Gilligan’s Island the movie

Gilligan’s Island the movie sounds like a big stretch but ah, what the hell. I can imagine the set now but I sure hope they keep that old coconut that still must be kicking around the island somewhere.

The theme song for this one is classic! It’s one of those songs that I love to play on my acoustic … late at a party that is! I have a collection of TV theme songs from past that are fun to play as well. Some of them are Beverley Hill Billie’s, The Brady Bunch, Flintstones (remember John Candy singing that one?), Friends and Green Acres! I remember playing Gilligan’s Island theme song in a bar one night as just a simple/stupid filler for a late set and to my amazement it just about brought the house down! The audience singing along WAY OUT OF KEY but it looked like they enjoyed it?! Music sure does calm the drunkin’ beast(s)!

Now for some interesting facts about the show!

• In the very first shot of the opening credits, the American flag over the harbor can be seen flying at half-mast. Reason: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, shortly before the shot was filmed.(This one I find the most interesting)

• Jerry Van Dyke turned down the role of Gilligan.

• Raquel Welch auditioned for the role of Mary Anne.

• The first season had the cast using cups that were made from real coconuts. However, they found that the cups were porous and soaked through like they were sweating. Thus in the later seasons, the coconut cups were ceramic replicas.

• Gilligan saved the Skipper’s life once when they were in the Navy. A depth charge had broken loose from it’s mount and was rolling across the deck. Gilligan pushed Skipper out of the way. Skipper would later say that Gilligan didn’t save his life, he only prolonged it.

• “The radio” seen in virtually every episode was a Packard-Bell AM Radio, Model AR-851. The small silver handle and telescoping antenna were added by the prop department (despite the fact that AM radios do not use telescoping antennas). The antenna was likely added to lend credence to the castaways’ ability to pick up radio signals so far from civilization.

• The island shown in the opening and closing credits is actually located in Kaneohe Bay, about a mile offshore from the island of Oahu, in Hawaii.

The script of Gilligan’s Island the movie is to be written by Brad Copeland which is suppose to start be in production in 2011. Here’s the an idea for the cast that has been floating around on line for some time now.

Gilligan: Michael Cera
The Skipper: Zach Galifianakis
Thurston Howell III: Abe Vigoda (Barney Miller) this one is the best by far!
Lovey Howell: Judi Dench
The Professor: Jeff Daniels
Mary Ann: Anne Hathaway
Ginger: Christina Hendricks

So far I like it already! Any other personal picks for the members of this one? Come on, give it a go it’ll be fun!!!

Keep on Jammin’