User Reviews

This is the original unaired (at least for the first 30 years) pilot of what became known as "Gilligan's Island" with some noticeable differences. First, the theme song is not the sea chantey composed by George Wyle with lyrics by the show's creator, Sherwood Schwartz. Instead, it's a calypso by Schwartz and Johnny Williams who would later shorten his first name and win several Oscars but we're getting ahead of ourselves... Anyway, Sir Lancelot is the singer here as we hear him sing of the Skipper, Gilligan, a high school professor, two secretaries, and the Howells as they all go on a six-hour (as opposed to the eventual three-hour) tour. Wait a minute...there's no "movie star" or Mary Ann? That's right, Ginger Grant and the Kansas farm girl weren't created yet though one of the secs is named Ginger (Kit Smythe) while the other-a light-headed blonde-is named Bunny (Nancy McCarthy). Besides those two, the only other actor different from the series is John Gabriel who's the Professor here. What a joy it is to see Bob Denver, Alan Hale, Jr., Jim Backus, and Natalie Schafer in their initial turns in their iconic roles. All of them are funny from the get go especially Backus with his carefree attitude. Director Rod Amateau keeps a mostly leisurely pace in making the visual gags come at the most split second for a funny enough payoff like when the coconuts keep hitting the Skipper's head or when the bullets that Gilligan drops in the fire start shooting up. While Williams' calypso was a surprise here, the rest of the score that would eventually be used in subsequent episodes makes the familiarity soothing to me since they bring back such wonderful childhood memories. While Smythe, McCarthy, and Gabriel aren't bad here, I'm so used to Tina Louise, Dawn Wells, and Russell Johnson that they stick out like a sore thumb. Written by Sherwood with son Elroy and Austin Kalish. One more note: I originally taped this from TBS when the channel first aired this in 1992 but somehow, it didn't tape all the way to the end. Thanks to YouTube, I finally saw "Marooned" in its entirety after so many years. So for all that, this "Gilligan's Island" pilot is highly recommended.

This is certainly a classic and a nice view if your a fan to actually go backwards and see the first last. I sure was glad to see the teacher, Bunny, and Ginger (Kit Smythe) get replaced with the professor, Mary Ann, and the real Ginger (Tina Louise). In this we see people at ground zero of what is to become a great series. It is fun to watch the cast kind of puttering about trying to make something with a pretty much thin plot. It's interesting to see Alan Hale and Bob Denver interact with each other. In what would evolve into a great comedy duo here is very raw and unpolished. The Howells are the same polished act that they were in the series and for the most part are the only thing here that will closely resemble what you will see in the series, a true testament to their abilities. This episode has a look and feel of a very limited script and allot of improv and although I don't know this for a fact it sure looks that way. Either way it is certainly fun to watch and enjoy for series die hards or those just watching for the first time.

"Marooned" was the pilot for the series GILLIGAN'S ISLAND, conceived by veteran comedy writer Sherwood Schwartz, coming off a 1961 Emmy win for THE RED SKELTON SHOW. A premise that seemingly no one, not even Schwartz's agent, had any faith in, failing to reckon with the carefully crafted representation of society types: Thurston Howell III and wife Lovey (Eunice Wentworth Howell) were upper class, occasionally snobbish millionaires, the Professor a hard working, knowledgeable teacher, the movie star who knows the ins and outs of getting by in the spotlight, and the innocent farm girl who knows how to make great tasting pies. The Skipper (Jonas Grumby) was a born sailor and WW2 veteran, coupled with well meaning but inept first mate Willie Gilligan, his first name never revealed on the show. This pilot was shot in November 1963, on location in Hawaii, with a calypso theme which would be replaced for the series, picked up for the 1964 fall season by CBS. Also replaced would be three actors from "Marooned," John Gabriel, Kit Smythe, and Nancy McCarthy, the professor a bit younger, Ginger a mere secretary, and Bunny, another secretary, renamed Mary Ann. Much of the footage from this unaired pilot would be recycled in the Christmas episode, "Birds Gotta Fly, Fish Gotta Talk," but for the most part the main characters, even in embryonic form, are pretty mush etched in stone. Jim Backus was the only actor considered for Mr. Howell, the perfect actor to maintain a likability even when showing his selfish, greedy side. Keeping up with the veteran, multitalented actor became a constant joy for Natalie Schafer, who didn't envision being stuck in a TV series, merely signing on for a trip to Hawaii, but she loved her character. Bob Denver was second choice for Gilligan, after Jerry Van Dyke turned it down, as earnest in his efforts as the bumbling on screen character. The most difficult role to cast was the Skipper, until one night Schwartz noticed Alan Hale sitting nearby at a local restaurant, and after a successful test the show was finally born. Hale embraced his role like no other cast member, a great big teddy bear who could yell and scream at Gilligan all day long, the audience never doubting that he still loved his 'little buddy.' Plotwise, we don't have anyone trying to leave the island on a raft (that would take place in the first proper episode), most situations reshot by the new cast where the old footage could not be used. After back to back positive previews, the network picked up the series rather quickly, though no one would ever believe how popular it would become.

I can see why they recast the three supporting roles. This was nice for any casual fan of the series, although about 1/3 of the footage was recycled for the Christmas episode with the flashbacks. Skipper was a little rough around the edges, and, as usual, Jim Backus and Natalie Schafer stole their scenes. The shipwreck location was a tad claustrophobic compared to the open beach shipwreck footage from the black and white Gilligan episodes.

A worthwhile rental if only to grab a few new scenes for this great series.

I quite liked seeing what the show could have become with this cast i especially love that the character of Bunny (not Maryann) being the sassy no nonsense girl instead of innocent Mary Anne (sure we all ove that character but that because we know no better). And Ginger instead seemed like the 'naive one even if still a movie star - incredibly ditzy like Marylin Monroe type. And gee that professor was so good looking and I really think he could have stayed with the show. I would love to think the direction this cast could have taken to. I mean you still have the Howells and they were the most memorable.

I have a confession.... I don't enjoy "Gilligan's Island" and only watched it when I was too young to realize how bad the show was. So why would I watch this? Well, I do love seeing pilot episodes...especially when they are so different from the later show. In this case, the cast isn't the same...though the pilot is possibly dumber than the show....yes, dumber. In fact, it's so dumb that I'm surprised that the networks gave the green light after seeing this pilot...it's painfully bad.

When "Marooned" begins, you can tell it's VERY different from the actual later episodes. Instead of the familiar theme song, this one is a calypso song and the show is set in the Caribbean instead of the Pacific. Now considering how small the Caribbean is, you can figure out why they changed the location to the Pacific in the show.

Soon after the shock of the theme song wears off, the show begins with the SS Minnow crashed on the beach of a deserted island. And, you see that SOME of the cast is familiar...some VERY different. While Gilligan, the Skipper and the Howells are there, you have a DIFFERENT Professor and Ginger...and there is no Mary Ann...just some blonde named 'Bunny'.

This episode sets the stage for the show and much of it is devoted to the various folks trying to make a home for themselves or find a way off the island. As for the Howells, they are lazier and more clueless than usual....and do absolutely nothing to help. On the other extreme is the very helpful Gilligan...who destroys everything...their radio, the transmitter and more.

So why did I hate this show so much? Well, even compared to "Gilligan's Island", it just didn't make any sense. When Gilligan is fishing, due to the very sloppy use of stock footage, you see him catch porpoise about 10 feet from shore...and it turns into a shark...a big rubber shark when Gilligan 'lands it'. And here's the kicker...it turns out a fish swallowed their radio. Now this is dumb because the radio STILL works after having been in salt water AND the fish's mouth is about 1/3 the width of the radio!! Huh?? The bottom line is that this is just sloppy...as if Sherwood Schwartz simply didn't care...and I can only assume he didn't.

Overall, sloppy, annoying and bad...and yet, somehow, the network liked it! I have no idea why or how.

If you want to see this, I could only find it on the first DVD of the "Gilligan's Island" DVD set on Netflix.