“Gilligan’s Island” only was broadcast During three seasons on CBS, but this became a feeling of recovery when he reached the syndication after being canceled in 1967. Children on the market for a idiotic sitcom tirelessly to look after school when they neglected their homework and that the tasks could not do better than this aggressive formula on seven shipwrecked on the ship on an unknown island. Above all the episodes revolved around the attempts to bypass the characters to return to civilization, and this familiarity did not increase a hint of contempt.

The main reason why the show has never aged for its non -demanding target audience was the casting. Bob Denver (Gilligan), Alan Hale Jr. (Skipper), Jim Backus (Thurston Howe), Natalie Schafer (Lovie Howe), Russell Johnson (Professor Roy Hinkley), Dawn Wells (Mary Ann) and Tina Louise (Ginger) formed a perfectly balanced set that precisely understood what was expected. You couldn’t imagine that someone else played these roles.

Surprisingly, designer Sherwood Schwartz almost went in series with a very different cast. Indeed, the pilotWho was not broadcast before October 14, 1941, presented various actors playing the roles of Professor, Ginger and Bunny (who later became Mary Ann). When the network has expressed little interest in moving forward with the pilot casting, Schwartz heard more players to fill the whole. His most ambitious choice turned out to be Tina Louise, a notable film and theater actor who had obtained a Golden Globe in 1958 for the new star of the year for his performance in “God’s Little Acre” by Anthony Mann. Louise ended up being an ideal adjustment for ginger, but she was not sure at the beginning. In fact, she almost refused the game.

In a recent interview with ForbesLouise, 91, remembered the way she had left a Broadway show (“Fade in – Fade Out,” with Carol Burnett) to play ginger in “Gilligan’s Island”. But she almost fell back when the script given to her to read described the character differently from what she had been presented. According to Louise:

“The CSBS casting director, Ethel Winant, called me to the theater:” Do you think you could play this type of Lucille Ball / Marilyn Monroe type? “I said yes.

Louise said that the CBS chief called her in her office to have her reconsidered. “I explained to him that I did not want to play it and I did not think that the show would succeed, changing the original idea of ​​the character,” said Louise. “You cannot enter people’s houses and dress someone like a doll and then have it to be nice.” Fortunately, the CBS executive accepted and hired a new director who obtained the tone of the show. You may have heard of this type. “”[H]He hired Richard Don, who was fantastic, “she said.” He had a great sense of humor, then the writers began to write for what I was supposed to do and the show became a success, and I appreciated the play. “”

So, attribute to the man who would give us “the omen”, “Superman” and “Lethal Arme” to prevent Louise from returning to the theater. Although she has never found a role as memorable as Ginger, she continued to act for decades and fortunately seems to be withdrawn.