In discussions of Sherwood Schwartz’s 1964 sitcom “Gilligan’s Island,” one can usually detect a word of ambivalence from the speaker. On the one hand, “Gilligan’s Island” could also be one of the crucial essential American texts, offering the nation with their very own up to date model of Commedia dell’Arte archetypes; even those that have not seen “Gilligan’s Island” would possibly know every of the seven central figures by identify, and what their personalities are. Due to everlasting reruns, a number of generations grew up watching “Gilligan’s Island,” permitting it to seep deeply into the American unconscious.
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On the similar time, nevertheless, most individuals acknowledge that “Gilligan’s Island” is supremely silly. The gags are light-weight, kid-friendly, and do not require a lot mental engagement from an viewers. The jokes are, by Schwartz’s personal admission, foolish and dumb. The seven stranded castaways are ostensibly preventing for survival, however they by no means face any severe problems with shortage or hunger. Everybody usually wears the identical outfits, their garments are all the time clear, they usually all get alongside in a preschool type of means.
When the celebs of “Gilligan’s Island” speak concerning the present, they must admit that it isn’t probably the most clever present. Most defenses mounted for the sitcom are alongside the traces of the way it supplied a pleasant, non-threatening salve throughout a time of American political upheaval; JFK was assassinated whereas the present’s pilot was being filmed. The actors admit, although, that they weren’t all the time impressed with the scripts or the premise. (Natalie Schafer, who performed Mrs. Howell, as soon as admitted she solely took the job for a free Hawaiian trip.)
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Russell Johnson, who performed the Professor, admitted in an interview with Press and Solar-Bulletin (transcribed by MeTV) that he was reluctant to just accept the position. Too many individuals had already auditions, Johnson defined, and it made the position appear much less engaging. He solely agreed after CBS primarily begged.
Russell Johnson did not really feel the Professor was a very good position
Johnson has stated — accurately — that the Professor was important to “Gilligan’s Island” as a result of he was the straight man. A lot of the different characters have been broad, comedic characters, and somebody just like the Professor was required to maintain the sequence no less than a bit bit in actuality. Sadly, this additionally meant that the Professor by no means had slapstick scenes or plotlines of his personal; he would solely stabilize others. Johnson sensed this early within the present’s audition course of, and did not essentially need to tackle that type of position. He was already a long-working actor, and had loads of different jobs he may have taken on the time. As Johnson recalled:
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“I bought the half from a reference to CBS. […] I had narrated 13 of the Nice Journey reveals. I co-starred in The Westerners, enjoying the position of a United States marshal. Beforehand, I had appeared in 14 movement photos for Common in the course of the Fifties. […] They referred to as and requested if I wished to run a take a look at for the a part of the Professor, and I stated no. They referred to as me thrice, and I lastly stated sure.”
Nowadays, one cannot image anybody else within the position. Russell Johnson is the Professor. Certainly, Johnson returned to reprise the position for all the follow-up “Gilligan’s Island” initiatives after the present was canceled, together with three TV motion pictures, two animated reveals, and a number of other visitor spots on different sitcoms. It turned Johnson’s best-known position, and allowed him to change into one of many above-mentioned archetypes. He’s seemingly not in the least upset about his fame.
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