There Was A Controversy Over The Lyrics to 'Gilligan's Island' Theme Song??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-18-2010, 11:19 PM

One of the most frequently asked questions about Gilligan’s Island is “Why were The Professor and Mary Ann referred to as ‘the rest’ in the show’s opening? There were only seven castaways!”

In season one, Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Jim Backus, Natalie Schafer, and Tina Louise were in the opening theme but Russell Johnson and Dawn Wells weren’t. Why?

Well, you may not be aware that some of the characters in the series weren’t quite the same in the original pilot. Ginger was a practical redheaded secretary, played by Kit Smythe. Nancy McCarthy played Bunny (not Mary Ann) and she was a stereotypical dumb blonde secretary. John Gabriel played the very serious Professor.

In order to get the series greenlighted by CBS, creator Sherwood Schwartz had to do some reworking and recasting. As a result, we ended up with the cast and characters we know today.

Of the three new performers, Tina Louise was the first to sign. She was in a Broadway play and they had to buy out the rest of her contract to sign her for Gilligan’s Island. Wells once recalled that Louise’s contract stipulated her billing, that she be the last person in the opening credits. Wells and Johnson signed on later so they were put in the end credits.

Denver later recounted that his contract stipulated he could choose his billing. He asked that Wells and Johnson be moved up with the rest of the cast. The network refused so he told them he wanted last billing, in the end credits only. Since he played the title character and that would look very strange, they had no choice but to redo the theme. It’s not clear but they either found a way to work around Louise’s contract stipulation or she agreed to the change.

http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/gi...me-song-14922/

Marvo301 · 06-18-2010, 11:26 PM

I always thought it was very admirable of Bob Denver to take a stand on behalf of Russell Johnson and Dawn Wells. I wasn't aware of Tina's contract stipulation but if she backed off of that to allow Russell and Dawn to be named in the opening credits then that's admirable as well.

TV_on_the_Porch · 06-19-2010, 12:35 AM

It could have been put to her thusly: "When we shoot the new opening, there are going to be six ship's wheel cameos instead of five. The last one will actually be two ship's wheels so as to feature two cast members. You can either stay in 5th billing or share the sixth with somebody else."

old grouch · 06-19-2010, 11:28 PM

I never cared much for the 'and the rest' business. The Professor and Mary Anne were a big part of the show and two of my favorite characters.

Zoneboy · 06-19-2010, 11:51 PM

06-18-2010, 11:19 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	There Was A Controversy Over The Lyrics to 'Gilligan's Island' Theme Song??? One of the most frequently asked questions about Gilligan’s Island is “Why were The Professor and Mary Ann referred to as ‘the rest’ in the show’s opening? There were only seven castaways!” In season one, Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Jim Backus, Natalie Schafer, and Tina Louise were in the opening theme but Russell Johnson and Dawn Wells weren’t. Why? Well, you may not be aware that some of the characters in the series weren’t quite the same in the original pilot. Ginger was a practical redheaded secretary, played by Kit Smythe. Nancy McCarthy played Bunny (not Mary Ann) and she was a stereotypical dumb blonde secretary. John Gabriel played the very serious Professor. In order to get the series greenlighted by CBS, creator Sherwood Schwartz had to do some reworking and recasting. As a result, we ended up with the cast and characters we know today. Of the three new performers, Tina Louise was the first to sign. She was in a Broadway play and they had to buy out the rest of her contract to sign her for Gilligan’s Island. Wells once recalled that Louise’s contract stipulated her billing, that she be the last person in the opening credits. Wells and Johnson signed on later so they were put in the end credits. Denver later recounted that his contract stipulated he could choose his billing. He asked that Wells and Johnson be moved up with the rest of the cast. The network refused so he told them he wanted last billing, in the end credits only. Since he played the title character and that would look very strange, they had no choice but to redo the theme. It’s not clear but they either found a way to work around Louise’s contract stipulation or she agreed to the change. http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/gi...me-song-14922/
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06-18-2010, 11:26 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I always thought it was very admirable of Bob Denver to take a stand on behalf of Russell Johnson and Dawn Wells. I wasn't aware of Tina's contract stipulation but if she backed off of that to allow Russell and Dawn to be named in the opening credits then that's admirable as well.
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06-19-2010, 11:51 PM	#5
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
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06-19-2010, 12:35 AM	#3
TV_on_the_Porch anything good on? Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 879	It could have been put to her thusly: "When we shoot the new opening, there are going to be six ship's wheel cameos instead of five. The last one will actually be two ship's wheels so as to feature two cast members. You can either stay in 5th billing or share the sixth with somebody else."

06-19-2010, 11:28 PM	#4
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	I never cared much for the 'and the rest' business. The Professor and Mary Anne were a big part of the show and two of my favorite characters.