Where Would You Rank Gilligan & The Skipper As A TV Comedy Duo?

[Brian Damage]

Would they rank with you and make the cut or were they simply a product of the network? In other words, would youi consider Alan Hale Jr. & Bob Denver as A Good//great Comedic Duo???

[old grouch]

They make the cut, as far as I'm concerned. They may not be Lucy and Ethel, but they worked well together and seemed to like each other.

[callensensei]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Would they rank with you and make the cut or were they simply a product of the network? In other words, would youi consider Alan Hale Jr. & Bob Denver as A Good//great Comedic Duo???

I'd say they're right up there with their role models, the great Laurel and Hardy. Their contrasting appearance and demeanor made for automatic hilarity, and their physical and verbal comedy so adroitly performed it seemed absolutely natural. Driving the comedy was the characters' complex relationship: they were officer/crew, father/son and older brother/younger brother. In fact, I'd say the third of these was the most consistent, since neither the Skipper nor Gilligan ever quite seemed like grown men. But their affection for one another was deep and true, and the idea of these two misfits trying to help one another was absolutely irresistable.

The only partner of Denver's I've seen who comes close to Hale is Chuck McCann, who also modelled himself on Oliver Hardy. He worked with Denver in "The Far Out Space Nuts" and seemed like a younger version of the Skipper.

[Marvo301]

Originally Posted by callensensei

I'd say they're right up there with their role models, the great Laurel and Hardy. Their contrasting appearance and demeanor made for automatic hilarity, and their physical and verbal comedy so adroitly performed it seemed absolutely natural. Driving the comedy was the characters' complex relationship: they were officer/crew, father/son and older brother/younger brother. In fact, I'd say the third of these was the most consistent, since neither the Skipper nor Gilligan ever quite seemed like grown men. But their affection for one another was deep and true, and the idea of these two misfits trying to help one another was absolutely irresistable.

The only partner of Denver's I've seen who comes close to Hale is Chuck McCann, who also modelled himself on Oliver Hardy. He worked with Denver in "The Far Out Space Nuts" and seemed like a younger version of the Skipper.

I can just hear the Skipper telling Gilligan "Well, here's another fine mess you've gotten me in to."

[ph1l]

Interesting. I never considered them a comedy duo in the Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis etc. style.

[MickeyMac]

I agree with Phil, but they are still funny together.

[ph1l]

Oh yes. Definitely funny together.