Behind the Scenes of Gilligan’s Island
Gilligan’s Island was one of the most popular shows of the 1960s, albeit a tad short-lived at that. So, what exactly happened behind the scenes of America’s favorite castaway story? We take a look at some of the most interesting details from the set of – and beyond – Gilligan’s Island!
Cancellation
Despite its popularity, Gilligan’s Island was sacrificed in large part due to CBS chief executive William S. Paley’s efforts to save Gunsmoke from cancellation. His wife, you see, was a huge fan of Gunsmoke. To get around the ratings problem, Paley wanted to move it into a new timeslot, but there was no room, so that meant Gilligan’s Island and a series called Doc got the axe.
Real Coconut Grove
The opening scene, where the SS Minnow sets sail, was filmed in the lagoon at the CBS Radford Studios, not on the ocean. The lagoon was later named the “Gilligan’s Island Lagoon.” It was only about 4 feet deep.
Post-Cancellation Success
After its cancellation, Gilligan’s Island gained a significant cult following through reruns and became more popular than during its original run. The show’s success in syndication led to TV movies and various reunion specials. Episodes can be viewed on platforms like Prime Video and Tubi.
Failed Spin-Off Attempts
There was an attempt to create a spin-off called The New Adventures of Gilligan but it could not achieve the same success. The Saturday morning cartoon series had the same basic plot as Gilligan’s Island. It lasted two seasons for a total of 24 episodes. In the ‘80s, it had a sequel series that depicted the shipwrecked crew in SPACE!
Cast Secret
Natalie Schafer lied about her age to get the role of Lovey Howell, claiming to be nearly 10 years younger than she actually was. And she kept up with that lie through most of her life, even hiding the fact she was engaged and later married.
The Professor's Invention Skills
The character of the Professor was known for his ability to invent various items with limited resources. In reality, Russell Johnson, who played the Professor, had no scientific background. Of course, he was only a high school science teacher, so it wasn’t too far-fetched.
Ginger's Wardrobe
If you pay attention, you may have noticed that Tina Louise, who played Ginger, never wears the same outfit twice. It was rumored that she had a clause in her contract that stated she would not wear the same outfit twice, which allegedly contributed to the show’s costume budget challenges. So, essentially, she was playing herself?
Originally in Black and White
The show’s first season was filmed in black and white, not only to save money but also because color TV was not yet mainstream. However, they had started shooting in color by the time the second and third seasons came along. The first season was later colorized – the version mostly watched to this day in reruns.
Real Coconut Props
During the first season, the coconuts used as props on the show were real, not fake. However, the sound of the coconuts knocking together was added in post-production. However, the producers found that the coconuts were far too porous to be used as cups, so they were eventually replaced with ceramic versions.
Impromptu Changes
The show’s creator, Sherwood Schwartz, often allowed the cast to improvise and make changes to the script if it improved the comedic timing. Sherwood Schwartz himself made some last-minute changes. In fact, a character called “Bunny” was initially featured in the pilot episode until she was swapped with Mary Ann.
Bob Denver Wasn't the First Choice
Before settling on Bob Denver for the role of Gilligan, the producers considered the brother of another famous TV star who had wanted to be just as famous. However, he turned down the role since he didn’t like the idea of being part of an ensemble cast. On top of that, he wasn’t too fond of the writing, calling it “the worst thing [he] ever read.”
Theme Song Changes
The show’s theme song underwent some changes during its run. The first season featured a different version of the song with slightly altered lyrics. The first version of the song was used in the first season only and performed by a band called The Wellingtons. It referred to the Professor and Mary Ann as “all the rest.” The second version, performed by The Eligibles, included their names.
The Skipper's Real Name
Similar to Gilligan, the castaways never refer to the Skipper’s full name. He is always referred to simply as “Skipper.” However, true fans will know that the Skipper did have a real, full name that is mentioned once during the series in a radio broadcast. The name was “Jonas Grumby.”
Gilligan's Full Name
The character of Gilligan is never referred to by his full name in the show. Nor did the show’s creators have one picked out for him as they did for the others. This was a deliberate decision by the creators to enhance the character’s everyman quality. Most of the cast agreed that Gilligan never needed a full name.
Ginger vs. Mary Ann Debate
