The 4th Season That Never Was - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jack1000 · 10-17-2002, 10:43 PM

Hi!

As us Gilligan devotees know, a Season 4 WAS all set to go....until the president of CBC returned from his vacation, insisted that "Gunsmoke" be returned to the schedule, and Gilligan's Island let go...(cry) Can you believe it???? We lost our great sitcom to GUNSMOKE!!!????

Anyway, TV Guide ran an ad for the Premire of Gilligan's Island, season 4 before it was cancelled. The premire was supposed to be a two parter! Does anyone know what the two part episode was going to be about? Please post if you know! Thank you!

Jack

JWood201 · 10-17-2002, 11:01 PM

TV Guide usually only runs ads for things, at the most, 2-3 weeks before they're supposed to air and after they've been filmed.
The show was cancelled and everyone informed well before that. Where'd you get this info?
On www.gilligansisle.com I read that the GI Fan Club had bought a script to the final episode #98 "Gilligan the Goddess" and found several fourth season proposals inside. The 99th episode wasn't a two parter.... Ginger was supposed to be rescued in epsode 100 because Tina's contract ran out and she didn't want to continue...
That's all I know about it...

Jack1000 · 10-18-2002, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JWood201
TV Guide usually only runs ads for things, at the most, 2-3 weeks before they're supposed to air and after they've been filmed.
The show was cancelled and everyone informed well before that. Where'd you get this info?
On www.gilligansisle.com I read that the GI Fan Club had bought a script to the final episode #98 "Gilligan the Goddess" and found several fourth season proposals inside. The 99th episode wasn't a two parter.... Ginger was supposed to be rescued in epsode 100 because Tina's contract ran out and she didn't want to continue...
That's all I know about it...

The information about a two-parter 4th season opener was in one of the "behind the scenes" stories about Gilligan's Island. I think (not sure) that it might have been on E's "True Hollywood Story." Actually....check that, they said either it was going to be a two-parter or a special 90 minute episode and that TV Guide had an ad written about it. I am not sure however if this ad was listed in the front of the magazine promoting it or in the actual weekley program listings. Maybe we can get more information about this information. That would be cool!

Jack

Julie the GI girl · 10-18-2002, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JWood201
Ginger was supposed to be rescued in epsode 100 because Tina's contract ran out and she didn't want to continue...

well in that case....i'm kinda glad that there wasn't a 4th season. ANY of the castaways leaving would be weird...and in my opinion...would ruin the show. well...maybe not ruin.....but make worse. besides....if ginger was gone....who would flirt with the professor so i can watch it and go into mad fits of giggling?

JWood201 · 10-18-2002, 05:31 PM

I've seen the E! True Hollywood Story for GI, like, literally 10 times. LOL. And I don't remember that.. I've also seen the TV Guide Truth Behind the Sitcoms... I don't remember hearing about it in any of the specials I've seen. **shrug** O wells...

Julie, I also agree that any of the castaways being rescued w/out the rest wuld ruin the show... Even though Ginger got on my nerves, it wouldn't be the same w/out her.

jon123 · 11-04-2002, 12:52 AM

If there had been a 4th season and Ginger was rescued, how would they get around Ginger not being able to tell whoever rescued her that the other castaways were still alive and where they were? It has always been part of the joke that no other visitor tells anyone where they are, but for Ginger to leave them stranded ruins the one realistic quality of this show, the castaways love and respect for each other.

Also, saw some of the other story ideas for the 4th season (Gilligan getting miniaturized, a pirate, an alien, a genie's lamp). As I suspected, it had the most riduculous plots ever with any thread of reality totally out the window!

richheart · 11-04-2002, 01:10 AM

It would have been realistic for Ginger to get rescued, and then not been able to help them. She would have had no geographical knowledge of where the island existed.

The same exact thing happened when Zsa Zsa Gabor guest starred on the show.

jon123 · 11-04-2002, 01:36 AM

But Ginger as a Minnow survivor would have told someone the rest of the castaways were alive and there would have been an all out search (the funds from Howell's estate would mean they would have spared no expense) to find them. Zsa Zsa not saying anything is just another one of the insequitirs that are this show's charm, but I would like to see the circumstances how Ginger could be rescued by herself.

I would have loved the fourth season. Just think, the only reason we were denied this additional lunacy and escapism was because Mrs. Paley loved Gunsmoke! Such are the workings of TV Land.

Kristina · 11-08-2002, 04:37 PM

I've always hated Gunsmoke, it's not fair I mean if they were going to take it off anyways I think they should have had one episode more so the show could have had a real ending. I know they made a reunion but no Tina Louise and they are all... older.

jon123 · 11-10-2002, 11:08 PM

If this had happened today, Gilligans Island would have been bumped from the schedule but kept in production as a midseason replacement. In those days, they didn't change and move shows around like they do today so once Gilligan was bumped that was it. Even though Tina Louise didn't appear in the reunion movie, her replacement still played Ginger and had their been a fourth season Ginger would have been gone and the series would have been very different.

jon123 · 11-10-2002, 11:15 PM

Also, the Krissy character that would have joined the cast after Ginger was rescued would have been played by Suzanne Somers!

(not true, but I couldn't resist!)

Barnabas1 · 11-12-2002, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tootiefan4life
I've always hated Gunsmoke, it's not fair I mean if they were going to take it off anyways I think they should have had one episode more so the show could have had a real ending. I know they made a reunion but no Tina Louise and they are all... older.

Ya...They should have dona a last episode and Ginger gets off and sends for help and they all get back to land. That would be real good.

fore284 · 01-09-2003, 05:26 PM

I hear that what happens with old shows from that era they were never flinish. There should have been a fourth and final season when they all get resuce in the last episode and go home. But they made a movie later years about Rescue from Giligan's Island but then at the end they get stick back on the same island again. I haven't seen that in years would like to see that again.

Stormtracker TF · 02-19-2003, 05:59 PM

I heard about that. A 4th season would of been great, I'd rather watch GI then Gunsmoke any day

It would have been interesting to see the episode where Gilligan shrunk after drinking that weird stuff.

I'd would have liked to see that one

Effigy · 03-01-2003, 07:57 PM

I've always been rather glad that there was never a fourth season of GI. Mainly, this is because of the Ginger leaving thing; I mean, as others have sorta implied, the Miss Krissy/Miss Sally/Whatever wold have been really really lame.

There's also the fact that, when shows go on for too long, they tend to get... well... sucked dry, so to speak. Gilligan's Island wasn't around long enough to get stale, and for that I'm grateful. There's also the fact that 98 episodes is a nice, manageable size, when one feels the need to save them all on tape...

On the rescue movie... to be honest, when I first saw it (a rerun, not when it originally aired), I didn't even realize that Tina wasn't there at first. Then again, I am absolutely terrible at recognizing people, AND it was approximately two AM. So.... *shrug*
And, about them becoming restranded, well, that is the point of Gilligan's Island, is it not? They're not supposed to get off. If I could have had it my way, they never would have done the other two movies... But that's something else, entirely.
Okay, I'll stop boring your eyes now...

10-17-2002, 10:43 PM	#1
Jack1000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2001 Posts: 2,055	The 4th Season That Never Was Hi! As us Gilligan devotees know, a Season 4 WAS all set to go....until the president of CBC returned from his vacation, insisted that "Gunsmoke" be returned to the schedule, and Gilligan's Island let go...(cry) Can you believe it???? We lost our great sitcom to GUNSMOKE!!!???? Anyway, TV Guide ran an ad for the Premire of Gilligan's Island, season 4 before it was cancelled. The premire was supposed to be a two parter! Does anyone know what the two part episode was going to be about? Please post if you know! Thank you! Jack

01-09-2003, 05:26 PM	#13
fore284 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 24, 2002 Location: New York Posts: 199	I hear! I hear that what happens with old shows from that era they were never flinish. There should have been a fourth and final season when they all get resuce in the last episode and go home. But they made a movie later years about Rescue from Giligan's Island but then at the end they get stick back on the same island again. I haven't seen that in years would like to see that again.
	__________________ Robert C Miller

03-01-2003, 07:57 PM	#15
Effigy Untitled Forum Hawk Join Date: Mar 01, 2003 Location: Mars. Posts: 3	I've always been rather glad that there was never a fourth season of GI. Mainly, this is because of the Ginger leaving thing; I mean, as others have sorta implied, the Miss Krissy/Miss Sally/Whatever wold have been really really lame. There's also the fact that, when shows go on for too long, they tend to get... well... sucked dry, so to speak. Gilligan's Island wasn't around long enough to get stale, and for that I'm grateful. There's also the fact that 98 episodes is a nice, manageable size, when one feels the need to save them all on tape... On the rescue movie... to be honest, when I first saw it (a rerun, not when it originally aired), I didn't even realize that Tina wasn't there at first. Then again, I am absolutely terrible at recognizing people, AND it was approximately two AM. So.... shrug And, about them becoming restranded, well, that is the point of Gilligan's Island, is it not? They're not supposed to get off. If I could have had it my way, they never would have done the other two movies... But that's something else, entirely. Okay, I'll stop boring your eyes now...
	__________________ ~Effy

10-17-2002, 11:01 PM	#2
JWood201 TV Nerd Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 25, 2001 Posts: 798	TV Guide usually only runs ads for things, at the most, 2-3 weeks before they're supposed to air and after they've been filmed. The show was cancelled and everyone informed well before that. Where'd you get this info? On www.gilligansisle.com I read that the GI Fan Club had bought a script to the final episode #98 "Gilligan the Goddess" and found several fourth season proposals inside. The 99th episode wasn't a two parter.... Ginger was supposed to be rescued in epsode 100 because Tina's contract ran out and she didn't want to continue... That's all I know about it...

10-18-2002, 05:31 PM	#5
JWood201 TV Nerd Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 25, 2001 Posts: 798	I've seen the E! True Hollywood Story for GI, like, literally 10 times. LOL. And I don't remember that.. I've also seen the TV Guide Truth Behind the Sitcoms... I don't remember hearing about it in any of the specials I've seen. shrug O wells... Julie, I also agree that any of the castaways being rescued w/out the rest wuld ruin the show... Even though Ginger got on my nerves, it wouldn't be the same w/out her.

11-04-2002, 12:52 AM	#6
jon123 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 04, 2002 Location: Temecula Valley, CA Posts: 395	If there had been a 4th season and Ginger was rescued, how would they get around Ginger not being able to tell whoever rescued her that the other castaways were still alive and where they were? It has always been part of the joke that no other visitor tells anyone where they are, but for Ginger to leave them stranded ruins the one realistic quality of this show, the castaways love and respect for each other. Also, saw some of the other story ideas for the 4th season (Gilligan getting miniaturized, a pirate, an alien, a genie's lamp). As I suspected, it had the most riduculous plots ever with any thread of reality totally out the window!

11-04-2002, 01:10 AM	#7
richheart Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 25, 2002 Posts: 205	It would have been realistic for Ginger to get rescued, and then not been able to help them. She would have had no geographical knowledge of where the island existed. The same exact thing happened when Zsa Zsa Gabor guest starred on the show.

11-04-2002, 01:36 AM	#8
jon123 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 04, 2002 Location: Temecula Valley, CA Posts: 395	But Ginger as a Minnow survivor would have told someone the rest of the castaways were alive and there would have been an all out search (the funds from Howell's estate would mean they would have spared no expense) to find them. Zsa Zsa not saying anything is just another one of the insequitirs that are this show's charm, but I would like to see the circumstances how Ginger could be rescued by herself. I would have loved the fourth season. Just think, the only reason we were denied this additional lunacy and escapism was because Mrs. Paley loved Gunsmoke! Such are the workings of TV Land.

11-08-2002, 04:37 PM	#9
Kristina Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Mar 27, 2001 Location: CaLiFoRnIa, UsA Posts: 8,890	I've always hated Gunsmoke, it's not fair I mean if they were going to take it off anyways I think they should have had one episode more so the show could have had a real ending. I know they made a reunion but no Tina Louise and they are all... older.

11-10-2002, 11:08 PM	#10
jon123 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 04, 2002 Location: Temecula Valley, CA Posts: 395	If this had happened today, Gilligans Island would have been bumped from the schedule but kept in production as a midseason replacement. In those days, they didn't change and move shows around like they do today so once Gilligan was bumped that was it. Even though Tina Louise didn't appear in the reunion movie, her replacement still played Ginger and had their been a fourth season Ginger would have been gone and the series would have been very different.

11-10-2002, 11:15 PM	#11
jon123 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 04, 2002 Location: Temecula Valley, CA Posts: 395	Also, the Krissy character that would have joined the cast after Ginger was rescued would have been played by Suzanne Somers! (not true, but I couldn't resist!)

02-19-2003, 05:59 PM	#14
Stormtracker TF Happy Easter! Moderator Forum Idol Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 102,598	I heard about that. A 4th season would of been great, I'd rather watch GI then Gunsmoke any day It would have been interesting to see the episode where Gilligan shrunk after drinking that weird stuff. I'd would have liked to see that one