A piece of my childhood passed today. I spent many afternoons watching Gilligan's Island and I dare say there isn't an episode I haven't seen; even the black and white ones.
Why did America enjoy this show so much? It wasn't cutting edge, it wasn't spicy, in fact it was predictable as hell. Gilligan gets hit over the head with Skipper's hat, a rowboat appears in the lagoon, head hunters are on the island, Ginger has a twin, the professor creates something in his make-shift lab, Mary Ann makes a coconut cream pie and it disappears, Mr. and Mrs. Howell count their money; aahh Lovey, now she was quite a dame.
I know that for myself, it was innocence, pure innocence. There was no profanity, no sexual activity, not that Ginger didn't turn a few heads from time to time, no busting a cap in someone's ass, well except for the game hunter episode but Gilligan survived that one too.
I feel honored to have grown up with quality television. Sure my kids would look at a show like that now and be fighting for the remote. But it's nice to know that once upon a time, Gilligan was on a deserted island and I had a blast watching him there.
Posted by Stacy at September 6, 2005 09:35 PM | TrackBackMy sentiments exactly. Thanks for a loving tribute to a great guy!
Posted by: Valerie at September 6, 2005 11:33 PMHow sad, I loved Gilligan. I used to watch that show too. I also loved the Waltons, Happy Days, and Growing Pains. I am shocked by what is on regular programming these days.
Posted by: Paula at September 6, 2005 11:43 PMMaryAnn turned my head more than Ginger. Gilligan's Island was a big part of several generations childhood including mine and my children.
Posted by: BobG at September 7, 2005 08:55 AMYup, I was in love with Mary Ann when I was young. Another icon has passed.
Posted by: Tony at September 7, 2005 12:57 PMI was strangely saddened by this news today.
I liked him because he didn't mind being type-cast. He was resigned to the fact that he'd forever be Gilligan, and used it to make people happy. Hell, the whole bunch (besides Tina Louise, the bitch) seemed to revel in it, even though Sherwood Schwartz screwed them out of royalties.
By the way, people always ask "Mary Ann or Ginger?" To which I reply just what was wrong with Lovey???
Posted by: Admin Worm at September 7, 2005 01:37 PMI'm older than you are, so to me, Bob Denver was Maynard G. Krebs, a beatnik who was allergic to work of any sort, and was goofy at all times. By the time he was Gilligan, I found it embarrassingly silly, but your point is taken. In both series, there was innocence at their core. You could watch with the whole family -- and they were both on in the early evening, for that very reason.
He'd been sick for a while, so his passing represents a release for him, and for family and friends, to whom his suffereing must have been painful. He will live in memory for as long as a couple of generations or more live. And in reruns, forever.
Posted by: Bill at September 7, 2005 07:50 PMLike he (Bill) said. Maynard Krebs as the perennial beatnik layabout on the Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Whenever Dobie mentioned some activity that resembled work, Maynard would croak, "Work?"
Posted by: Howard Larson at September 7, 2005 09:12 PMWhat a great tribute to the show! I still enjoy watching it.
Oh and it was Mary Ann for me... UNTIL I started seeing what my older brothers saw ... then it was helllllloooo, Ginger. I still had great loyalty to Mary Ann, tho. I wuz conflicted :)
It definitely was a time of innocence compared to today.
I do remember some of the Dobie Gillis stuff, barely; in syndication of course.
What a coincidence that just yesterday I started taping the show so my kids could watch after school.
Posted by: Darlene at September 7, 2005 11:25 PM