The mysteries of Gilligan’s Island - This is what I wonder about

[Matthew216]

Ok, been thinking about this off and on today. What did being on that island do to the lives of those castaways?
How big a Star was Ginger? Did being on that island so long affect her career? Did she parlay her experience on the island to a massively successful career in make-up and hairstyling?

What about the Howell’s? Was their fortune affected by all that time thought lost? Was it inherited by a child when their parents were though dead? Or was it all in stocks? How did his apparent death affect that?

The Professor? The man made science and engineering history on that island. What did he do after there rescue? I hope that he explained this to the science community at large. The Green crowd would LOVE him.

These are the things I wonder about.

 

[DDBCAE CBAADCBE]

Gilligan kills them all in the lost final episode.

 

[Zemporer]

You've got three opportunities to see post-island life

Gilligan's Island Film sequels

 

[NOT Sword Fighter Super]

You've got three opportunities to see post-island life

Gilligan's Island Film sequels

Three TV movie sequels were made—the first independently, the other two by MCA/Universal Television.

In a 1978 made-for-television movie, Rescue from Gilligan's Island, the castaways successfully leave the island but have difficulty reintegrating into society. During a reunion cruise on the first Christmas after their rescue, fate intervenes and they find themselves wrecked on the same island at the end of the film. It starred the original cast, except for Tina Louise, who refused to participate because of her disputes with the producers and who was replaced by Judith Baldwin. The plot involved Soviet agents seeking a memory disc from a spy satellite that landed on the island and facilitated their rescue.

In a 1979 sequel, The Castaways on Gilligan's Island, they are rescued once again, and the Howells convert the island into a getaway resort with the other five castaways as "silent partners". Ginger was again played by Judith Baldwin.

In a second sequel, The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981), villains played by Martin Landau and then-wife Barbara Bain try to take over the island to gain access to a vein of "supremium", a valuable but volatile fictional element. This time, Ginger was played by Constance Forslund. They are thwarted by the timely intervention of the Harlem Globetrotters. Jim Backus, who was in poor health at the time, was written out of the script by saying Thurston Howell III was tending to Howell Industries back on the mainland. David Ruprecht played the role of his son, Thurston Howell IV, who was asked to manage the resort. However, Backus insisted on keeping continuity, and made a cameo appearance at the end of the film.

You've got three opportunities to see post-island life

Gilligan's Island Film sequels

Three TV movie sequels were made—the first independently, the other two by MCA/Universal Television.

In a 1978 made-for-television movie, Rescue from Gilligan's Island, the castaways successfully leave the island but have difficulty reintegrating into society. During a reunion cruise on the first Christmas after their rescue, fate intervenes and they find themselves wrecked on the same island at the end of the film. It starred the original cast, except for Tina Louise, who refused to participate because of her disputes with the producers and who was replaced by Judith Baldwin. The plot involved Soviet agents seeking a memory disc from a spy satellite that landed on the island and facilitated their rescue.

In a 1979 sequel, The Castaways on Gilligan's Island, they are rescued once again, and the Howells convert the island into a getaway resort with the other five castaways as "silent partners". Ginger was again played by Judith Baldwin.

In a second sequel, The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981), villains played by Martin Landau and then-wife Barbara Bain try to take over the island to gain access to a vein of "supremium", a valuable but volatile fictional element. This time, Ginger was played by Constance Forslund. They are thwarted by the timely intervention of the Harlem Globetrotters. Jim Backus, who was in poor health at the time, was written out of the script by saying Thurston Howell III was tending to Howell Industries back on the mainland. David Ruprecht played the role of his son, Thurston Howell IV, who was asked to manage the resort. However, Backus insisted on keeping continuity, and made a cameo appearance at the end of the film.

They are thwarted by the timely intervention of the Harlem Globetrotters.

 

[From The Uncanny Valley]

They've been dead all along.

 

[Matthew216]

They've been dead all along.

No that’s Lost.

 

[Constellationzero]

Memba this fucking abortion?

How does a clapboard spaceship simultaneously have NO windows and windows?

 

[From The Uncanny Valley]

No that’s Lost.

Same show.

 

[Fagnacious D]

Couldn't figure it out
She wouldn't even look at me
Then I saw her eyes, she was hypnotised
Cold glued to her TV

"Hey, what's your problem baby doll
Let's have a little fling"
She said, "Hey you fool, now just be cool
I'm watchin' that Gilligan's Isle thing"

 

[Travoltron]

Memba this fucking abortion?

How does a clapboard spaceship simultaneously have NO windows and windows?

I actually saw this show first as a young'n. Didn't know there was a sitcom until years later.

 

[Kari Kamiya]

All I'll say is you should be fucking thankful you never had to watch Rescue from Gillian's Island. That shit's scarring.

You've got three opportunities to see post-island life

Gilligan's Island Film sequels

Also you motherfucker, I wouldn't wish those on even my worst enemies.

 

[Thiletonomics]

I remembered that there was a Reality TV Show that was based on Gilligan's Island, it was called The Real Gilligan's Island, and featured people playing the roles of the cast, IIRC, i.e. a millionaire couple as Mr. and Mrs. Howell, competing for a cash prize ala Survivor. And it sucked, I think.

 

[sasazuka]

Something's wrong with Gilligan's Island, Something's wrong with Gilligan's Island.

Spoiler: There's something wrong with Gilligan's Island. The Skipper seems more sedate than usual.

 

[UnKillShredDur]

 

[Stardust]

The three films were already mentioned, so I'll share these two little tidbits. Things pop culture is misinformed about.

Gilligan is often cited as the reason the castaways never get off the island. If you count the first film as canon, this is not true as it is told, unless Giligan started that fire on the hut-house boat they would have drifted aimlessly. But even in the series, his bumbling saved their lives a few times, and on one occasion (they all smuggled gold that sank their boat, except Gilligan) everybody else was to blame. This doesn't rectify the issue that the first mate screwed them more than saved them.

The Professor being a super genius but not patching a hole in the S.S. Minnow. It was more than a single hole, firstly. Secondly, the Professor did patch the boat but the adhesive wore off, causing the boat to break apart and sink. Hammer and nails alone weren't going to fix the boat. They tried, failed, and had no boat after that.

Bonus fact: The Skipper tolerated Gilligan because the latter saved his life in World War II. Why did everyone else? Well, that's debatable. Though it seems they enjoyed his easily manipulated nature, and guinea pig status, during island shenanigans in various episodes.

My sources? Growing up with Nick At Nite reruns.


Edit: Fixed some typos.

 

[Some JERK]

The real question is how the skipper stayed fat eating a diet of fish and coconuts for years.

 

[Pokemonquistador2]

Gilligan's Island was basically Vaudeville for kids in the 60's/70's. The Skipper and Gilligan were even based on Laurel and Hardy. I'm not sure if there's any modern equivalent to this kind of comedy today, apart from cartoons.

 

[Dysnomia]

I don't think the Howells have kids. It's never mentioned. I would think if they had any they would talk about them. Thurston is essentially a rich manchild. Lovey does everything for him. He has a scheduled routine like a toddler and sleeps with a teddy. Lovey probably never had time to have a baby. She was too busy being her husband's nanny.

Also, I didn't know that her real name was Eunice. I figured she just had some frou frou rich people name like Muffy or Buffy or something.

Speaking of Mrs. Howell, Natalie Schafer did a lot of early television, starring in teleplays as early as 1949. I would love to see some of that stuff if it still exists.

It's implied that Ginger starred with some big names like Cary Grant. She is supposed to be an analog of Marilyn Monroe. So I would say that she is meant to be a big Hollywood star. If Gilligan's Island took place now I guarantee she would be a big focus of Youtube conspiracy videos and endless TV mentions.

Mary Ann was a farm girl. She is supposed to be the wholesome all American girl. I remember there was an episode that revealed she was involved in some sort of love triangle. It might have had notes of Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte in that it was suspected she killed someone but she didn't. They recreate the scene of the crime and reveal Mary Ann is innocent.

Gilligan's bumbling ruins a lot of rescue attempts. But he doesn't mean any harm. He's supposed to be the lovable goof. I used to say the easiest way to get off the Island would be to kill Gilligan. But he has actually been helpful in some cases.

Now one thing I always wondered was what kind of criminal charges would the various visitors to the island receive for not at least reporting that missing castaways were live there. Considering that they could become responsible for up to seven deaths it's pretty shocking that no one ever alerted authorities. Several in-universe celebrities and notables visited the island. Imagine the scandal if it were to be revealed they didn't help.

Honestly, they seem pretty comfortable on the island. I would probably want to stay.

 

[Travoltron]

I don't think the Howells have kids.

Thurston Howell IV appeared in the final TV movie.

 

[Kari Kamiya]

Honestly, they seem pretty comfortable on the island. I would probably want to stay.

That was the entire point of Rescue from Gilligan's Island. The castaways were much happier living together on the island and their neighboring island natives despite all that whining about missing home.

Anyhoo, the ship war to start all ship wars that it ended up in the TMNT movie: Who does Gillian end up shacking up with, Ginger or Mary Ann?

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