Interesting reference - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

caladon · 09-24-2005, 04:45 AM

Towards the end of "Ring Around Gilligan," Dr. Balinkoff (played to the hilt by the great Vito Scotti) is giving the castaways instructions and at one point is telling them to stop being sloppy and that they should be "neat, sweet, petite." I thought this was a funny reference to "The Addams Family" especially when you consider that TAF aired on rival network ABC and had been cancelled by the time this show was filmed. Of course as we all know, Vito Scotti made several appearences on that show as well. I wonder if it was intended as a good natured jab at a former competing show.

Bonsai · 09-24-2005, 12:35 PM

It was probably an ad lib----as you pointed out, Vito Scotti guest-starred on "The Addams Family" several times and he put a lot of bells and whistles on the Dr. Balinkoff character to make him "spooky, mysterious and ooky" and generally CRAZY!

09-24-2005, 04:45 AM	#1
caladon Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Location: Massachusetts state home for the bewildered Posts: 1,151	Interesting reference Towards the end of "Ring Around Gilligan," Dr. Balinkoff (played to the hilt by the great Vito Scotti) is giving the castaways instructions and at one point is telling them to stop being sloppy and that they should be "neat, sweet, petite." I thought this was a funny reference to "The Addams Family" especially when you consider that TAF aired on rival network ABC and had been cancelled by the time this show was filmed. Of course as we all know, Vito Scotti made several appearences on that show as well. I wonder if it was intended as a good natured jab at a former competing show.

09-24-2005, 12:35 PM	#2
Bonsai Gilligan Ambassador Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 12, 2005 Posts: 356	It was probably an ad lib----as you pointed out, Vito Scotti guest-starred on "The Addams Family" several times and he put a lot of bells and whistles on the Dr. Balinkoff character to make him "spooky, mysterious and ooky" and generally CRAZY!