Original Mary Ann
Often times, the television show creators have someone particular in mind for a role, but they turn it down. Thus, they move on to the next best option. So, Dawn Wells was actually the back up choice. They wanted 60’s sensation, Raquel Welch to play Mary Ann. In fact, many saw Welch saved her future career by turning down Gilligan’s Island since the Gilligan’s Island couldn’t get roles afterwards. They forever became associated with the Gilligan’s Island characters.
Original Mary Ann
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Maybe you already realized this, but the character Thurston Howell III (Jim Backus) was a bit of a nod to another Schwartz created character. Schwartz also had a show called The Alan Young Show on which actor Backus played someone named Hubert Updyke III. Thus, when producer Schwartz first pitched Gilligan’s Island he claimed, “the island would be a social microcosm and a metaphorical shaming of world politics in the sense that when necessary for survival, yes we can all get along.”
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