes!”
For Bush, none of the panelists got it right. Robin Thicke guessed Anderson Cooper. Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg picked Seth Meyers. Ken Jeong picked Ryan Seacrest. New panelist Rita Ora said it was Andy Cohen.
Lizard (for the second week in a row...
- 3/28/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
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Hey, "The Masked Singer" fans. It's that time of the week again. Fox is going to dish up another new episode of The Masked Singer tonight, March 27, 2024. Yep, this one will be the 4th installment for this current season 11, and we've got some new preview info to dish out for it. Fox was nice enough to serve up an official press release for tonight's new episode 4. So, we will definitely pull it up for this preview session. Let's get to it. For starters, Fox is telling us that the theme for tonight's new episode 4 is TV Theme Night. That means you guys are going to see the celebrity contestants sing only theme songs to popular TV shows. Some of which include theme songs to shows like Scooby-Doo, The Hills, Good Times and more. The panelists: Ken Jeong, Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg and Rita Ora are going to start tonight's...
- 3/27/2024
- by Chris
- OnTheFlix
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Alan Hale is probably best known for playing Jonas Grumby, a.k.a. The Skipper, on the 1964 sitcom "Gilligan's Island." He was, however, an experienced stage and TV performer prior to "Gilligan's," having made his Broadway debut in 1931 in a play called "Caught Wet." Hale also appeared in over 50 films before 1964, across all genres and budgets. He had a recurring role on "The Gene Autry Show" and played the title characters on "Biff Baker, U.S.A." and on "Casey Jones." He was in single episodes of most of the hit Western TV shows of the 1950s and '60s. When it came time to play The Skipper, Hale was wholly dedicated to the role, trying to be as funny as possible.In the world of adventure TV, Hale was a major presence and a consummate professional.
Hale was so professional, in fact, that he once refused to report a...
Hale was so professional, in fact, that he once refused to report a...
- 3/23/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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In 1989, "Weird Al" Yankovic released a song called "Isle Thing," a parody of Tone Lōc's 1988 hit "Wild Thing." In Yankovic's version, the song's narrator met an attractive woman at the Circle-k and went back to her place, presumably for some active coitus. Instead, however, the woman eschewed sex for a marathon of "Gilligan's Island" reruns. The narrator immediately began to recognize the logical inconsistencies in Sherwood Schwartz's beloved 1963 sitcom, notably that the Professor (Russell Johnson) could build a nuclear reactor using only coconuts, but wasn't able to construct a boat to escape the desert island he and the castaways were stranded on. Yankovic also noted that "those homeboys brought an awful lot for just a three-hour tour."
The premise of "Gilligan's Island" is made clear in the show's opening theme song. Two sailors and five guests were to take a three-hour boat tour around Hawai'i when they hit bad weather,...
The premise of "Gilligan's Island" is made clear in the show's opening theme song. Two sailors and five guests were to take a three-hour boat tour around Hawai'i when they hit bad weather,...
- 3/18/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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The Gordy subplot in Jordan Peele's "Nope" is distressing for many reasons, not least of which is that history is filled with incidents of real-life film and TV actors nearly meeting their maker at the hands -- or paws -- of a startled non-human costar. We're not as far removed from such real-world incidents as you might assume, either. During her "Hot Ones" episode in 2022, Leslie Mann recalled having to share a "little tiny space" with an actual lion on the "George of the Jungle" set 25 years earlier and realizing that "if he just jumps at me, I'm dead" and nobody could do a damn thing to save her.
30 years before that, it seems Bob Denver had a similar encounter with one of Simba's cousins on "Gilligan's Island." The show's second season episode "Feed the Kitty" saw a shipwrecked lion wash up on the shores of the titular island,...
30 years before that, it seems Bob Denver had a similar encounter with one of Simba's cousins on "Gilligan's Island." The show's second season episode "Feed the Kitty" saw a shipwrecked lion wash up on the shores of the titular island,...
- 3/10/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
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Opening TV theme songs have tragically become a lost art. On one level, it makes sense. As the line between television and film has grown increasingly blurry in the 21st century, opening titles have become more and more cinematic. The mix of simple earworms and dialogue-free visuals in the opening titles of shows like "Mad Men" are eloquent works of art in and of themselves. It just wouldn't have the same effect if, instead of David Carbonara's haunting suite accompanied by minimalistic animation of an ad man's world literally falling apart, you had someone singing about that ol' scoundrel Don Draper and how his dastardly, womanizing ways are coming back to bite him (as amazing as that sounds).
Of course, things were different when Sherwood Schwartz created "Gilligan's Island." The show required a tad more exposition than your run-of-the-mill sitcom at the time. Whereas series like "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie...
Of course, things were different when Sherwood Schwartz created "Gilligan's Island." The show required a tad more exposition than your run-of-the-mill sitcom at the time. Whereas series like "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie...
- 3/10/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
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Like most areas of the entertainment industry outside of acting, casting and costuming, television writing was generally one big boys club until women began making (incremental) inroads during the 1990s. There were trailblazers like "I Love Lucy" scribe Madelyn Pugh, but that trail was walked far too infrequently for far too many years.
Anyone who possessed a conscience knew this was unacceptable, which is why it's disappointing that a politically progressive (particularly for his era) writer like Rod Serling never made a concerted effort to work at least one female writer into "The Twilight Zone" mix during the series' five seasons (which stretched from 1959 to 1964). To be fair, Serling did adapt the work of women for certain episodes; in fact, a tale that many consider the show's finest half-hour, "Time Enough at Last," was based on a short story by sci-fi/fantasy writer Lynn Venable. But he never managed to...
Anyone who possessed a conscience knew this was unacceptable, which is why it's disappointing that a politically progressive (particularly for his era) writer like Rod Serling never made a concerted effort to work at least one female writer into "The Twilight Zone" mix during the series' five seasons (which stretched from 1959 to 1964). To be fair, Serling did adapt the work of women for certain episodes; in fact, a tale that many consider the show's finest half-hour, "Time Enough at Last," was based on a short story by sci-fi/fantasy writer Lynn Venable. But he never managed to...
- 3/9/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
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The plot of director Dean Parisot's cult-favorite 1999 sci-fi comedy "Galaxy Quest" hinges on a race of extraterrestrials, the Thermians, believing that an '80s space adventure series is a collection of "historical documents" of real-life events. When one of the show's actors, Gwen DeMarco (Sigourney Weaver), tries to explain to them that many TV series are purely fictional, she adds (with more than a hint of exasperation), "Surely, you don't think 'Gilligan's Island' is a ..." before trailing off as she watches the Thermians' faces drop in heartfelt despair. "Those poor people," their leader, Mathesar (Enrico Colantoni), somberly replies.
A naive group of other-worldly beings thinking that Sherwood Schwartz's zany '60s sitcom is really an authentic documentary about an eclectic group of humans — including (sing it with me now), "Gilligan, the Skipper too, the millionaire and his wife, the movie star, the Professor and Mary Ann...
A naive group of other-worldly beings thinking that Sherwood Schwartz's zany '60s sitcom is really an authentic documentary about an eclectic group of humans — including (sing it with me now), "Gilligan, the Skipper too, the millionaire and his wife, the movie star, the Professor and Mary Ann...
- 3/9/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
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Watching "Gilligan's Island" reruns as a child always had this author wondering if "Gilligan" was the character's first name or last name. Gilligan, as played hilariously by Bob Denver, was the main character of the series, but also its buffoonish comic relief. He was most countered by his straight man, the Skipper (Alan Hale) or Professor Roy Hinckley (Russell Johnson), but he served as a foil for every character. Denver doesn't get enough credit for his pliability as a comic performer. Denver passed away in 2005 at the age of 70, best known for "Gilligan's Island" and for the 1959 sitcom "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis." He was also a regular on the Sherwood Schwartz series "Dusty's Trail" as well as the 1968 series "The Good Guys."
On "Gilligan's Island," many fans wondered what Gilligan's full name was. It seems that, at the end of the day, he's like Cher or Fabian, sporting only one name.
On "Gilligan's Island," many fans wondered what Gilligan's full name was. It seems that, at the end of the day, he's like Cher or Fabian, sporting only one name.
- 2/29/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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"The Ballad of Gilligan's Island," penned by executive producer and show creator Sherwood Schwartz and songwriter George Wyle holds the distinction of being the best TV theme song of all time. It might only be tied with the theme song to "The Brady Bunch" ... which was also co-written by Schwartz. In both cases, the theme songs cleverly weave earworm-ready melodies into explicit descriptions of the show's premise. In only 55 seconds, audiences learn that they're about to watch a sitcom about seven stranded castaways on a tropical island, how those castaways got there, and who each of the castaways are. "The Ballad of Gilligan's Island" is both hummable and functional. Even the amazing surf guitars of "The Munsters" or the wicked pip organs of "Tales from the Crypt" cannot approach the utilitarian glories of "Gilligan."
The first season theme song famously omitted the names of the Professor (Russell Johnson) and Mary...
The first season theme song famously omitted the names of the Professor (Russell Johnson) and Mary...
- 2/28/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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Spoiler Alert: Do not read ahead if you have not watched the Season 3 premiere of “Ghosts,” titled “The Owl,” which aired Feb. 15 on CBS.
Flower, hopefully you’re finally getting to cuddle a few bears up there in the sky. Yes, you read that right: There’s one less ghost on “Ghosts,” as the characters said farewell to Flower on the Season 3 premiere of CBS’ hit comedy.
The series finally returned on Thursday (after a long strikes-induced delay), and we learned which spirit had been finally sent to the afterlife. After a few fakeouts, the ghosts discovered that it was Flower (Sheila Carrasco) who was “sucked off” in the Season 2 finale, as witnessed by Sam (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar).
Flower is the 1960s-era hippie who died trying to hug a bear while high on acid, and remained a bit forgetful and drugged-out while living in the purgatory that is Woodstone Mansion.
Flower, hopefully you’re finally getting to cuddle a few bears up there in the sky. Yes, you read that right: There’s one less ghost on “Ghosts,” as the characters said farewell to Flower on the Season 3 premiere of CBS’ hit comedy.
The series finally returned on Thursday (after a long strikes-induced delay), and we learned which spirit had been finally sent to the afterlife. After a few fakeouts, the ghosts discovered that it was Flower (Sheila Carrasco) who was “sucked off” in the Season 2 finale, as witnessed by Sam (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar).
Flower is the 1960s-era hippie who died trying to hug a bear while high on acid, and remained a bit forgetful and drugged-out while living in the purgatory that is Woodstone Mansion.
- 2/16/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
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(Stock image)
In a robotic argument, EU M&a regulators said Amazon can’t buy Roomba maker, iRobot. While we worry about AI robo-calling, the EU worries that self-Hooverers who can’t suck up to shoppers online will unleash an army of humans to sell superficial cyborg suckers door-to-door. As I laughed my ass off, I started thinking about LMAs.
Back when our best media was over-the-air TV, the smart people we elected and entrusted to protect us from harm thought people who can schedule episodic strings of Gilligan’s Island reruns could adle children’s minds with endlessly sequential banality. Worse, they worried that, unfettered, a local TV news programs could produce a segment about a pack of feral dogs that arranged garbage into a living space that looked suspiciously like a nativity scene and get people questioning religion.
So, the FCC took a hardline on hookups. They didn’t...
In a robotic argument, EU M&a regulators said Amazon can’t buy Roomba maker, iRobot. While we worry about AI robo-calling, the EU worries that self-Hooverers who can’t suck up to shoppers online will unleash an army of humans to sell superficial cyborg suckers door-to-door. As I laughed my ass off, I started thinking about LMAs.
Back when our best media was over-the-air TV, the smart people we elected and entrusted to protect us from harm thought people who can schedule episodic strings of Gilligan’s Island reruns could adle children’s minds with endlessly sequential banality. Worse, they worried that, unfettered, a local TV news programs could produce a segment about a pack of feral dogs that arranged garbage into a living space that looked suspiciously like a nativity scene and get people questioning religion.
So, the FCC took a hardline on hookups. They didn’t...
- 2/15/2024
- by Charles Benaiah
- The Desk
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Sherwood Schwartz's 1963 sitcom "Gilligan's Island" was a high-concept series that, thanks to the gods of syndication, remained in the public consciousness for decades after it went off the air. The show's impeccable theme song, written by Schwartz and George Wyle, may be the best theme in television history, as it handily explains the premise using a hummable sea shanty: five tourists boarded the S.S. Minnow -- manned by Captain Jonas Grumby (Alan Hale) and his first mate Gilligan (Bob Denver) -- for a three-hour tour off the coast of Honolulu. When the tiny ship hit some bad weather, the seven characters landed on a desert island, stranded. The series followed their merry attempts to survive.
"Gilligan's Island" ran for 98 episodes, ending its initial run in 1967, but reruns continued to air well into the 1990s. Yes, there was a time when "Gilligan's Island" was a reliable TV staple, occupying...
"Gilligan's Island" ran for 98 episodes, ending its initial run in 1967, but reruns continued to air well into the 1990s. Yes, there was a time when "Gilligan's Island" was a reliable TV staple, occupying...
- 2/8/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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Classic TV lovers yearning romantic programming this Valentine’s Day should check out MeTV! TV Insider is exclusively unveiling the network’s plans for “Love Me,” a marathon of love-themed classic TV show episodes to celebrate the holiday, airing on Sunday, February 11. The lineup includes episodes of The Brady Bunch, Leave It to Beaver, The Andy Griffith Show, Gilligan’s Island, The Love Boat, Mama’s Family, and The Beverly Hillbillies, for a six-and-a-half-hour event. Check out the full “Love Me” marathon schedule for Sunday, February 11 on MeTV below. Plus, check out the promo above. 12:00 pm: The Brady Bunch “The Undergraduate” — Greg makes an “F” on a math test, and Mike and Carol discover it’s because he has a crush on somebody named “Linda.” They set out to find out who she is, completely unaware that “Linda” is his math teacher. 12:30 pm: The Brady Bunch “Love and the Older...
- 1/25/2024
- TV Insider
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Action-paced, international intrigue ensues when a Swiss bank president hires an American investigator to ferret out a group of blackmailers who have been terrorizing his clients in The Swiss Conspiracy, available 20th February 2024 in a special collector’s edition on Blu-ray and DVD from Film Masters.
Scanned in 4K from original 35mm archival elements, The Swiss Conspiracy has never seen a high-quality release to date. Film Masters has enlisted colorist and restoration expert Marc Wielage to painstakingly bring back vibrant and original colors that have not been seen since this film made its original debut in 1976.
Shot entirely in and around Zurich, The Swiss Conspiracy, based on the hit novel by Michael Stanley, was directed by Jack Arnold, best known for B horror/cult movie classics such as The Incredible Shrinking Man, Tarantula, Creature from the Black Lagoon, It Came from Outer Space and The Tattered Dress. One of the...
Scanned in 4K from original 35mm archival elements, The Swiss Conspiracy has never seen a high-quality release to date. Film Masters has enlisted colorist and restoration expert Marc Wielage to painstakingly bring back vibrant and original colors that have not been seen since this film made its original debut in 1976.
Shot entirely in and around Zurich, The Swiss Conspiracy, based on the hit novel by Michael Stanley, was directed by Jack Arnold, best known for B horror/cult movie classics such as The Incredible Shrinking Man, Tarantula, Creature from the Black Lagoon, It Came from Outer Space and The Tattered Dress. One of the...
- 1/19/2024
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
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The "Twilight Zone" episode "The Midnight Sun" took place on an Earth that had fallen out of its orbit and was drifting very slowly closer and closer toward the sun. The episode was an exploration of humanity during its waning hours, as seen through the eyes of Norma (Lois Nettleton), a painter who tried desperately to hang on to water and stay cool as temperatures rose and rose. Norma's only recourse is to paint the fires she sees out the window and the burning, growing sun in the sky. Eventually, her neighbor breaks down and implores Norma to paint something cool and refreshing, like a waterfall. The episode ends with Norma being overwhelmed by the heat and her neighbor dying of heat stroke.
There is a twist, of course. Norma wakes up in bed, having dreamed the entire episode. It's revealed that the Earth is, in fact, drifting away from...
There is a twist, of course. Norma wakes up in bed, having dreamed the entire episode. It's revealed that the Earth is, in fact, drifting away from...
- 1/13/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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Tina Fey is adapting 1981 comedy “The Four Seasons” for Netflix.
The “Mean Girls” screenwriter is co-creating and starring in a TV version of the film, which reunites her with “30 Rock” collaborators Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield.
The original “The Four Seasons” was written and directed by Alan Alda, produced by Martin Bregman, and starred Alda and Carol Burnett. The film followed a couple (Alda and Burnett) who vacation with their friends and get entangled in a comedy of errors. Alda was a recurring guest star on Fey’s “30 Rock.”
Universal Television is set to produce the Netflix series, which goes into production later this year. Fey previously collaborated with Universal Television and Netflix for “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “Girls5Eva,” whose third season will debut on Netflix March 14.
Fey’s “The Four Seasons” co-creator Fisher previously co-created “Never Have I Ever,” which ran for four seasons on Netflix. Wigfield...
The “Mean Girls” screenwriter is co-creating and starring in a TV version of the film, which reunites her with “30 Rock” collaborators Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield.
The original “The Four Seasons” was written and directed by Alan Alda, produced by Martin Bregman, and starred Alda and Carol Burnett. The film followed a couple (Alda and Burnett) who vacation with their friends and get entangled in a comedy of errors. Alda was a recurring guest star on Fey’s “30 Rock.”
Universal Television is set to produce the Netflix series, which goes into production later this year. Fey previously collaborated with Universal Television and Netflix for “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “Girls5Eva,” whose third season will debut on Netflix March 14.
Fey’s “The Four Seasons” co-creator Fisher previously co-created “Never Have I Ever,” which ran for four seasons on Netflix. Wigfield...
- 1/9/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
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Iggy Pop brought Tom Waits out of hiding on the latest episode of his BBC Radio program, The Confidential Show. Over the course of two hours, the two gravelly-voiced rockers shared stories and took turns spinning records by the likes of Alex Chilton, Captain Beefheart, Jerry Lee Lewis, and C.W. Stoneking.
Other more contemporary song selections included Lil Mama’s “Lip Gloss,” Beastie Boys’ “So What’cha Want” and Frank Ocean’s cover of “Moon River,” all of which were chosen by Waits.
Lil Mama’s 2007 single “Lip Glass” “became a favorite of mine recently,” Waits explained. After the song concluded, Waits and Pop humorously recited the chorus themselves.
In introducing Beastie Boys, Waits remarked, “Every time I hear them, they get me off my perch.” As for Frank Ocean’s cover of “Moon River,” Waits said, “It’s a very usual cover and I love what he did with it.
Other more contemporary song selections included Lil Mama’s “Lip Gloss,” Beastie Boys’ “So What’cha Want” and Frank Ocean’s cover of “Moon River,” all of which were chosen by Waits.
Lil Mama’s 2007 single “Lip Glass” “became a favorite of mine recently,” Waits explained. After the song concluded, Waits and Pop humorously recited the chorus themselves.
In introducing Beastie Boys, Waits remarked, “Every time I hear them, they get me off my perch.” As for Frank Ocean’s cover of “Moon River,” Waits said, “It’s a very usual cover and I love what he did with it.
- 12/4/2023
- by Alex Young
- Consequence - Music
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Who wouldn’t want to spend the holidays with some of their favorite TV characters? MeTV is making it easy this year with its “A Very Merry MeTV” programming lineup, which includes a selection of very special Thanksgiving and Christmas-themed episodes of classic shows such as The Waltons, The Beverly Hillbillies, Andy Griffith, and more.
The celebration begins on Sunday, Nov. 19 and runs through Dec. 25. Check out some of the highlights below, as well as the full schedule.
‘The Waltons’ Thanksgiving episode airs Nov. 22 and 23 A Verry Merry MeTV | MeTV
Celebrate Thanksgiving with one of TV’s most famous fictional families. In 1973, The Waltons aired its only Thanksgiving special, a two-part episode titled “The Thanksgiving Story.” The season 2 episode focuses on John-Boy Walton (Richard Thomas), who suffers a life-threatening head injury that puts his plans for college at risk. Meanwhile, his sister Mary Ellen (Judy Norton) auditions for the Thanksgiving play,...
The celebration begins on Sunday, Nov. 19 and runs through Dec. 25. Check out some of the highlights below, as well as the full schedule.
‘The Waltons’ Thanksgiving episode airs Nov. 22 and 23 A Verry Merry MeTV | MeTV
Celebrate Thanksgiving with one of TV’s most famous fictional families. In 1973, The Waltons aired its only Thanksgiving special, a two-part episode titled “The Thanksgiving Story.” The season 2 episode focuses on John-Boy Walton (Richard Thomas), who suffers a life-threatening head injury that puts his plans for college at risk. Meanwhile, his sister Mary Ellen (Judy Norton) auditions for the Thanksgiving play,...
- 11/19/2023
- by Megan Elliott
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
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Remember "Gilligan's Island?" Yes, the widely-loved American sitcom that earned massive popularity throughout its 98-episode run from 1978 to 1982, and featured an ensemble cast including Bob Denver, Natalie Schafer, Alan Hale Jr., and Russell Johnson. The show took the castaway trope and remolded it as a comedy in which seven castaways attempt to survive on an island after they're shipwrecked, which is further complicated by the shenanigans of the ship's first mate, Gilligan (Denver).
Among this cast of colorful characters is the Professor (Johnson) — the only level-headed person among the castaways, who uses his scientific background to create little devices to make their stay on the island more hospitable. While Johnson perfectly conveyed the subtle comedy inherent in his role (a running gag being his ability to create almost anything using bamboo and coconuts), the actor also embodied serious, dramatic roles in "The Twilight Zone," where he appeared in two separate...
Among this cast of colorful characters is the Professor (Johnson) — the only level-headed person among the castaways, who uses his scientific background to create little devices to make their stay on the island more hospitable. While Johnson perfectly conveyed the subtle comedy inherent in his role (a running gag being his ability to create almost anything using bamboo and coconuts), the actor also embodied serious, dramatic roles in "The Twilight Zone," where he appeared in two separate...
- 11/18/2023
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
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If you love the classics and holiday programming, you won’t want to miss this year’s “A Very Merry MeTV” celebration, and TV Insider can exclusively reveal the schedule. The classic television network embraces the warmth of holiday nostalgia with its annual event, featuring Thanksgiving and holiday-themed episodes from beloved yesteryear TV shows, TV movies, animated treasures, holiday specials, and more. The lineup of over 100 programs begins on Sunday, November 19 at 12/11c and runs through Christmas Day. Check out the full 2023 MeTV holiday season schedule below for “A Very Merry MeTV.” (All times Et/Pt) Sunday, November 19 12:00 p.m. The Brady Bunch, “The Un-Underground Movie” 2:00 p.m. The Beverly Hillbillies, “Turkey Day” 2:30 p.m. The Beverly Hillbillies, “The Thanksgiving Spirit” 3:30 p.m. Gilligan’s Island, “Little Island, Big Gun” 4:00 p.m. Mama’s Family, “An Ill Wind” 5:00 p.m. The ...
- 10/16/2023
- TV Insider
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