'Gilligan's' star teams up with 'Pastor Greg'

[gilligan fanatic]

Posted: August 25, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern



© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

Hey, baby boomers! Former "Gilligan's Island" star Dawn Wells, who played the pert, cutoffs-wearing Mary Ann, is joining the cast of "Pastor Greg," and she plays his mom.

Dawn Wells and Pastor Greg
"One of the scripts called for a spoof on 'Gilligan's Island,'" Cornerstone spokeswoman Alyson Hayes told WorldNetDaily in an e-mail response to questions. "For 10 years, (Greg) Robbins has wanted Ms. Wells to play his mother on the show. This script was the perfect opportunity to take a chance and see if she would do it."
Robbins said Wells was "intrigued" by the concept of a Christian sit-com as well as the "Pastor Greg" characters and her own role. She's even talked about coming back for the show's third season, and is working with Robbins on future story lines, Hayes said.
Wells is remembered by a generation of baby boomers as Mary Ann, the farm-fresh counterpoint to the glamorous Ginger on the prime-time hit "Gilligan's Island," starring Bob Denver.
She was with the show during its entire 1964-1967 run.
But now she's adding her talents to the "Pastor Greg" show which debuted last year to raves and now is launching its second season on several Christian networks as well as 100 network affiliates nationwide.
"It takes a lot of vision, creativity, and teamwork – as well as a whacky sense of humor – to make a hit TV sit-com," Wells said in a statement released by Cornerstone. "I think we may have another comedy classic in the making."

The first season of the half-hour comedy introduced Greg Wilson, a former gambler and drinker who comes to Christian faith and decides to pastor a small town church.

Casual dress and unconventional ideas don't exactly mesh with the tradition of the staid community, he finds.

"Pastor Greg unwittingly stirs things up before winning over the church's feisty congregation. In the process he helps his congregant clan discover some important truths about love, forgiveness, faith and God's family," the production company said.
Show creator Greg Robbins, who plays Pastor Greg, said there are some complications in the coming season.

"Pastor Greg reconnects with an old girlfriend, leads her to faith, and they end up getting married. There's also a brand new, up-beat church for the pair to pastor, with a whole set of zany, off-the-wall, and unforgettable congregational characters," Robbins said. "Hey, it's just like a real church."
Wells, he said "brings veteran comic timing and a perfect understanding of how to pull the most out of a role."

But don't expect Bible-thumping, he said, "unless we're poking good-natured fun at some of the folks we've actually known at the church."
"We are so excited to be including this program in our lineup," said Vicki Coleman, program director for KSBN-SafeTV. "I know 'Pastor Greg' will be a blessing to our viewers."

In addition to airing on Cornerstone TeleVision Network, Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), Sky Angel direct-to-home satellite system and other religious stations, "Pastor Greg" also is seen in some markets on NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, WB and UPN affiliates via America One. Season One episodes also are available on DVD through Family Christian Bookstores, Double-day Publishing, Publisher's Clearinghouse and others, including Cornerstone's website.

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