Gilligan's Island - the almost 4th season

I make no apologies for being a fan of Gilligan's Island. For me it's classic comedy infused with elements of fantasy and science-fiction played by just the right cast. Critics may have called it inane but to that I respond, "If you're so smart, how come you're a television critic?" Gilligan's Island ran for three seasons on CBS from 1964 to 1967. It quickly became an audience favorite finishing 18th and 22nd in the Nielsens during its first two seasons. Ratings for Gilligan's Island dipped slightly during its third year likely due to schedule changes but still won its time slot. Based on this success the show was picked up for a 4th season.

Production began on scripts and castings were made in anticipation for another year of Gilligan. TV Guide announced that the new season would begin with a one-hour special. Some stars of the show bought homes on the promise of the show's renewal. And then tragically at the very last minute Gilligan's Island was cancelled. CBS brass decided to take away their time slot and replace it with Gunsmoke to save it from its own threatened cancellation.

So what was planned for the fourth season of Gilligan's Island?

According to series creator Sherwood Schwartz, the first episode would have released Tina Louise from her contract who was extremely unhappy with the show. In an episode entitled either "Another Start Is Born" or "Bye Bye Birdy" Ginger would have swam too far out into the ocean but then saved and pulled aboard an old wooden lifeboat the Titanic Jr. Later the other castaways are listening to their radio when they hear Ginger being interviewed after her rescue. She says that the other passengers of the Minnow are alive and stranded on a desert island. Mary Ann asks, "I wonder why everyone can get to this island, but in all these years only one of us could get rescued?"

Other episodes proposed for the 4th season...

"An Eye For An Eye" Ginger is replaced by Miss Krissy and Miss Sally.

"Proportional Potions" Gilligan finds a drink which makes him miniaturized.

"No Bill For This Tab" Guest star portrayed by Tab Hunter appears.

"Ahoy Matey" Modern day pirate 'Silver Long-Johns' comes to the island played by Vito Scotti who was also the Japanese sailor and Dr. Boris Balinkoff earlier in the series.

"Eye Detect You" Gilligan thinks he's Dick Tracy and ruins rescue.

"Who's The Dodo?" Professor tracks what he thinks is the rare Dodo bird while Gilligan finds a lamp which when rubbed brings forth a genie.

"My Favorite Alien" A silly alien lands on the island.

"I Hear You" A singer (Bobby Vinton?) guest stars as Mary Ann's, Miss Sally's, and Miss Krissy's favorite singer.

"Laugh Until It Hurts" Comedian Paul Lynde guest stars to 'test' jokes on the castaways. (I think this one could have been the greatest Gilligan's Island episode of them all.)

Shonen Knife - the nicest band in the world

Shonen Knife, the legendary Japanese pop-punk band, will be starting a North American tour this October. If you're a fan I don't have to tell you to go see them. Even if you're not a fan you should still go as I promise they'll win you over. I saw Shonen Knife in Dallas back in 2005. It was undeniably the most fun show I've ever experienced. They played an energetic 90-minute set of all their most loved songs and even threw green beads to the audience (it was St.Patrick's Day). It was clear the band loved what they were doing and the crowd loved them right back. After the show they stayed behind to greet all their fans. I had my picture taken with the group and they also autographed a tour poster all for no charge. Without a doubt they were the most gracious, down to earth band I'd ever met in my life.

Like groovyville. or something...

Some people are fans of the "punk rock episodes" of early 80's TV shows such as Quincy and CHiPs. Authority figures taking on young, green-haired ne'er-do-wells and somehow teaching them a valuable life lesson by episode's end. Yes, they're camp classics but hardly an original idea. If you really want to see the beginnings of the post-war generation gap in terms of media stereotypes check out television's "beatnik episodes" of the early 60's!

The Beverly Hillbillies had two episodes featuring a coffee house clan led by beatnik extraordinaire Sheldon Epps.



Petticoat Junction had perhaps the most clean-cut beatnik ever on TV. No goatee, no sunglasses, no bongos. In fact, he may have just been a moody asshole.



Both The Munsters and The Addams Family had their own beatnik episodes. It's interesting to note that the beatniks and the Munsters seemed to accept each other while The Addams Family beatnik was at least initially considerably more freaked out.





And of course there's TV's original beatnik Maynard G. Krebs. Can you imagine Dobie Gillis without him? Neither can I.