Gilligan’s Island: Farewell Little Buddy

THE FOLLOWING IS AN UPDATED ENCORE TIM MOORE BLOG:

Of all the TV shows ever produced-and the thousands of “intros” or theme songs that launched an episode, isn’t it likely that “Gilligan’s Island” takes the prize as #1 most memorable, most quoted, most parodied-and most beloved?

I think so.

The “Mister Ed” opener is up there, but “Gilligan’s Island” has to be first.

The final episode of “Gilligan’s Island” aired this week in 1967- some 44 years ago—and yet it remains part of our collective culture, especially to those of us “north of 40”.

The show itself only ran for three seasons—it was probably difficult to come up with new and different story ideas with that original (and limiting) premise. After so many failed schemes to get off the island, where do you go? Despite its relatively short “first-run” life, it was, however, a HUGE hit in syndication, still airing today as a classic rerun.

If you’re like me, you have fond memories of laughter at the hapless Gilligan, played by Bob Denver, who, like it or not was defined by the role for the rest of his life. A star in the “Dobie Gillis” TV show earlier, he used the Gilligan role as a way to escape from THAT previous stereotype. Little did he know that he—and in fact all of the cast members—would have trouble landing other, more serious roles “post-Gilligan”.

Perhaps the show’s success lay in the character development of each of the players. We each saw a little of ourselves in all of the castaways.

Guys would be defined by their answer to the question: “Ginger or Mary Anne?” The excesses of wealth were personified by Thurston Howell and his wife—and we all wondered why, if the Professor was smart enough to build a radio out of a coconut, why couldn’t he build a boat to get off that damn island?

Here, for your viewing and listening pleasure, is the opener to the show-this, I believe is from the 3rd and final season--the link (embedding diabled) is the ORIGINAL show open. As you’ll notice, later versions included in song “the Professor and Mary Anne”, replacing “and all the rest” in the theme. Guess those two felt a bit left out at first!





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfR7qxtgCgY

The SS Minnow is gone (although still a popular name for registered boats the world over). Alan Hale, the Skipper, Bob Denver, Jim Backus (Thurston Howell) and Natalie Shafer (Mrs. Howell) are also gone—but through the magic of reruns, we still get to enjoy their comic genius! In addition to the never-ending reruns, the characters were resurrected in THREE made-for-TV movies.

Not bad for a sitcom that came and went on and OFF the air so relatively fast.

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