Next Big Idea
Just before Gilligan’s Island came to an end, producers came up with a new character to combat the decline. Their idea was that a new character would be enough to spice up the show. They hoped for a friendly dinosaur, but sadly, this would be too costly. Schwartz recalled the CBS executive named Hunt Stromberg Jr. saying, “Gilligan and his pet dinosaur! It’s our answer to ‘Mr. Ed.’”
Next Big Idea
A Wild Ride
Miraculously, Alan Hale Jr. made it to the Gilligan’s Island audition. Why was it so extraordinary? Well, he first hopped onto a horse from a set he was at in Utah. The next step involved him hitchhiking all the way to Las Vegas! Stay with us, from there he flew to L.A. and that’s where he auditioned. Thank goodness he got to audition for Jonas ‘The Skipper’ Grumpy because we can’t imagine another Skipper.
A Wild Ride
