The Harlem Globetrotters On Gilligan’s Island Virtually Featured A Completely different Group

Although there are solely three seasons of “Gilligan’s Island,” the CBS sitcom grew to become massively standard thanks partially to its frequent showings in syndication. The present debuted in 1964 and ran till ’67, but it surely was proven broadly all through the ’70s and ’80s, serving to set up it as considered one of TV’s most acquainted sitcoms.

But it surely wasn’t simply the present itself that gave “Gilligan’s Island” its cultural recognition. As soon as the collection wrapped up, it lived on within the type of two animated spin-offs: “Gilligan’s Planet” and “The New Adventures of Gilligan.” Many of the castaways from the S.S. Minnow — named as such for a hilarious purpose — additionally returned in three live-action TV motion pictures: “Rescue From Gilligan’s Island” (1978), “The Castaways on Gilligan’s Island” (1979), and “The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island” (1981).

Within the latter, the unique castaway characters returned to the beforehand uncharted island on which they spent three seasons attempting to flee in the course of the authentic collection. This time, nonetheless, they run a trip resort, appropriately named The Castaways resort. Owned by Thurston Howell III (Jim Backus, who solely had a cameo in “The Harlem Globetrotters On Gilligan’s Island”) the resort is overseen by the millionaire’s son, Thurston Howell IV (David Ruprecht), who finds himself internet hosting the nice Harlem Globetrotters basketball group after their airplane goes down throughout a storm they usually find yourself on the island. However previous to the movie debuting on NBC, the plan was for Howell to host some completely different friends.

“Gilligan’s Island” unapologetically embraced absolute nonsense all through its time on air, and the TV film follow-ups had been no completely different. “The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island” is an efficient instance, because it sees the titular group going through off in opposition to a bunch of robots constructed by Thurston Howell’s rival, J.J. Pierson (Martin Landau). Why? Nicely, there’s a subplot about Pierson wanting possession of the island and trying to trick Gilligan and firm into signing it over to him, however the true purpose is as a result of “Gilligan’s Island” is a ridiculous present that produced ridiculous movies, which was at all times a part of its appeal. By the tip of the movie, the Globetrotters handle to finest the robotic gamers with their trademark tips, saving the island and wrapping up one of many extra wacky chapters in “Gilligan’s Island” historical past.

Sadly, the film itself didn’t do higher within the rankings than “The Castaways on Gilligan’s Island,” and as such grew to become the ultimate TV film that present creator Sherwood Schwartz ever made. That should have come as a disappointment to NBC, too, who hoped the inclusion of the Globetrotters would assist propel the film to standard success. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be, which raises the query of whether or not the unique plan for the film would have labored out higher.

Previous to “The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island” going into manufacturing, the concept for this third “Gilligan’s Island” spin-off movie did not embody the basketball group in any respect. In his e-book “Inside Gilligan’s Island: A Three-Hour Tour Via The Making Of A Tv Basic,” creator Sherwood Schwartz recalled how then-president of NBC, Fred Silverman, initially had the concept to usher in the Dallas Cowboys for a “Gilligan’s Island” TV film. Schwartz was very a lot open to the concept, too, writing, “The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders had performed a community particular which obtained a really excessive ranking. They may add some share factors. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders could be simply the treatment.”

In his e-book, Schwartz remembers plotting out a story that will see the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders visiting Gilligan and the gang, earlier than he acquired a name from then-director of comedy programming at NBC, Brandon Tartikoff. Because it turned out, the cheerleaders had been unavailable. “They’re doing one other particular that will battle with our schedule,” Tartikoff instructed Schwartz, earlier than informing him that Fred Silverman was eager on the concept of utilizing the Harlem Globetrotters. “I am positive I can write a narrative for them,” stated Schwartz, “I am going to get again to you.” The creator then set about writing a brand new script with the assistance of fellow-writer David Harmon, his brother Al Schwartz, and “resident basketball skilled” Gordon Mitchell. Collectively, the group wrote “The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island.”

Apparently sufficient, a MeTV article throws some doubt on Schwartz’s recollection of occasions. Hamilton Cloud, Tartikoff’s director of movement photos for tv, is quoted as having instructed the Tampa Bay Occasions, “What I keep in mind was Sherwood coming in and saying ‘Why do not we do a present with the Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island?’ and it was an prompt, you already know, promote. However he may need gotten the concept from Brandon [Tartikoff] initially.” In the meantime, Schwartz’s personal son, Lloyd Schwartz, spoke to his father’s recollection of occasions, telling the Occasions:

“I heard the story, regardless that I produced this present, that it was Fred Silverman. But it surely very effectively may have been Brandon [Tartikoff], as a result of they had been of comparable minds. At the moment I do know that Fred was very excessive on each the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and The Harlem Globetrotters and was attempting to get them visitor starring in several exhibits, so this may occasionally have been a fallout the place Brandon knew that and prompt it or it might have been Fred’s thought himself.”

Regardless of the case, “The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island” was the consequence. Would we’ve got gotten a fourth film had the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders been obtainable? Maybe. However none of this appears to have tainted the legacy of “Gilligan’s Island” both manner, because the present stays a beloved staple of American TV.