Little-known facts about 'Gilligan's Island' and 'The Brady Bunch'

Updated


By Dre Weston

As one of television's most celebrated producers of all time, Sherwood Schwartz is remembered for his contributions to several programs, including I Married Joan and The Red Skelton Show. And while those titles may not be as famous today, there's little doubt that two others created by Schwartz-among the most popular shows in the history of television-most certainly are: Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch.

Gilligan's Island, which aired from 1964 to 1967 on CBS, starred Bob Denver (Gilligan), Russell Johnson (the Professor), Tina Louise (Ginger), Alan Hale, Jr. (the Skipper), Jim Backus (Thurston Howell III), Natalie Schafer (Lovey Howell) and Dawn Wells (Mary Ann). It told the story of a group of castaways who were forced to live together on a deserted isle after a rough storm left them shipwrecked and presumed dead by the rest of the world. The show kept viewers entertained for 98 hilarious episodes and three television movies.

The Brady Bunch depicted the story of a widowed father of three boys and a single mother of three girls who marry with hopes of living in perfect harmony under one roof. It starred Robert Reed (Mike Brady), Florence Henderson (Carol Brady), Ann B. Davis (Alice), Maureen McCormick (Marcia), Eve Plumb (Jan), Susan Olsen (Cindy), Barry Williams (Greg), Christopher Knight (Peter) and Mike Lookinland (Bobby). From 1969 to 1974, the family members navigated their way through countless trials while always managing to be there for each other when it mattered most.

Ironically, the ratings for both programs weren't very strong during their initial runs. In fact, no episode of The Brady Bunch ever finished in the top 30; Gilligan's Island fared better in its first season, ranking as high as 17, but its ratings declined over the next two seasons. Fortunately both sitcoms found new life in syndication, which turned them and all of their cast members into pop-culture icons. As we celebrate these Sherwood Schwartz classics, DoYouRemember presents memorable clips and little-known facts about Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch.

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