Playing along, let’s say they were killing a few hours between checking out of their hotel and taking a taxi to the airport. But even if they couldn’t send their luggage ahead to their next destination, and somehow convinced the Skipper to let them bring it along, how the heck did the First Mate manage to stow it all on The Minnow? You’d almost think Sherwood Schwartz wasn’t even troubled by such improbabilities!
Not to mention all the luggage that Ginger and Mary Ann must have brought to make so many wardrobe changes. It was as if they had a different outfit every episode.
The pilot episode, titled “Marooned”, was filmed in November 1963. The pilot featured seven characters (as in the series), but only four of the characters—and their associated actors—were carried forward into the series: Gilligan (Denver), the Skipper (Hale), and the Howells (Backus and Schafer). Because of the three significant character and casting changes between the pilot episode and the first series episode, the pilot was not shown before the series first aired on 26 September 1964. The original pilot eventually aired over 29 years later on TBS. The three characters who did not carry forward from the pilot were two secretaries and a high school teacher. In the pilot, the scientifically inclined Professor was instead a high school teacher played by John Gabriel. Ginger the movie star was still red haired Ginger, but worked as a secretary, played by Kit Smythe. Mary Ann the Kansas farm girl was instead Bunny, Ginger’s co-worker, played as a cheerful “dumb blonde” by Nancy McCarthy. The pilot’s opening and ending songs were two similar Calypso-styled tracks written by John Williams and performed by Sherwood Schwartz impersonating singer Sir Lancelot. The lyrics of both were quite different from those of the TV series and the pilot’s opening theme song was longer. The short scenes during this initial music include Gilligan taking the Howells’ luggage to the boat before cast-off and Gilligan attempting to give a cup of coffee to the Skipper during the storm that would ultimately maroon the boat. After the opening theme song and credits end, the pilot proper begins with the seven castaways waking up on the beached SS Minnow and continues with them performing various tasks, including exploring the island, attempting to fix the transmitter, building huts, and finding food. Contrary to some descriptions, the pilot’s storylines contained no detailed accounts of the pilot characters’ backgrounds.
The question of which of these two characters men prefer has endured long after the end of the series. The question has inspired commercials, essays, videos, and a sermon. By most accounts, the wholesome, down-to-earth Mary Ann has consistently out-polled the glamorous bombshell movie-star Ginger by a sizable margin. Bob Denver admitted he was a Mary Ann fan. According to Bob Denver in a 2001 interview, Wells received 3,000–5,000 fan letters weekly, whereas Louise may have gotten 1,500 or 2,000
Why did the Howells, Ginger and Mary Ann bring so many outfits when the Skipper and Gilligan, who presumably LIVED on the Minnow, had to wear the same clothes for years?
Templo S.U.D. over 4 years ago
Good question, Li’l Buddy
Jefano Premium Member over 4 years ago
Playing along, let’s say they were killing a few hours between checking out of their hotel and taking a taxi to the airport. But even if they couldn’t send their luggage ahead to their next destination, and somehow convinced the Skipper to let them bring it along, how the heck did the First Mate manage to stow it all on The Minnow? You’d almost think Sherwood Schwartz wasn’t even troubled by such improbabilities!
jpayne4040 over 4 years ago
That’s the big question, Cagney! I wouldn’t get it either!
Brian G Premium Member over 4 years ago
Not to mention all the luggage that Ginger and Mary Ann must have brought to make so many wardrobe changes. It was as if they had a different outfit every episode.
Yakety Sax over 4 years ago
Some trivia about Gilligan’s Island.
The pilot episode, titled “Marooned”, was filmed in November 1963. The pilot featured seven characters (as in the series), but only four of the characters—and their associated actors—were carried forward into the series: Gilligan (Denver), the Skipper (Hale), and the Howells (Backus and Schafer). Because of the three significant character and casting changes between the pilot episode and the first series episode, the pilot was not shown before the series first aired on 26 September 1964. The original pilot eventually aired over 29 years later on TBS. The three characters who did not carry forward from the pilot were two secretaries and a high school teacher. In the pilot, the scientifically inclined Professor was instead a high school teacher played by John Gabriel. Ginger the movie star was still red haired Ginger, but worked as a secretary, played by Kit Smythe. Mary Ann the Kansas farm girl was instead Bunny, Ginger’s co-worker, played as a cheerful “dumb blonde” by Nancy McCarthy. The pilot’s opening and ending songs were two similar Calypso-styled tracks written by John Williams and performed by Sherwood Schwartz impersonating singer Sir Lancelot. The lyrics of both were quite different from those of the TV series and the pilot’s opening theme song was longer. The short scenes during this initial music include Gilligan taking the Howells’ luggage to the boat before cast-off and Gilligan attempting to give a cup of coffee to the Skipper during the storm that would ultimately maroon the boat. After the opening theme song and credits end, the pilot proper begins with the seven castaways waking up on the beached SS Minnow and continues with them performing various tasks, including exploring the island, attempting to fix the transmitter, building huts, and finding food. Contrary to some descriptions, the pilot’s storylines contained no detailed accounts of the pilot characters’ backgrounds.
Yakety Sax over 4 years ago
Ginger or Mary Ann?
The question of which of these two characters men prefer has endured long after the end of the series. The question has inspired commercials, essays, videos, and a sermon. By most accounts, the wholesome, down-to-earth Mary Ann has consistently out-polled the glamorous bombshell movie-star Ginger by a sizable margin. Bob Denver admitted he was a Mary Ann fan. According to Bob Denver in a 2001 interview, Wells received 3,000–5,000 fan letters weekly, whereas Louise may have gotten 1,500 or 2,000
Ed The Red Premium Member over 4 years ago
Why did the Howells, Ginger and Mary Ann bring so many outfits when the Skipper and Gilligan, who presumably LIVED on the Minnow, had to wear the same clothes for years?
Laurie Stoker Premium Member over 4 years ago
This is a question that will be pondered until the end of time.
Zykoic over 4 years ago
Cornerstone of American culture. That and Gunsmoke.
StoicLion1973 over 4 years ago
How did that radio work for so long?