Too bad Gilligan's death (Bob Denver) never got much publicity - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Big3sCompanyFan · 12-24-2009, 10:48 PM

ONLY because it happened at the same time Hurricane Katrina did.

Gilligan was a true icon in American sitcom history and was also known all over the world.

He would've gotten a lot more press if his death didn't occur at the exact same time and the worst natural disaster in America in the last 100 years.

Zoneboy · 12-25-2009, 01:27 AM

How much publicity do you think he should've got? It was reported on all news channels, Mentioned in probably all the major newspapers albeit maybe not on the front page and of course anyone could find info about him and his passing online. Katrina was big news at the time and warranted continuous coverage but Bob's death would probably have received the same amount of publicity regardless of Katrina.

Big3sCompanyFan · 12-26-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

How much publicity do you think he should've got? It was reported on all news channels, Mentioned in probably all the major newspapers albeit maybe not on the front page and of course anyone could find info about him and his passing online. Katrina was big news at the time and warranted continuous coverage but Bob's death would probably have received the same amount of publicity regardless of Katrina.

No way dude. Gilligan is one of the few sitcom characters who is a household word in America.

If there was no Katrina Gilligan's death would have been the LEAD story but instead it was buried at the bottom of the news.

Katrina was such a huge disaster that Gilligan's death was just an afterthought but it would've been one of the top stories on the national news.

callensensei · 12-26-2009, 03:11 PM

Bob's death was reported in the major Canadian newspapers as well. There were comprehensive articles about him, as well as a picture on the front of the Globe and Mail, our national newspaper.

Big3sCompanyFan · 12-26-2009, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by callensensei

Bob's death was reported in the major Canadian newspapers as well. There were comprehensive articles about him, as well as a picture on the front of the Globe and Mail, our national newspaper.

But his death would've been almost as big as Lucille Ball's death if it wasn't for Katrina.

EVERYONE in North America has heard of Gilligan and even many people worldwide have heard of him too!!

Zoneboy · 12-26-2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big3sCompanyFan

EVERYONE in North America has heard of Gilligan and even many people worldwide have heard of him too!!

You could make the same argument for Don Adams and Don Knotts. They received just as much coverage as Bob Denver did and both are household names. When a celebrity dies it's not always going to be the lead story at the top of every hour although there are a few exceptions namely Michael Jackson.

Big3sCompanyFan · 12-26-2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

You could make the same argument for Don Adams and Don Knotts. They received just as much coverage as Bob Denver did and both are household names. When a celebrity dies it's not always going to be the lead story at the top of every hour although there are a few exceptions namely Michael Jackson.

Don Knotts is a household name but although Get Smart was very popular Agent 86 is NOT a household name and neither is Don Adams.

Zoneboy · 12-26-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big3sCompanyFan

Don Knotts is a household name but although Get Smart was very popular Agent 86 is NOT a household name and neither is Don Adams.

You need to get real,

Anyone that's watched tv in the last 40 years knows the name Don Adams. If they don't then they have no business watching tv.

Big3sCompanyFan · 12-26-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

You need to get real,

Anyone that's watched tv in the last 40 years knows the name Don Adams. If they don't then they have no business watching tv.

The name Don Adams is not THAT famous. It's definitely not as famous as the name Gilligan.

Many people don't even know what Agent 86 means.

James · 12-26-2009, 05:03 PM

I remember hearing about it on September 6, 2005, on the radio while driving along US 70 between Idabel and Hugo, Oklahoma, that day. The next day while in the Wichita Falls, Texas, area I heard Jim Rome read a few takes about him on his show. (I was on vacation at the time.)

(Of course, two days before I learned of the death of then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist at a restaurant in Carlyle, Illinois, while having breakfast!)

Big3sCompanyFan · 12-26-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

I remember hearing about it on September 6, 2005, on the radio while driving along US 70 between Idabel and Hugo, Oklahoma, that day. The next day while in the Wichita Falls, Texas, area I heard Jim Rome read a few takes about him on his show. (I was on vacation at the time.)

(Of course, two days before I learned of the death of then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist at a restaurant in Carlyle, Illinois, while having breakfast!)

LOL! You're telling us you were on vacation since you don't want us to think you live in the middle of nowhere.

Mr. Television · 12-26-2009, 05:38 PM

There is no way that Bob Denver's death was going to be reported any more than it already was. He was never going to get the prime-time tributes that Lucille Ball and John Ritter got. I liked Bob and he was a big part of my childhood but you have to get real.

Big3sCompanyFan · 12-26-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

There is no way that Bob Denver's death was going to be reported any more than it already was. He was never going to get the prime-time tributes that Lucille Ball and John Ritter got. I liked Bob and he was a big part of my childhood but you have to get real.

You are dead wrong dude. Gilligan is one of the few sitcom characters in television history that is INSTANTLY recognizable just by his name by everyone in the country!

WHO else is like that?

Lucille Ball, Andy Griffith, Seinfeld, the Bradys, the Cosbys, the Fonz, and not too many more.

Even Jack Tripper or John Ritter is not as instantly recognizable as GILLIGAN!

I recall clearly on CNN and other networks that Gilligan's death was buried due to all the Katrina news.

I think you don't realize how big Gilligan is because you are too young to realize it. But he would've DEFINITELY gotten more press than he did. No doubt about it!!!

Mr. Television · 12-26-2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big3sCompanyFan

You are dead wrong dude. Gilligan is one of the few sitcom characters in television history that is INSTANTLY recognizable just by his name by everyone in the country!

WHO else is like that?

Lucille Ball, Andy Griffith, Seinfeld, the Bradys, the Cosbys, the Fonz, and not too many more.

Even Jack Tripper or John Ritter is not as instantly recognizable as GILLIGAN!

I recall clearly on CNN and other networks that Gilligan's death was buried due to all the Katrina news.

I think you don't realize how big Gilligan is because you are too young to realize it. But he would've DEFINITELY gotten more press than he did. No doubt about it!!!

It isn't a matter of recognition. And I'm old enough to remember watching Gilligan's Island when it became big in reruns in the 1970's. I even watched his other show Far Out Space Nuts. He was a big TV Star but he wasn't any bigger then a lot of others that didn't get special notice. Don Knotts didn't get any special coverage and he was bigger than Bob. And while GI had a lot of fans, the critics never really liked the show. CBS didn't even care for it when they aired it. I doubt they would have did anything special for him. Now TV Land should have had a marathon of GI and Dobie Gillis episodes but I'm sure they didn't because they aren't about classic TV anymore.

Zoneboy · 12-27-2009, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

It isn't a matter of recognition. And I'm old enough to remember watching Gilligan's Island when it became big in reruns in the 1970's. I even watched his other show Far Out Space Nuts. He was a big TV Star but he wasn't any bigger then a lot of others that didn't get special notice. Don Knotts didn't get any special coverage and he was bigger than Bob. And while GI had a lot of fans, the critics never really liked the show. CBS didn't even care for it when they aired it. I doubt they would have did anything special for him. Now TV Land should have had a marathon of GI and Dobie Gillis episodes but I'm sure they didn't because they aren't about classic TV anymore.

Very well said and I also remember Far Out Space Nuts. If Bob had died in the same sudden manner that John Ritter did then I could see extended coverage but he didn't and as already stated he got the same amount of press that most any other sitcom star would've received Katrina or no Katrina.

12-24-2009, 10:48 PM	#1
Big3sCompanyFan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2003 Posts: 2,493	Too bad Gilligan's death (Bob Denver) never got much publicity ONLY because it happened at the same time Hurricane Katrina did. Gilligan was a true icon in American sitcom history and was also known all over the world. He would've gotten a lot more press if his death didn't occur at the exact same time and the worst natural disaster in America in the last 100 years.

12-25-2009, 01:27 AM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,385	How much publicity do you think he should've got? It was reported on all news channels, Mentioned in probably all the major newspapers albeit maybe not on the front page and of course anyone could find info about him and his passing online. Katrina was big news at the time and warranted continuous coverage but Bob's death would probably have received the same amount of publicity regardless of Katrina.
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12-26-2009, 03:11 PM	#4
callensensei Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 31, 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 233	Publicity in Canada Bob's death was reported in the major Canadian newspapers as well. There were comprehensive articles about him, as well as a picture on the front of the Globe and Mail, our national newspaper.

12-26-2009, 05:03 PM	#10
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	I remember it! I remember hearing about it on September 6, 2005, on the radio while driving along US 70 between Idabel and Hugo, Oklahoma, that day. The next day while in the Wichita Falls, Texas, area I heard Jim Rome read a few takes about him on his show. (I was on vacation at the time.) (Of course, two days before I learned of the death of then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist at a restaurant in Carlyle, Illinois, while having breakfast!)

12-26-2009, 05:38 PM	#12
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	There is no way that Bob Denver's death was going to be reported any more than it already was. He was never going to get the prime-time tributes that Lucille Ball and John Ritter got. I liked Bob and he was a big part of my childhood but you have to get real.
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