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lm · 07-17-2009, 10:24 PM

Do you think it was a bit much to have Thirston (and then Lovey also) attempt suicide on the show?

I've asked this before but what is going on with the Gilligan/Ginger and Maryann/Professor association in this one? I can see Gilligan hanging out with Ginger and having some fun but then they also sit together and so do Maryann and the Professor, who also come forward together to join the group earlier. It looks as if they switched the pairings in this one (I don't believe in MAP). Any thoughts?

I thought Lovey was sewing in "The Matchmaker" and also made Thirston a sling in "A Nose...." She claims here she knows absolutely nothing about sewing? A glitch or could there be a rational explanation?

It's so hard to imagine Thirston stoking a furnace or Lovey being an actress back home.

What are Gilligan and Ginger doing after they catch the fish or whatever it is?
Isn't she still screaming? What's going on?

How did Lovey manage to sew all of those things together by accident anyway--even the curtains?

callensensei · 07-17-2009, 11:33 PM

Gilligan's Island is the only show I've ever seen that could make attempted suicide funny. I guess it's because we know darn well they're not going to succeed, and maybe that they're not really serious anyway.

I love that little scene between Gilligan and Ginger when they're fishing. It's so sweet to see this unlikely pair uninhibitedly enjoying one another's company so much. Ginger is shrieking with laughter as she tries to avoid the swinging fish. The scene is also given an interesting perspective because we see them from the point of view of Howell, who's sort of spying on them while they're totally unaware of it. It lends this charming moment just that much more innocence.

I can't believe that nobody suggested Howell and Lovey do what they do best: Howell could become a financial adviser and Lovey an event planner. But I guess it wouldn't have been funny if they had practised what they were already good at!

The dinner scene is great: it shows that Gilligan isn't the only clumsy one around! By the way, do you notice that in this episode, Gilligan doesn't make a single goof-up?

And I can't forget to mention one of my all-time favourite Gilligan/Skipper scenes: the "giving Mr. Howell the bad news" rehearsal. Skinny Mulligan and his three dollars kills me every time.

littlesoprano · 07-20-2009, 09:48 PM

Yes, it is a bit odd how many times suicide is brought up in the show, and how it can be used for comedy. The Howells consider it in this episode. In "Court Martial" Skipper and Gilligan rig up nooses, the girls save Skipper from jumping off a cliff, and both girls admit that they would kill themselves if they were in Skipper's position. It must be like callensensei said-- the audience knows they aren't going to succeed, so it works in context.

I also love the scene with Gilligan and Ginger. It's just so sweet, and so natural. I love the progression of the Gilligan/Ginger friendship. Even though she frequently scared the daylights out of him with her vamping, he was always willing to defend her and help her out ("I'll get you that bat-eater!"). Ginger went conning him/vamping him for money or information is S1 to risking her life to save him, arguably on more than one occasion.

About the switch-ups in pairings... I think there's a lot of that sort of thing in S2 and S3, whearas in S1 the romantic pairings were more clearly defined. That makes sense, as Sherwood Schwartz's plans in that regard were changed. The MAG is definitely harder to spot outside of S1, where it was clear they had awkward romantic feelings for each other. Ginger was obviously in pursuit of the Professor in S1, but she appears to have given up actively going after him by S2. Probably the writers were just wanting to mix things up in this episode, since different combinations of characters have their own unique chemistry and dynamic.

Yes, the job suggestions they had for the Howells were pretty ridiculous. Thurston doing manual labor? And Lovey... not only was she a bad actress... but we all know that acting is such a steady, dependable career!

I can relate to Lovey's situation with the sewing. One time in a show I was supposed to doing some needlepoint while arguing with another character. I can barely needlepoint anyway, and to do it without looking... well, suffice it to say that I sewed the entire embroidery hoop to my skirt. During a performance. On a thrust stage with audience members two feet away. Thankfully, only a few of them seemed to notice.

(That is not my worst "wardrobe malfunction", however. The only reason I mention that is because my worst one happened when I was playing Ginger.)

littlesoprano · 07-21-2009, 12:33 AM

Actually, about the pairings... I re-watched parts of the episode and noticed that this is one of the episodes where Professor and Ginger go off to search the caves. I have this odd theory that "searching the caves" is a direct parallel to Fred and Daphne "searching the attic/searching the basement" in "Scooby-Doo." Though I have to admit that this little exchange from the scene isn't exactly condusive to romance:

Ginger: Professor, I was just thinking.

Professor: Ginger, let's not waste time!

I'm sure he didn't mean for that to sound as insulting as it does!

mrs.gingerhinkley · 07-21-2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlesoprano

Ginger: Professor, I was just thinking.

Professor: Ginger, let's not waste time!

I'm sure he didn't mean for that to sound as insulting as it does!

I didn't even notice that before, but in print it looks very very funny.

07-17-2009, 10:24 PM	#1
lm Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 29, 2006 Location: New York Posts: 469	NOW FEATURING...AGONIZED LABOR Do you think it was a bit much to have Thirston (and then Lovey also) attempt suicide on the show? I've asked this before but what is going on with the Gilligan/Ginger and Maryann/Professor association in this one? I can see Gilligan hanging out with Ginger and having some fun but then they also sit together and so do Maryann and the Professor, who also come forward together to join the group earlier. It looks as if they switched the pairings in this one (I don't believe in MAP). Any thoughts? I thought Lovey was sewing in "The Matchmaker" and also made Thirston a sling in "A Nose...." She claims here she knows absolutely nothing about sewing? A glitch or could there be a rational explanation? It's so hard to imagine Thirston stoking a furnace or Lovey being an actress back home. What are Gilligan and Ginger doing after they catch the fish or whatever it is? Isn't she still screaming? What's going on? How did Lovey manage to sew all of those things together by accident anyway--even the curtains?

07-20-2009, 09:48 PM	#3
littlesoprano Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 06, 2009 Posts: 54	Yes, it is a bit odd how many times suicide is brought up in the show, and how it can be used for comedy. The Howells consider it in this episode. In "Court Martial" Skipper and Gilligan rig up nooses, the girls save Skipper from jumping off a cliff, and both girls admit that they would kill themselves if they were in Skipper's position. It must be like callensensei said-- the audience knows they aren't going to succeed, so it works in context. I also love the scene with Gilligan and Ginger. It's just so sweet, and so natural. I love the progression of the Gilligan/Ginger friendship. Even though she frequently scared the daylights out of him with her vamping, he was always willing to defend her and help her out ("I'll get you that bat-eater!"). Ginger went conning him/vamping him for money or information is S1 to risking her life to save him, arguably on more than one occasion. About the switch-ups in pairings... I think there's a lot of that sort of thing in S2 and S3, whearas in S1 the romantic pairings were more clearly defined. That makes sense, as Sherwood Schwartz's plans in that regard were changed. The MAG is definitely harder to spot outside of S1, where it was clear they had awkward romantic feelings for each other. Ginger was obviously in pursuit of the Professor in S1, but she appears to have given up actively going after him by S2. Probably the writers were just wanting to mix things up in this episode, since different combinations of characters have their own unique chemistry and dynamic. Yes, the job suggestions they had for the Howells were pretty ridiculous. Thurston doing manual labor? And Lovey... not only was she a bad actress... but we all know that acting is such a steady, dependable career! I can relate to Lovey's situation with the sewing. One time in a show I was supposed to doing some needlepoint while arguing with another character. I can barely needlepoint anyway, and to do it without looking... well, suffice it to say that I sewed the entire embroidery hoop to my skirt. During a performance. On a thrust stage with audience members two feet away. Thankfully, only a few of them seemed to notice. (That is not my worst "wardrobe malfunction", however. The only reason I mention that is because my worst one happened when I was playing Ginger.)
	__________________ "I frequently laugh myself to sleep contemplating my own future." - Charlotte, "A Little Night Music"

07-17-2009, 11:33 PM	#2
callensensei Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 31, 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 233	Gilligan's Island is the only show I've ever seen that could make attempted suicide funny. I guess it's because we know darn well they're not going to succeed, and maybe that they're not really serious anyway. I love that little scene between Gilligan and Ginger when they're fishing. It's so sweet to see this unlikely pair uninhibitedly enjoying one another's company so much. Ginger is shrieking with laughter as she tries to avoid the swinging fish. The scene is also given an interesting perspective because we see them from the point of view of Howell, who's sort of spying on them while they're totally unaware of it. It lends this charming moment just that much more innocence. I can't believe that nobody suggested Howell and Lovey do what they do best: Howell could become a financial adviser and Lovey an event planner. But I guess it wouldn't have been funny if they had practised what they were already good at! The dinner scene is great: it shows that Gilligan isn't the only clumsy one around! By the way, do you notice that in this episode, Gilligan doesn't make a single goof-up? And I can't forget to mention one of my all-time favourite Gilligan/Skipper scenes: the "giving Mr. Howell the bad news" rehearsal. Skinny Mulligan and his three dollars kills me every time.

07-21-2009, 12:33 AM	#4
littlesoprano Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 06, 2009 Posts: 54	Actually, about the pairings... I re-watched parts of the episode and noticed that this is one of the episodes where Professor and Ginger go off to search the caves. I have this odd theory that "searching the caves" is a direct parallel to Fred and Daphne "searching the attic/searching the basement" in "Scooby-Doo." Though I have to admit that this little exchange from the scene isn't exactly condusive to romance: Ginger: Professor, I was just thinking. Professor: Ginger, let's not waste time! I'm sure he didn't mean for that to sound as insulting as it does!