When you say the name Tina Louise to anyone born before 1996, they will tell you she played the sexy actress Ginger Grant on Gilligan’s Island.
However, if you ask a group of elementary students at school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, they will tell you she is Ms. Tina. She is a woman who reads stories to them once a week to encourage them to read.
Those students are too young to hear her read her autobiography, Sunday, which she published in 1997. But The New York Times is old enough to talk to her about that book. She was more than willing to discuss the hard life she had before and the good one she had experienced after. However, she did not want to talk about her time on the sitcom, which is the only reason why we know who she is.
Yet, the 91-year-old told the reporter, “I’m very grateful for all the things that have happened to me and the opportunities that I’ve had.”
As the last surviving castaway of such a beloved show by millions of people and several generations, it would be nice if she would tell us a little something about her time on the Island.
I know that it is not new that she doesn’t want to talk about the series. You would think as she got older and with everyone else gone that she would get over that. But I guess whatever happened during 1964-1967 is not something she cares to reminisce about.
I know other actors like The Brady Bunch’s Eve Plumb and Family Matters’ Jaleel White changed their tunes about singing like a canary. Maybe before it is too late, she will have a change of heart.
Nathan Apodaca became a viral sensation while riding his skateboard, drinking some Ocean Spray cranberry juice, and singing Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams. The video got so popular that Mick Fleetwood and Stevie Nicks did their own take on it.
Even though the band told him to go his own way, that is not stopping Lindsey Buckingham from recreating the video. The singer got a camera and showed his former bandmates that he will take the high horse. As in, he got on one.
Wouldn’t it be bitchin’ if this trend actually brings the band back together? Stranger things have happened.
On August 16th, Julie Newmar turned 87 years old. However, I would never believe it, looking at this photo she shared from her birthday celebration. She is just a purrfect now as when she played Catwoman on Batman in the mid-’60s.
Doesn’t she make you go, “meow”? That is why she got a film in honor, you know, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.
So sit right back, and you’ll hear a tale. In 1964, seven people went on a three-hour tour, and we are still talking about them today. Of course, I am talking about Gilligan’s Island. And Dawn Wells, who played MaryAnn, is talking about it to Studio 10’s Craig Bennett.
The actress revealed secrets to him about her fellow castaways. She says that Bob Denver was a shy man, unlike Gilligan. However, he was funny like his character. Alan Hale, Jr. loved playing the Skipper up until his death in 1990. Jim Backus was just as cheap as Thurston Howell. While Natalie Schaffer was as proper as Mrs. Howell. When it comes to who she thinks MaryAnn would have had an island fever with, both her and her character had a thing for the Professor, Russell Johnson.
Although, he was never going to see her bellybutton. Back then, they were not allowed to show the whole thing. A half-moon was OK, but not a full circle. She says cleavage was also a no-no. Imagine what would have happened if Raquel Welch had landed the role of the sweet girl next door?
One thing, most girls next door know how to do is cook, and Wells showed us to bake a coconut creme pie. How yummy does it look? I told my friend to make it bake it for me because I don’t do that.
Ever since Leave It to Beaver debuted in 1957, everyone has been in love with the Beaver and his brother Wally. Now, 62 years later, Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow recently reunited at The Hollywood Show. It is nice to see their friendship has lasted as long as their show that is still airing in syndication.
I find that shows where the casts remain close after it has its run are the ones that last the longest in syndication. It is as though we can feel their chemistry through the screen.
Now let’s talk about the actors, can you believe they are in their 70’s? They both aged really well. Maybe it is time they revived the show again, and their grandsons are the best of friends like they were.
