I think I mentioned this years before, but in case I didn't, here it is again. In the teaser for the Get Smart episode "Apes of Wrath," Max is meeting an agent who is hiding out in a trunk on a dock. Hanging on the wall above the trunk is a life preserver; and although it appears to be either faded or painted over, you can make out "S.S. Minnow" on it.

Of course this is not the only reference to GI that appeared on GS. The episode "Schwartz's Island" mainly took place on the outdoor Island set of GI, hence the name of the island.

Just thought I'd mention it.

I read about that while Get Smart was still on TV Land. I wanted to see "Schwartz's Island" but it left the network before I got a chance to see it.

For its first 4 seasons, Get Smart was an NBC show. For it's 5th season, though, it moved to CBS, the home network of GI. By this time, GI had been cancelled 2 years and Sherwood Schwartz was making The Brady Bunch for ABC. The Minnow life preserver was undoubtedly found in the CBS Prop Dept. and, considering how much the network had looked down on GI, they probably painted it over without a second thought. (or a second coat) ;)

Here's another GI/GS connection: there were at least 5 (!) actors who guest-starred on both shows...

Harold J. Stone
Vincent Beck
Larry Storch
Don Rickles
Vito Scotti

There may be more actors who were on both shows, but I'm not sure...

Plus, let's not forget GI ep. 79, "The Invasion", which seemed to clearly have "odes" to GS, such as the "Sorry about that..." dialog from Gilligan.

Just seen "The Apes of Rath" and was really surprised at how obvious the life preserver is shown. It's almost a tribute.

Just seen "The Apes of Rath" and was really surprised at how obvious the life preserver is shown. It's almost a tribute.

I love stuff like that.

And the CBS shows were filmed at "CBS Studio Center" (same logo as on "GI" and fellow Bob Denver sitcom "The Good Guys", as well as "The Mothers-in-Law" & "Gunsmoke")