I just started watching G I first season yesterday and learned that:

Sherwood Schwartz had in mind Jerry Van Dyke for the role of Gilligan, but his agent advised him to pass, instead he starred in My Mother the Car.

Carroll O'Conner tried out for the Skipper
Dabney Coleman tried out for the Professor
Raquel Welch tried out for Maryann

Jim Baccus was the first to be casted as Mr. Howell, who Schwartz had in mind for the role.

and Natalie Schaefer never thought the pilot would sell she just wanted a free trip to Hawaii.

I read somewhere that Jerry Van Dyke chose "My Mother the Car" over "Gilligans Island" because he thought it was more realistic and therefore would get better ratings and last longer! Turns out he was wrong on all three counts!! And Raquel Welch would have been better off auditioning for Ginger instead of MaryAnne!

I would never want anyone but Dawn Wells for Maryanne! :eek:

Now Ginger, as she was a movie star, might have been a possibility for Raquel Welch, but Tina Louis took the role and the rest was history. :cool:

I would never want anyone but Dawn Wells for Maryanne! :eek:

Now Ginger, as she was a movie star, might have been a possibility for Raquel Welch, but Tina Louis took the role and the rest was history. :cool:
I agree with you, Dawn Wells is Maryanne! And Tina Louise made the role of Ginger Grant her own.