All language subtitles for gilligan_s_island_exta_2001_cbs_made-for-television_docudrama_-_surviving_gilligan_s_island

The white zone is for the immediate
loading and

unloading of passengers only. No
parking.

There are times and places in all our
lives, events that forever alter the

we take.

For me, that was one particular
television series.

Gilligan's Island.

That's me, Dawn Wells.

It's been almost 40 years since the
series began.

40 years.

Some kids who watched us back then are
still watching, but with their

grandchildren now.

I mean, the series has never been off
the air since, well, Think it went off

air? Let me help you with that. Oh,
thanks very much.

I'm going to need a stepladder to get to
this overhead compartment.

No problem at all.

The least I can do for Mary Ann.

Thanks very much. You're welcome.

Welcome aboard, Miss Wells.

Oh, thank you. Would you like something
to drink before we take off? Oh, not

just yet. How long is the flight
scheduled today?

We're scheduled to arrive at about 7
this evening in about three hours.

A three -hour tour.

Just sit right back and you hear a tale.

I grew up on that show.

A tale of a fateful trip.

That started from this tropic port
aboard this tiny ship.

The mate was a mighty sailing man, super
brave and sure. I'm not making this up.

This actually happened.

Twice.

A three -hour tour.

Gilligan's Island touched so many
people's lives in the most unexpected

We actually became part of the national
consciousness.

And welcome to all of you as well.

One Daily Double awaits you in one of
these categories.

The skipper.

Next we have the millionaire.

Uh -oh.

His wife.

The movie star.

And the rest are EST in quotation marks.
We know what that means. And finally,

right here on Gilligan's Isle. It's
amazing, isn't it? It was just a silly

little situation comedy.

At least that's what we thought at the
time.

You have to identify the skipper.
Ashley, go first.

The movie star for 200.

Faster, Bob. We're losing it. We need
more juice.

More juice?

This is all the juice I got.

Wonderful thing, aerobics.

Yeah.

You know, for better or worse, the
professor changed my life.

And to think I didn't want anything to
do with that role at first.

Me? I wanted to do the pilot. I just
finished a long run on Dobie Gillis

Maynard G. Krebs. Work!

A true beatnik with rhythm, like Bongo's
man.

So I don't think I was exactly the first
choice for Gilligan.

I heard they were looking at Jerry Van
Dyke.

That's right, they sent me the script,
but I wasn't that crazy about it.

All right, I thought it was awful.

It's the worst script I've ever read in
my life.

I was looking for a hit, and this sure
wasn't it. Besides, my agent had me

up for a surefire hit.

Series called My Mother the Car.

Guaranteed to last forever.

I've had longer showers.

Our show has played more often and in
more places than any other television

series in history.

And that includes I Love Lucy.

We are playing daily all over the world
and in 30 languages.

No one would have guessed that in the
beginning, including the network.

Absolutely the worst idea I've ever
heard. No question.

The worst. Seven people on an island
week after week.

How many stories could you get out of
that?

Two, three?

Who'd ever watch something like that?
I'll tell you who'd watch it.

Nobody. That's who.

I disagree.

Respectfully. Look, I've been doing
comedy now for... We know your

Skelton, Hope, the Emmy and all.

You're a funny guy.

But when it comes right down to it,
you're just a writer.

We're the network.

You have to trust we know what we're
talking about, Sherwood.

Sherwood Schwartz was the creator and
producer of the show. The same guy that

came up with the Brady Bunch a few years
later.

A huge talent.

You'd think the network would listen to
him.

They had just gotten a taste of power.

There's a story there.

It has something to do with that little
boat we set sail on. You remember the

name of it?

Uh -huh. The S .S. Minnow.

Most of you probably assume that the
minnow referred to a small fish.

Actually, it was a private joke on
Sherwood Schwartz's part.

Back in the early 60s, many of the most
popular television shows were designed

only to entertain.

What do you want

people to see Americans as?

Newton Minow was the FCC chairman at the
time. And the irony is, he didn't even

like television.

But when television is bad, nothing is
worse.

I invite you to sit down in front of
your television set when your station

on the air and keep your eyes glued to
that set until the station signs off.

I can assure you, you will observe a
vast wasteland.

A vast wasteland?

Ouch.

His solution was to have the networks
take more control of what they put on

air. And they did.

So what you're saying is, you know
comedy.

Look at our track record.

We just don't understand what this is.

They understood Gomer Pyle and they
understood the Beverly Hillbillies, but

concept escaped them?

Don't get us wrong. We like the boat,
the whole cruise business idea.

It's different, fresh.

Well, good, great, then let's go ahead.
But what if every week it's another

trip, different passengers, guest stars?

Actually, they might have been on to
something, but the love boat was still

years away.

That's not my series.

You see, these people have to be
stranded, so they're forced to become a

depend on one another.

What I had in mind was to create a
social microcosm.

A what?

A social microcosm.

Seven castaways representing different
parts of society today.

The hard -working middle -class kind of
guy, the millionaire, the intellectual.

Intellectual? See, see, that concerns
us. You're aiming too high, Sherwood.

If we wanted Plato, we would have hired
Plato.

You could try, but trust me, you
couldn't afford him.

Sorry, not our kind of show, but try us
again.

Okay, so if the criticism was that there
weren't enough possible plots, he'd

prove them wrong.

Sherwood came up with dozens, more than
a season's worth.

To make sure they knew it was a comedy,
he had to find the right title. I mean,

would you have watched it if it was
called Mortimer's Island or, you know,

Ichabod's Island?

Well, it could have been, considering
where he found the name.

Abernathy.

No.

Dunderson.

Not funny.

Eventually, it got to the G's.

Gilligan.

Gilligan.

Gilligan's Island.

Well, it certainly sounds funny. That's
because it is.

And here are a few plots, just to get
the ball rolling.

31 feet of them.

Well,

that's very impressive, Sherwood.

These are all storylines you developed?
That's right. And you've got 31?

This could be another big hit, like
Dobie Gillis.

Bye -bye, dear island.

Faced with the answers for every
question they had, the network agreed to

pilot episode.

They gave it what's called a green
light.

I wasn't on the first cruise, that
original episode.

Neither was Dawn, and neither was Tina
Louise.

Well, there wasn't even a character
named Marianne at first. It was somebody

named Bunny.

Bob, on the other hand, was the first
and only Gilligan.

It was pure entertainment.

Pure silly fun. The kind of thing I love
to do.

And Sherwood and I found common ground
right from the start.

That's me with the book.

Well, okay, it's an actor playing me,
but you get the idea.

Robinson Crusoe.

My favorite story growing up.

So is this where the idea came from?

Who knows where ideas come from?

They just suddenly appear.

The trick is spotting them when they
show up at your door.

Could I do physical comedy in this show?

Oh, sure. I'm counting on it.

I mean, real slapstick. Pratt Falls,
double takes. I've never had the chance

do all that.

Other than Lucy, there's really nothing
on TV like it these days.

Besides, we need more clowns.

Here, I'll tell you what. Take this,
read it, and let me know what you think.

What can I say?

I've always had a strange sense of
humor.

Sherwood had already thought of Jim
Backus and Natalie Schaefer, and Nancy

McCarthy played the part of the
secretary bunny. John Gabriel had the

the high school teacher.

I heard that Jane Mansfield turned down
the part of Ginger.

But Kit Smythe soon landed that role.

The trick was finding the right skipper.

You see, the problem is the audience has
got to love the guy.

Even though he keeps blowing up at
Gilligan, hitting him with his hat all

time.

Like Abbott was always beating up on
Costello.

Like Hardy was with Laurel.

You see, the skipper's got to be big.

Got to be lovable.

Well, what about that Carol O 'Connor?
Gave a good reading?

Terrific actor, but just not quite
right.

Carol O 'Connor later got to do his
blowing up as Archie Bunker in All in

Family. He was a great Archie. But can
you imagine him playing the skipper?

Neither can I.

Without the skipper, you've got no show.

All I'm saying is we need somebody
like... Like, uh... Like

that guy.

This is the only movie I've done this
year.

All right, look. Things don't pick up
soon, I'm changing careers.

Maybe real estate.

I'm serious.

The U .S. trinket here.

Hey, last time it was like this, I sold
vacuum cleaners.

I was pretty good at it, too, huh?

Real estate should be a piece of cake.

Sherwood had a hunch that Alan Hale was
the guy, but the networks insisted on a

screen test.

The problem was, Alan was doing a
Western on location in Utah, and the

would not let him leave.

Thanks, Bill.

Listen, I'll be back tonight before
anybody even knows I'm gone.

On the day of the test, he and a friend
borrowed some horses and rode off to the

nearest main road.

They need to get to Vegas.

Hop in.

He hitched a ride to Vegas.

Caught a plane to Los Angeles.

And took a cab to the studio.

He went through four states to get to
that screen test I did.

Anyone up for a screen test today?

Alan, I'm glad you could make it. I hope
it was no trouble.

No, not at all. Hey, I love the script,
by the way.

Classic.

Nobody's doing this kind of comedy
anymore. It's about time, I say.

I like your attitude.

You like my attitude? I like your show.

Hey, and as for playing the skipper of a
cruise ship...

I'm a Pisces.

That's a water sign. It's fake.

Well, I hope you're right.

We'll be doing this scene today, and
you'll be reading with Bob Denver.

Bob, Alan Hale, Jr.

We're looking for that elusive thing
called chemistry. Skipper!

Well, hey, little buddy.

There was no question. He was the
Skipper.

And before we knew it, we were on our
way to location, Hawaii.

To get the right look, this was going to
be an expensive shoot.

I can't wait to read the

script. Oh, Jim, you haven't read it
yet?

Oh, if it's good enough for Sherwood,
it's good enough for me.

You might want to take a look. I mean,
it's just dreadful.

It's a comedy.

Yeah, it's broad, but it's fun.

Matter of opinion, I suppose.

It may not be Shakespeare.

It certainly isn't, and I have played
Shakespeare.

Come on, Miss Schaefer. If you didn't
like the script, then why'd you sign on?

Well, it's a free trip to Hawaii, and I
know I'll never have to move from my

home in New York because there isn't a
chance that this is going to be a

So, I'm here for vacation.

Lovely attitude, Natalie.

You'll agree as soon as you read the
pages.

It's a minus.

She had a point, I suppose.

But it takes a little while for a cast
to become a family.

That was the point of the whole series,
too.

So with some division in the ranks, we
went to work filming.

The network hired writers to add four
minutes of material to the script.

And Sherwood was hard at work trying to
make those new scenes fit into his

concept.

And the rest of us, we all just did the
best we could.

Good Lord.

You were right.

On my part, the wine list at the hotel
is longer.

Next time, maybe you'll listen to me.

Still,

I mean, it's a check. We'll get Sherwood
to fix it up. What he doesn't do, we'll

do ourselves.

We'll fix it?

Yeah, we'll add some jokes. Add a
little.

to ad -lib. Oh, well, better for me.

Oh, nothing, nothing to worry about.
I'll teach you. You'll be outdoing me in

time. I mean, laughs are plenty.

You act as if the whole world's a joke.

Being funny's the most important thing
in the world to me.

Now, without laughter, it's nothing.

All right, now, let's see.

Lovey.

Oh, do you use those things to look
imperious?

I use them to see.

Well, you know, they're good for the
character. You should leave them in.

Love you.

Somehow we got through it, right down to
the last couple of days.

The castaways had salvaged their radio
and found that the search for them had

been called off.

You mean we're stuck here?

Forever? This is no time to panic,
Gilligan.

Not forever. It's just that we can
figure a way off.

And who's going to figure that?

Well, as the skipper and the first mate,
it's up to Gilligan and me.

Good Lord.

Lovey, we are stuck here forever.

Now a good time to panic?

Gilligan.

And cut.

Help me up, Jim, please.

Stand on my feet again.

But it was another radio report, a real
one, that brought the production to a

halt.

No question, we all remember where we
were when we heard the news.

We finished shooting as best we could,
but no one was in a comic mood flying

home.

Gilligan, no! Watch out for the...
Skipper!

Well, it's rough, of course, but it
gives you the idea.

Doesn't it? Uh -huh. Yeah.

It was

rejected.

Not once, but three times.

But Sherwood never took no for an
answer, and that ending was just the

beginning.

Sherwood wouldn't give up. With only two
weeks to go before the fall schedule

was announced, he called in some favors.

He got the original film footage back,
began to re -edit it, his way, without

the scenes the network added.

If we cut out the opening, you're going
to be short.

And nobody's going to know how these
people got on the island.

Oh, they'll know.

I've already figured a way to handle
that.

Sherwood wanted an opening sequence that
told the audience every week what the

setup was.

And he realized the way to do that was
with a song.

So he called on George Weil, a friend
and composer.

Okay.

Let's try it again, George, with a new
lyric.

Right?

Jot it right back and you'll hear a
tale.

That's better.

That's better, but where does it go from
there?

Jot it right back and you'll hear a
tale. A tale of a fateful trip that

from this traffic port aboard this tiny
ship.

The mate was a mighty sailing man, a
skipper brave and sure.

Five passengers set sail that day for a
three -hour tour, a three -hour tour.

Armed with this re -edited version of
the pilot, complete with new title,

sequence, and song, he had the courage
to take Gilligan's

Island back to the network. Sherwood,
come in, come in. Nice to see you. How

have you been?

Oh, I'm fine.

You're only making it worse, Gilligan.

How could it be worse?

Oh, I see. Gilligan!

They still didn't get it. But they
figured they might as well do a test

screening.

Well, the test audience loved it. The
network was puzzled. They figured there

had to be a mistake.

So they had another group in.

And another.

It was the highest testing pilot of the
season.

We don't understand it, Sherwood, but
the audience seems to.

We're sure it won't last past the first
13. But the bottom line is, you've got a

series. Great.

If... If?

We need to do some recasting.

Ginger, Bunny, and the high school
teacher, they didn't score well with the

audience. But...

If you can find us the right new
actors... Then you've got a show.

Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you
very much.

About this time, Natalie Shaper was in
Puerto Vallarta with some

friends.

Oh, it'll do you good to get out of New
York for a while. You need the rest.

Oh, I know it, but I just have this...
Terrible feeling, leaving my mother this

way.

She hasn't been at all well.

Okay, think about it.

You are just a few hours away by plane.

She'll be fine.

Oh, no.

Is that for me? Now, Natalie, come on.
It could be good news.

Telegram is never good news, and you
know it.

Is it your mother? Don't worry, because
we will get you back.

No, it's not my mother. It's much, much
worse.

The series, it's sold.

Oh, crap.

Oh, no.

Here's where I came in. They had to
recast Ginger the Professor and Mary

formerly Bunny.

I'm sure glad they changed that name.

So there I was, me and 300 other girls,
hoping to get one of the two open roles.

One of them, believe it or not, was
Raquel Welch.

And she wasn't up for Ginger. She was up
for Mary Ann.

My part.

Uh, you were Miss Nevada, I see.

In the Miss America pageant, yes.

And a dancer.

Well, I always wanted to be a ballerina.
I trained for it. But I have this trick

knee. Oh, a trick knee. So you fell back
on acting literally.

That's right.

That's funny.

I like that.

You can have it. My gift.

It's actually a very impressive list of
credentials for only having been here a

year. You've got Burke's Law, wagon
train.

And it says here that you played a
treasurer.

No, I was a treasurer of my student body
in school and a member of the debate

team. I majored in chemistry at Stevens
College.

I was going to go into medicine, but
then I discovered the drama club, so I

to the University of Washington so that
I could... That's really more than you

needed to know, isn't it?

You just might be too smart for this
role.

Well, no, I'm not. I mean, I can play
not. So smart...

Not so smart?

I talk too much.

And too fast.

It could work for us.

I like it.

Well, he didn't like it quite so much
later.

Bob and I talked so fast, the show kept
coming in short.

I didn't even want to audition at first.

I was working in films.

I mean, let them hire Dabney Coleman, a
wonderful actor.

He auditioned for The Professor, too.

But this part, one of seven, just wasn't
for me.

But my agent finally convinced me to at
least read for it.

And what could that hurt, I figured.

This Island Earth, Attack of the Crab
Monsters?

It came from outer space.

Yeah, I did a few science fiction
pictures and some westerns.

Yeah, I caught you in the one with,
um...

Ronald Reagan.

You were very good.

Thanks. Look, I don't want to waste your
time. I'm really only here because my

agent... Alfred Hitchcock, Ben Casey,
Gunsmoke, a couple of Twilight Zones.

You know, I caught those.

You were amazing, Russell.

Quite a talent.

Yeah?

And exactly the look for the professor.

Handsome, strong.

Well, thanks again.

How about reading a scene for us?

Sure, Mr. Schwartz.

I've been waiting to get a series of my
own.

But there are some people you just can't
say no to, and he was one of them.

My original conclusion was correct.

The network wanted me to take my shirt
off for them before they'd approve me.

We settled on a photo.

And you thought they wanted me for my
mind.

Oh, this certainly brings back old
memories.

So now they had Marianne and the
professor.

Now they had to find Ginger, the movie
star.

Tina Louise was co -starring in a
Broadway musical at the time.

It's from Hollywood. The Island Thing?

And it's everything we ask for. Somebody
out there definitely wants you.

But it's still a TV show.

You can always come back to the theater
and movies. There's plenty of time for

that.

Listen to your agent, Tina. This is the
kind of thing that can make you a

household name. Your own series.

I'm definitely the star.

It's about an actress who gets stranded
in the middle of the Pacific with, I

don't know, some other people. Nobody
important.

You play the actress.

Sexy, glamorous.

But here I'm starring on Broadway with
Carol Burnett.

The difference is that in this show,
everybody else is starring with you.

My own series.

I'd like to have heard the conversation
she had with her agent.

After she read the script?

But I remember the first day around the
table at CBS.

Ginger Krantz is barely in the script at
all.

And she doesn't get any of the laughs.

Sherwood?

Well, keep in mind there are seven of
you on the island.

Yes, but I was told my island, my show
on the star.

You're the star?

Of Gilligan's Island?

Tina, he's Gilligan.

Didn't you find that odd, dear?

Might that have been a clue?

I have to call my agent.

I don't know.

She might make a better Gilligan.

And you would make a lovely ginger bar.

No, the right wig, right dress.

I

think

Tina regretted taking the show.

But to give her credit, she was a total
pro. The perfect ginger.

And we all got on with the job at hand.

If I'm going to be just another
castaway.

I'm going to make sure all eyes are on
me.

Can't we lower these necklines a little
more?

You can try, sweetheart, but it'll never
get past network sensors.

They want glamour.

This is glamour.

Maybe so, but I don't think television's
ready for those yet.

Oh, you look great, Tina.

Lose the bangs, huh?

Excuse me?

Ginger wears bangs. Find something else.

Well, it's not like anyone would really
ever confuse the two of us.

Just glue them, okay?

Thanks.

What is she talking about?

That won't do, that outfit.

Barbara Eden will have the same problem
when I dream of Jeannie.

What problem is that? The navel. No one
on television has one.

You've got to be kidding.

Oh, she's not. It was a big deal way
back then, believe it or not.

Excuse me.

I don't mean to be interrupting, but I
just can't stand there and watch this.

No navel.

Now you can deal with it. Besides,
she'll make you a pair that'll cover it.

Ah.

Tina was right about the hair.

Oh, but that's the way I've always worn
it. Oh, you don't have to tell me.

You took quite a while to figure out
that look way back then. This is a two

-hour movie of the week.

And I've got coconut pie in the oven.

Let's cut to the chase.

You're sure?

Trust me.

It's going to grow on you.

The guys didn't have the same problems.
Hair, navels, not even what to wear.

Must have been a sale at the marina.

So, what'll it be today?

Well, the blue shirt or the blue shirt?

Okay. We were finally a group, the seven
of us. And we all gathered for our

first official publicity shot.

We took some of them around the lake and
the Hollywood Hills.

And if you look closely at those photos,
you can see the pine trees in the

background.

Not exactly a typical tropical island.

The California beaches were too foggy
and too unreliable for shooting. So CBS

built us a lagoon on the back lot, a
half a mile from the freeway.

Did you know it was only four feet deep?

And in the winter, it was freezing?

Oh, poor Bob.

Poor Bob is right, because it was
usually Gilligan who ended up doing the

gags.

It wasn't always as fun as it looked.

I think I spent more time underwater
than Flipper.

Bob, Alan, we need you both in the
water.

What are you doing?

Took this from the prop cart. I don't
think they want us to know how cold it

really is.

Bob, it's California. How cold could it
be?

It's 42 degrees.

It's not that cold. For a penguin,
maybe.

Or for you, you got a couple inches of
insulation, remember?

Guys, in the lagoon, please.

Uh, yeah, coming right up. Oh, no.

Come on, little buddy. No, no, Alan.
Come on, no. Oh, come on, Bob. It's only

going to be a minute.

Wait a second.

Excuse me, Christina.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, my.

Oh, good one.

I tried wearing a wetsuit under my
clothes once, but even that didn't help.

And in the summer, that lagoon got so
funky that one day when we put a fish in

it just to see...

Look,

this time I don't blame you.

No, it's okay.

I'm going in.

You're joking.

Right after one of those network big
shots goes for a swim.

Do

I

need to tell you how quickly that water
got changed?

Anything. For our star.

Hollywood? I was like a kid around all
of this.

I'd done several roles on television by
then, but I was still just a girl from

Reno.

And I guess from time to time, it
showed.

Like after the first episode aired.

Variety says, judging from the opening
episode, there was some difficulty in

seeing how to make this one joke go as
far as one episode.

Listen to this one from the L .A.

Tribune.

Gilligan's Island is not the worst show
of this television season.

It's the worst show of any television
season.

It is difficult for me to believe that
Gilligan's Island was written, directed,

and filmed by adults.

Hey, Don.

You okay?

Are you?

The reviews are awful.

But the ratings are great. Didn't you
see them?

Was there good?

Haven't you ever seen ratings before?

No.

Well, trust me, everybody hated us but
the audience.

There's just so much to learn about this
business.

You'll figure it out in no time.

I did.

And you know how I started?

I played a nervous officer in a college
play, but the nerves were real. I was

terrified.

The more I shook, the more they laughed,
and I was hooked.

My first TV show?

Dobie Gillis.

That was your first?

Right place at the right time.

I'm almost as new to all this as you
are.

Bob, Dawn, we've been picked up with 23
more episodes this season.

The network loves us?

You kidding? They hate us. They don't
understand us. They think we're a fluke.

But they can't deny that we're a hit.

Improbable as it seemed, we were ahead.
But that didn't make it any easier

behind the scene. The network still
didn't understand us and kept trying to

the show.

Well, you won't believe this one, Bob.

They think Gilligan should have a pet.

A dinosaur.

A dinosaur?

Where would I get a dinosaur?

I don't know. I guess it's been living
on the other side of the island or

something. Are they kidding?

Couldn't even get it in the same two
-shot.

Look, you gotta talk them out of it.

Trust me. They'll talk themselves out of
it when they see what it would cost.

I just got the figure.

It would have cost them $75 ,000 a
minute.

Bye -bye, dinosaur.

But no question, Sherwood still had his
hands full.

We're waiting, Tina.

The cast.

The crew.

If Ginger Grant is a movie star, and I'm
playing her, then shouldn't her makeup

be perfect?

Is that a shadow?

And did you get my new eyelashes?

The mink ones?

Mink? Mink eyelashes?

It's not for me, Sherwood. It's for the
show.

I didn't want to look my best.

Doesn't everybody?

Okay, here's how it'll go.

Tina, Ginger runs in from camera left.
We all know the natives are out there.

one else has any idea. Until Tina tells
them, the headhunters are coming, the

headhunters are coming. So, she's sort
of a Paula Revere?

Maybe we should stick to the script
today, Jim.

Honestly, he should have told him that.
Ten episodes ago.

Well, hey, comedy is a serious business.

I mean, without laughter, there's
nothing.

Look, I can't do what you're asking.
It's not my good size. I need to enter

camera right.

Tina, everything's set up. The camera's
going to take us a week to relight. I

mean, please, come on.

We've talked about this. I only want my
left side on screen.

Look, just... Please.

Do it this way. I promise you'll look
great. Run it once for me, please.

Thank you. And rehearsals up, everybody.

And action.

Run, everybody. The headhunters are
coming. The headhunters are coming this

Is everybody happy?

Shoot it.

I thought it was good.

Nice work, fellas.

All right.

Is everybody happy?

We all had our idiosyncrasies.

Natalie Schaefer's contract specified no
close -ups, ever.

But once we got into the series, she
never paid much attention to it.

She did have this thing about her age,
though.

Until the day she died, no one knew how
old she was.

Not even me.

Please, even my doctor doesn't know.

Even your doctor?

Well, why should he?

If he asks, I tell him to refer to the
charts for my last visit.

By the time he realizes that I hadn't
told him then either, I'm gone.

That's actually brilliant.

Well, people talk too much about age
these days.

When you go in for a part, it's always,
is she 20?

Never is she good.

I was married once to Lewis Calhoun. Oh,
wonderful actor.

Oh, and a wonderful husband.

But even he didn't know my real age. No.

On his deathbed, his last wish was that
I would tell him how old I was.

I said, never.

Quite frankly, too many people are just
too nosy these days. It's no one's

business.

So, you have a husband, do you, Dawn?

Yes.

Lovely. Is this ex good?

Oh, don't pay any attention to me.

I can be something of a bitch.

She became my mentor, and I guess I
became the daughter she never had.

Just as Sherwood wanted the castaways to
do, we were becoming a family.

Sometimes a bit dysfunctional, maybe,
but a family.

We actually had a lot of fun. That was
the day Tina had to shoot a shower

Hi, boys.

And since the bamboo door would hide her
from the shoulders down, she announced

she'd be shooting the scene nude.

Not a single crewman called in sick that

day.

Okay, Tina, you fixed your place?

We'll get the shot.

Okay, guys, let's have it quiet, please.

Rehearsal's up!

And... Action!

Tina outsmarted him that time.

When Jim and Alan realized they both
loved golf, they became inseparable.

For a duffer.

Well, I suppose you could do better.

Oh, on my worst day. Here, here, here.
Let me show you how pro does it, huh?

Well, talk is cheap. And so is this
club.

Backus, I got 20 bucks says I can drive
a ball farther than you with that club.

What, are you challenging me to a duel?

Today at lunch.

Even better.

I'll be awake for it. Yay!

All right, we're going to need a
referee.

Natalie, would you do the honors?

Oh, Alan, I don't know anything about
sports.

Just hit it through the goal post and be
done with it.

You heard the lady. Batter up.

I'd be happy to.

It's only $20.

Just relax.

Swing easy.

Very nice.

Beat that.

Well, in here, I thought it might at
least be a challenge.

Yeah!

I think the winner is clear.

Well, it's nice of you to admit it.
Clearly, I drove you.

I drove me. Are you blind, man?

Yeah, I think those years of playing
Magoo have gotten to you, Baggis.

Bob,

just be gentle and tell the man.

They look the same to me. Who can really
tell from here?

Look, we're missing our lunch break.

There's a simple way to decide this.
Just go track down your golf ball.

Way over there?

It's a long hike.

Hey, I know.

Why don't you just admit that I won?

I would if I did, but you didn't. Just
hand me my 20 bucks.

You the guys hitting golf balls?

Well, these aren't baseball bats. Why do
you ask?

Somebody drove a ball through a car
windshield in the parking lot.

That far?

He outdrove me by a mile.

Shame on you.

So, things were going along pretty well.

Even Tina was happier on the set.

She was engaged at the time to Les Crane
Jr.

Thanks. He was a talk show host.

Actually, one of the pioneers of that
kind of thing.

Oh, well.

Nice car.

Night, boys. See you tomorrow.

Good night, dear. Night on.

Take care.

That's your boyfriend?

Uh -huh.

He's as beautiful as she is. No wonder
they're getting married.

But if they ever divorce, who'll get
custody of the mirror?

Natalie?

Well, you're usually gone by now. Late
date tonight?

A date?

Oh, dear, you know I don't date anymore.
Not romantically.

But you're out almost every night with
one handsome man or another.

But they're mostly all gay.

Just good company.

That's all I need for now.

Don't tell me you've given up on love.
After all the men you've known, you're

infamous.

I've had my day, that's true. But my
romantic nights, they're all in the

Why would you give something like that
up?

Well, that's a private matter.

Shouldn't you be off to dinner yourself?

I was just going to grab a hot dog.

A hot dog?

Are they good?

I don't believe I've ever had one.

Well,

my dear, it's the best meal I've ever
had.

At least what I've tasted so far.

I think I'm wearing far more than I've
eaten.

People are looking.

Because of how we're eating.

Because I think they recognize us.

Mrs. Howell and Mary Ann out on the
town.

I didn't get this much attention from
all the movies I've been in.

But you've had a wonderful career. But
in this town.

Your only and good is the last thing
you've done.

Memories are short.

Really? After all the great parts you've
played?

Yeah. I had this meeting once.

Some network boy who had just recently
graduated to long pants.

I was up for some role and he wanted to
meet me, fine.

So he looked at my picture and said,
Tell me, Miss Schaefer, what have you

Well... I looked at him and said, you
first.

Did he tell you? Oh, yeah. Oh, they love
to talk about this school they went to

and that job they had and this officer.
And he went on and on.

And I nodded politely.

And when he finished, I said, thank you.

And I left.

It's not like the old days.

Excuse me.

Ice cream, my favorite.

We didn't order these.

They're on me, please. I'm such a big
fan. I've seen everything you've ever

done. Everything?

Oh, my.

Where's your husband tonight?

My husband?

Well, he's dead.

Jim Backus is dead?

Oh, no, not Jim. My husband.

We're not married, dear.

Pretend.

Thank you. Thank you.

People honestly believe that Jim and
Natalie were a couple on and off the

screen. Jim's wife, Henny, always
referred to Natalie as Jim's other wife.

But that is not the strangest story.

The first year we were on, some people
got so caught up in the show that they

apparently thought we were all real
people trapped on a real island.

Look at these, Mr. Schwartz.

Dozens of telegrams and letters we're
getting at military bases all around the

Pacific.

With all the money we spent on foreign
aid, can we not spare one U .S. ship to

rescue those poor souls before they
starve to death?

They're serious about that?

They're all the same. They're all
worried about these castaways of yours.

Don't these people wonder about the
credits?

And how about the laugh track?

And how many castaways have their own
theme song?

With Gilligan.

The skipper too.

The millionaire.

And his wife.

The movie star.

And the rest.

Stop!

Please rewind that.

Just the last part.

For the first season, Russell Johnson
and I were literally the rest.

Oh, we had our pictures up there, true,
but no real billing.

I found out later how all that changed.

The credits?

What's wrong with them?

Don and Russell are just as much a part
of the show as the rest of us. They

should get equal billing.

It's what's in their contract.

It would cost too much to change it now.

Well... In my contract, I get to pick my
billing, right?

Then just put me at the end with Don and
Russell.

Make me part of the ref, too.

But, uh, you're the star.

We need you at the top.

Only one way to make sure it stays that
way.

The Professor and Marianne here on
Gilligan's Eye!

Music to my ears.

You know, I often wonder, who got the
most fan mail?

It was Gilligan, right?

No question, who got the most fan mail?

Mary Ann, hands down.

This is just unreal.

You wouldn't believe the date this guy
has planned for himself and Ginger.

I may save this one.

You get all the mash notes.

I get the kids and their parents.

And so many marriage proposals.

Well, I don't only want dates.

Marianne is safe. The girl next door is
someone you could bring home to mother.

While Ginger is... Well, Ginger.

Oh, my.

Oh, yeah.

We definitely get different fans.

For years, men have engaged in the
Marianne -Ginger debate.

Ginger.

Ginger.

Marianne. Marianne. Still. In my heart.

I'd say Marianne.

Ginger. Marianne.

Marianne.

Marianne. Ginger.

Marianne! Ginger.

Ginger!

Oh, Marianne, hands down.

Ginger. Marianne.

Definitely Marianne.

Both Marianne.

Ginger, definitely.

Ginger? Ginger.

Marianne.

Marianne now.

Most polls taken tend to favor Marianne,
but it was pretty clear who the

magazines were after.

They wanted Gilligan and Ginger, nobody
else.

I had a problem with that.

I won't do it.

Mr. Denver, this is a cover for TV
Guide.

This could make your show a hit. You
should read your own magazine. We're

already a hit.

But you have a problem posing with Tina
Louise?

Yes. I mean, no.

I mean, I'm working with Tina and Don
Wells every day. I just think it should

the three of us.

So that's your bottom line. The three of
you or... Or no photos.

Then that's how we'll shoot it.

Can we do this, please?

Be right there.

Perfect.

Oh, beautiful, beautiful. Now if we can
just get you in next to Bob.

Nice and cozy.

And where do you want me? Anywhere's
fine. Whatever's comfortable.

If we could just lose the hands.

Oh, okay.

Don't I need more makeup? You had me
take so much off.

You're fine, kid. You're Mary Ann. Sweet
and natural.

They're all yours.

Okay.

Smile, please.

Very nice.

Did you see the cover yet?

Is it here? Let me see.

My first cover.

I'm sorry, Don. If I had any idea what
they were doing... Is all that's left of

me a corner of my ponytail?

They lied to us.

They used what they thought could sell
magazines.

Doesn't it make you mad?

Well, of course.

But you have to be careful how you react
in public, Bob.

Look, you're a family for the audience,
and they love the seven of you.

So if you're going to get mad at one
another, you have to get mad with love.

It's a nice sentiment, Sherwood, but
easier said than done.

Did you read this interview with Tina,
what she said?

Some of it.

I'd heard what a series is like, but I
really didn't know how it would be. I

found that I couldn't use my work at all
in this show. It was quite a shock.

What exactly do you mean? Acting is
acting, isn't it?

Television is different.

In this medium, you perform.

Everyone performs.

There's no such thing as a real moment,
an honest reaction.

Because the show is like a cartoon.

You're being a little hard on your hit
series, aren't you?

All I can say is it's not acting.

Not the way I studied it anyway.

I wouldn't watch it if I wasn't on it.

Lucky for us, a lot of people were
watching.

And still are.

Where did all the wardrobe come from? I
mean, it was only a three -hour tour.

What sort of question is that?

Why, the Howells pack a dozen bags for
an afternoon picnic at Newport.

We like to be prepared for any
eventuality. Don't we, darling?

Oh, yeah.

And movie stars, well, it's not who you
are.

It's how you dress. Oh, I never go
anywhere without a couple of gowns. It's

the essentials, of course.

Oh, I won this trip. So I just had what
I brought with me from Kansas.

My short shorts, my gingham dress to
bake pies in, and a few other outfits.

How come the professor could bake
anything out of bamboo and coconuts, but

couldn't fix a hole in the boat?

I never thought of that.

Did you, Marianne?

What kind of professor are you, anyway?

If you were trapped on a deserted island
with Ginger and Marianne, would you

want to fix the boat?

Well, when you put it that way... Hey,
you know, the man has a point.

Oh, good answer, Professor.

Oh, Professor.

Speaking of answers...

I found that Gilligan's Island Trivia is
a big thing wherever I go.

The professor's real name, for example.

Um, Professor Throtmorton.

Professor Russell, no, that's his real
name, isn't it? Russell Johnson.

Sean.

Steve. Walter.

Smiley Burnett.

It was Roy Hinkley.

And the skipper was... Skipper how?

Roy? I don't... Roy!

What? Oh, Roy.

Aaron. Um, not a clue. Skipper.

Adam Bruce.

Don't know.

Jonas Grumby?

But who knows what Gilligan's first name
was?

Gilligan? Gilligan.

I have not the foggiest notion.

He was just Gilligan.

I don't remember him having a first
name.

Buddy. My little buddy.

I thought Gilligan was his first name.

His first name is Willie.

Sherwood's right. He said if it ever
came up, Gilligan's first name would be

Willie. Bob Denver thinks his first name
was Gilligan. I say it's Willie. And we

argue about that to this day.

Willie Gilligan?

Who knew?

Thank you. Alan was probably the most
excited about all the attention the

got. He loved this part so much that he
wore his cap everywhere.

Even long after the show was canceled.

There we go.

Hi.

What's your name? His wife Trinket says
that he even called her his little

buddy.

We were all thrilled to be recognized.

Well, most of us.

Excuse me. I'm really sorry

to interrupt, but aren't you Ginger?

No.

I'm Tina.

I mean from Gilligan's Island.

No, I'm from New York.

Oh, I'm so sorry. I thought you were
somebody else.

I'm not.

When my contract is up, I am out of
there, and I hope I never hear the name

Ginger again for as long as I live.

Now we can eat.

Myself, I was happy to be the professor.

Although the speeches were a mouthful
sometimes, with all that scientific

jargon.

What's this contraption, professor?

Some kind of modern art?

Oh, careful, Gildan. Don't touch that.
It's very delicately tuned.

Tuned? Well, is it some kind of
instrument, then?

No way. It's a weather machine. It's a
device to warn us if another monsoon is

approaching.

Well, so we won't be caught unprepared.

Excellent. Right.

Last time, Skipper made me sleep outside
for snoring, and I almost drowned.

Professor, how does it work?

Well, it's quite simple, actually. You
see, these palm leaves are stretched to

sense minute changes in barometric
pressure, and these shells rotate in

to the smallest deviation in wind fields
and convection currents.

It's just everyday meteorological
principles.

Brilliant!

So, if it rains, we'll know.

Gilligan, look what you've done. How are
we going to know now if it rains?

Maybe when we're getting wet?

The speeches weren't hard to memorize.

The real trick was looking it all up in
the encyclopedia so I knew what the heck

I was saying.

Jim Backus had his odd run -ins as well.

He told us all about a time in Rome when
he and his wife Henny were staying at a

fancy hotel.

Well, there you go.

One for you. My boy!

Grazie.

Hello?

Ciao, ben americano.

Oh,

do you want an autograph?

No, it's not what I want. It's what you
want, senor Al.

Oh, you're...

Italian. Yes.

Well, no, thank you, but I'm not in the
market.

One hundred American dollars, and all of
this could be yours.

Well, you see, I only have five dollars.

Cinque. Cinque?

For all of this? Oh, no, no, no, no, an
insult.

Oh, five dollars.

Yeah,

well, I was...

Hoping you'd think so.

Well, I guess you've done it again.

To

you, my

love. Thank you, darling.

So where are we going tomorrow?

We're going to go throw some coins into
the fountain of Trevi.

You see what you get for five dollars.

Who was that?

Jim.

What is so funny?

But the award for the oddest fan
experience goes to Dawn Wells.

I was once visiting the Solomon Islands.

They were miles from anywhere.

Heading for an island with no running
water or electricity.

No modern civilization as we know it.

I was the first non -native woman
allowed to set foot on the island of

There we were met by the family of the
chief.

Very pleasant to this stranger.

But then his wife came out to see what
was going on.

As it turned out, she was studying
nursing on the island of Honiara and

come home after school and watch me.

There really is no escaping it, is
there?

As for Bob Denver, well, he enjoyed the
attention to a point.

Bob has always been basically a shy
person. And when the cameras weren't

rolling, well, he could be very quiet
and very introspective.

Hey, Don.

Kind of early for you, isn't it? You
know me. Always first call in the makeup

room. It's a good thing I'm a morning
person.

What are you doing here at this hour?

You look tired.

My kids and I built a spider farm last
night. Couldn't go to bed until we named

all the spiders.

How are they? The kids, not the spiders.

They're great. I love them so much. We
have the best time.

And how's Maggie?

She's fine.

I think.

You think?

We divorced last week. Oh, I'm so sorry.

I'm so surprised.

Things weren't going so well, but it'll
be okay.

You never said a word.

I didn't want to bring it to work with
me.

You men.

What men?

You, Alan.

He broke his wrist falling from that
palm tree and didn't tell any of us.

see a doctor for three weeks because he
didn't want to hold up production.

I don't see your point.

I didn't think you would.

My point is, I love you guys.

I just want you to be happy.

I wasn't.

Now maybe I can be.

Well, get some rest.

We can talk later, if you want.

We all have things we kept to ourselves.

In fact...

As close as we were, there was something
I didn't find out about Natalie

Schaefer until years later.

She had plans to go to dinner with a
friend and his sister one night.

You two go on. I'm really not up for
going out.

Oh, but it'll be fun, dear. All the
right people will be there.

Oh, come anyway.

Slip into something festive and join us.
I don't think so.

You go on.

She's having an operation tomorrow, and
she doesn't know if she can go through

with it.

What sort of operation?

A mastectomy.

She has no idea what to expect. I guess
we're both a little on edge.

Would you mind if I try talking to her?

I don't know what you might say to her,
but... Maybe I can think of something.

Your brother just told me.

I'm so sorry.

I appreciate that, Natalie.

I do.

I just wish I didn't feel so all alone
in this.

You're not, you know.

And you must.

Have this operation.

It could save your life.

But what kind of life can I have after
it?

How can I look in the mirror? You can
have whatever life you want to make of

Think of all the other women who've gone
through such a thing.

And the surgery has advanced so much in
the last few years.

Back in my day in the Dark Ages,

Used to be so radical a thing.

They cut so deep.

There were women so scarred that they
could never feel comfortable

again. And they pulled deep inside
themselves, dark living,

for fear that another man might
discover.

the truth about them but they survived
and they went

on and if they could get through that
why

you have nothing to fear i know what
you're trying to

do natalie but what could you know about
something like this

She saved my life that night.

Hey,

listen up, folks. Listen up.

I just want to say that it's been a
terrific three seasons.

But wait till you see the scripts I got
lined up for you next year.

They have a great hiatus, everybody.

Hey, anyone want to grab a pizza before
we run off?

I'd love to, Ellen, but I have plans.

Oh, me too. Skipper, let's do it when we
start up again, and it'll be my treat.

That'll be the day. You still owe me a
whole year's worth of lunches that I

picked up for you.

Lovely. When we get back, then.

Oh, have a good break.

Sorry, Mom. Have a good time. You have a
good vacation.

I've always loved her work, and I've
never kept it.

Let me take you away for a while.

Oh, it doesn't look great.

Dawn, it sure would.

I just got off the phone with the
network.

They've changed their mind about a
fourth season.

It's been canceled? But they promised.

Well, they took it back.

Does Bob know?

I'm calling everyone.

I have to talk to him.

All right.

Hello?

Bob, it's Don.

You heard?

I can't believe it.

We've won every time slot they put us
in. We even beat the monkeys.

And they dropped us so they could put
gun smoke back on the air.

Something about the head of the network.

His wife's favorite show.

Can I call you back? I need to see if
Alan's okay.

Sure.

Hello.

Alan, it's Bob.

You okay?

Oh, they can't do this to us, can they?

Whether they can or not, it looks like
they did.

You didn't even get a chance to say
goodbye.

I know.

I know.

Shows get canceled.

These things happen.

When our boss wants gun smoke, we want
gun smoke.

But even cancellation wasn't the end of
Gilligan's Island.

We had no idea the phenomenon Gilligan's
Island would become.

We all signed contracts that paid us for
a few reruns, but then nothing.

After the cancellation, we all tried to
find work.

But many of us were so typecast, well,
jobs were just hard to find. Some of us

went to extremes to recreate ourselves.

I played a sadistic killer lesbian in a
stage piece.

Not many laughed.

But actually, it was thrilling.

Come and get it.

Coconut cream pie.

Oh, coconut pie.

Haven't had this since we left the
island.

How about some pie for you, buddy? Oh,
if you promise not to tell my darling

wife. You know, the diet.

Diet.

Why don't you tell the folks about the
series you got right after ours?

Ah, the good guys.

It came and it went. And so did I. Right
out of Los Angeles.

After doing 11 years of the series, I
felt I had to get away and get some

perspective.

But we all went through changes.

I remarried, and Alan opened a seafood
restaurant in Hollywood.

I lost my dad and got a divorce the same
year the series was canceled.

Must have been quite frustrating for
Tina.

After all, the dramatic roles she'd had
earlier in her career weren't as easy to

get. And she often said that killing an
island had hurt her career.

What we hadn't known, and didn't know at
the time, was one of our friends was

facing the battle of his life.

Ha! Late again.

And you watch.

He'll have forgotten his wallet, and
I'll have to pay again.

Just like old times.

Yes.

Oh, you're there.

Jim, honey, over here.

Honey, are you all right?

Are you okay?

I think I just fell down. Honey, put
down the chair. Okay.

Okay, I got it.

Are you all right?

I'm fine. I'll be fine.

Just asking him to stop.

Spin in the room for a moment, huh?

Huh?

Yeah, yeah, okay.

He fell out of the car this morning.

He left it off, but something's not
right, Natalie.

I'm fine, honey.

I'm fine.

Jim was in the early stages of
Parkinson's disease.

He used to tell me not to worry. You
don't die from it, you die with it, he'd

say. His condition worried all of us.

Eat your pie, Bobby.

Meanwhile, the fans who would watch the
show were very confused.

You ever watch the show Gilligan's
Island when you were a kid?

Sure. Who didn't?

It just sort of, like, ended.

Didn't it? I mean, what do you think
ever happened to those guys?

Guess they're still out there somewhere.

Stranded.

It doesn't seem right somehow.

Yeah.

They had a point.

So Sherwood came up with a television
movie.

Ten years after our last episode, we
shot Rescue from Gilligan's Island.

We finally had the chance to tie up our
characters' stories, put a nice little

bow on the series, and say a proper
goodbye to one another.

My only disappointment was that Tina
didn't join us.

She finally decided to separate herself
from the series once and for all.

So they had to recast Ginger.

The movie was so successful that we did
two more. Gilligan, the radio doesn't

work. It doesn't work.

Gilligan, get the radio.

Jim was only well enough to do a cameo
in the last one.

But his wife, Henny, thought the role
would lift his spirit.

Gilligan, give me the radio.

Gilligan, give me the radio.

I stood with Henny as Jim gave his last
reading as Thurston Howell III.

Well, that's what they do in Peru.

Well, what then?

That's it, then.

I'm done.

Oh, Jim, no. You know you'll never be
done. You know that.

Here, you take care of this guy. Oh,
thank you.

You were wonderful.

But was I funny?

We all knew it would be the last time
we'd work with him.

And it was.

We lost three of our dear friends from
the island, all in the space of two

years. When Natalie died, they listed
her age as 91.

That meant she had to be in her 80s when
we were splashing around in the lagoon.

After she kept her age a secret for so
long, I can't imagine how she let the

word get out.

and I don't plan on going any time soon,
mind you.

I want to make sure that they put my
real age in my obituary.

You're joking. Why in the world?

Because I want to imagine all my friends
opening the paper, reading it and

saying, she was how old?

Cheers, darling.

We also lost the skipper and his final
request was quite appropriate.

to be buried at sea.

Don went to represent all of us.

As we commit our brother's ashes and his
soul to the sea, which he

loved so much.

It was meant to be a small private
service, just family and a few close

But the reporter didn't let that happen.

I'd like to think that as much as Alan
enjoyed playing the skipper, and as much

as he enjoyed the recognition, he really
would have loved sharing the final

moment with his fans.

So we won't be making another Gilligan's
movie. Not with the original cast,

anyway. But that's fine.

We had a wonderful time. But now I share
my memories with my family and the love

of my life, my wife, Dreama.

I live on an island near Seattle with my
dear wife, Constance. I have a daughter

named Kimberly.

And my son, David, was appointed the
first aid coordinator for the city of

Angeles before he died of the same
disease he devoted so much of his time

fighting.

David was an extraordinary man. I miss
him.

I miss him.

And Tina has done several movies since
leaving the island and is also working

promote literacy in grade schools.

She volunteers as a reading tutor in New
York City.

Acting is my first love, and I've never
been out of work since the series went

off the air, plus producing, writing,
and teaching at my film actress boot

But, well, the most important thing is
the series gave us lifelong friendships.

And while none of us got reach off of
it, we certainly are rich with memories.

Any time, Professor.

I didn't know you invented that.

Neither did I.

In many ways, we're all still there, on
the island, lost

in the Pacific, waiting to be rescued.

But we're having fun in the meantime.

I'm good.

And...