Russell Johson -- RIP
January 16th, 2014 at 7:37:38 PM
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I don't mark every celebrity death, but for me, Russell Johnson merits an exception. I'm not terribly proud to say this, but when I was a kid Gilligan's Island was one of my favorite shows. It would come as no surprise that the Professor was the character I most identified with, by far. I could also relate with the fact that despite living with Mary Ann and Ginger, he never seemed to get anywhere romantically with them.
Pet Peeve of mine #83942 is when people blame the Professor for not fixing the boat. From the obituary in the New York Times:
That was not his fault!!! As I recall, in the second episode he fabricated a glue to fix the boat. It was decades since I saw it, but he asked Gilligan to mix the ingredients for the glue. It was Gilligan who screwed it up and I think added too much water. When everybody was on the beach and ready to board the boat the glue decomposed and all the boat panels started flying everywhere. By the time it was all over the pieces were scattered all over the beach. The boat was never seen again since on the show.
Also, on which episode did he build a radio out of coconuts? There was already a radio on the Minnow.
Pet Peeve of mine #83942 is when people blame the Professor for not fixing the boat. From the obituary in the New York Times:
Quote: NYTBut he was pretty much the only character on the show who possessed anything resembling actual knowledge, and he was forever inventing methods to increase the castaways chance of rescue. Still, among the shows many lapses of logic was the fact often noted by Mr. Johnson in interviews that although the Professor could build a shortwave radio out of a coconut shell, he couldnt figure out how to patch a hole in a boat hull.
That was not his fault!!! As I recall, in the second episode he fabricated a glue to fix the boat. It was decades since I saw it, but he asked Gilligan to mix the ingredients for the glue. It was Gilligan who screwed it up and I think added too much water. When everybody was on the beach and ready to board the boat the glue decomposed and all the boat panels started flying everywhere. By the time it was all over the pieces were scattered all over the beach. The boat was never seen again since on the show.
Also, on which episode did he build a radio out of coconuts? There was already a radio on the Minnow.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
January 16th, 2014 at 7:41:29 PM
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Loved that show. Will say not nearly old enough to have watched t when it first aired loved watching it on Nick at Nite and pretty sure I remember the episode you are talking about but can't remember exactly which episode it was but yeah good episode. One of the best shows from that time and yeah Professor was one of the best characters.
RIP Russell Johnson you will be missed.
RIP Russell Johnson you will be missed.
January 16th, 2014 at 7:47:09 PM
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The professor was also my favorite character on the show. Even after they changed the theme song to.."the Movie Star, and the rest" (from "the Professor and, Mary Ann!") and gave him less to do, I always watched for him.
If the House lost every hand, they wouldn't deal the game.
January 16th, 2014 at 7:49:59 PM
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LOL I knew it, I heard it this afternoon and was
going to post about it, but I knew this was the
Wiz's fave show and I bet myself he'd do it
if I didn't. The Professor was what kept that
show going for 3 seasons, and what kept
Ginger and Maryann happy in their huts at
night. That was my fantasy, anyway.
going to post about it, but I knew this was the
Wiz's fave show and I bet myself he'd do it
if I didn't. The Professor was what kept that
show going for 3 seasons, and what kept
Ginger and Maryann happy in their huts at
night. That was my fantasy, anyway.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
January 16th, 2014 at 7:52:44 PM
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Quote: beachbumbabsThe professor was also my favorite character on the show. Even after they changed the theme song to.."the Movie Star, and the rest" (from "the Professor and, Mary Ann!") and gave him less to do, I always watched for him.
That changes is backwards. It was originally the movie star and the rest. But in the second season it was change in large part due to Bob Denver, great actor and great guy really helped his fellow actors.
January 16th, 2014 at 7:52:48 PM
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The character of The Professor is the prerequisite to Dr. Sheldon Cooper although not quite as well written. Russell Johnson had quite a busy career and did a lot of work raising money to fight AIDS. Definitely a good guy. I hope I'm half as accomplished when I reach 89.
Someday, joor goin' to see the name of Googie Gomez in lights and joor goin' to say to joorself, "Was that her?" and then joor goin' to answer to joorself, "That was her!" But you know somethin' mister? I was always her yuss nobody knows it! - Googie Gomez
January 16th, 2014 at 7:57:47 PM
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Quote: Wizard
Also, on which episode did he build a radio out of coconuts? There was already a radio on the Minnow.
They actually changed radios and nobody noticed.
Is this the coconut radio?
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
January 16th, 2014 at 7:59:15 PM
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Quote: EvenBobI knew this was the
Wiz's fave show
Do you follow the Spanish Word of the Day? Every day I write an example in Spanish to illustrate the day's word. Most of the time, the example is based on Gilligan's Island. Here is today's, for example, which I wrote before I knew of the Professor's passing.
La cosecha de plátanos esta menguado esta temporada. = The banana harvest has decreased this season.
Quote: EBThey actually changed radios and nobody noticed.
Is this the coconut radio?
I assume you're joking but they had the same white store-bought radio the entire show. I'm not sure what he built in your photo, but it wasn't a radio.
Then again, I recall an episode of the Partridge Family when Laurie picked up music via radio waves on her braces, so he is to say the professor couldn't build one?
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
January 16th, 2014 at 8:05:59 PM
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Who is Gilligan and how come he owned an Island????? LOL
There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. - Winston Churchill
January 16th, 2014 at 8:11:09 PM
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Quote: Wizard
I assume you're joking but they had the same white store-bought radio the entire show.
This is the original radio:
This is the one we saw most of the time. There
was even two of these, one was white, the other
was beige.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
January 16th, 2014 at 8:12:56 PM
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Quote: EvenBobThis is the original radio:
This is the one we saw most of the time. There
was even two of these, one was white, the other
was beige.
I don't think that original radio was ever actually used on the show. Think it was just promotional stills only one I remember on the show is the small white radio.
January 16th, 2014 at 8:16:37 PM
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There are 2 living cast members left, Dawn Wells
and Tina Louise. Dawn will be 76 this year and Tina
80. The came on 50 years ago in Sept. We all know
know that Dawn Wells is the only cast member to
collect residuals from the reruns because her savvy
husband manager talked CBS into it. I think she
was the first ever to get them and she's still paid
today, has made 10's of millions since the show
went off. It's still showing somewhere in the world
24 hours a day.
and Tina Louise. Dawn will be 76 this year and Tina
80. The came on 50 years ago in Sept. We all know
know that Dawn Wells is the only cast member to
collect residuals from the reruns because her savvy
husband manager talked CBS into it. I think she
was the first ever to get them and she's still paid
today, has made 10's of millions since the show
went off. It's still showing somewhere in the world
24 hours a day.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
January 16th, 2014 at 8:36:50 PM
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Quote: EvenBobThere are 2 living cast members left, Dawn Wells
and Tina Louise.
When you ask the average man who he prefers between Ginger and Mary Ann, about 90% will say Mary Ann. I think this is because most men feel that Ginger is "out of my league." However, with 90% of men chasing Mary Ann, ironically, the odds would be better going after Ginger.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
January 16th, 2014 at 8:41:49 PM
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Quote: WizardWhen you ask the average man who he prefers between Ginger and Mary Ann, about 90% will say Mary Ann. I think this is because most men feel that Ginger is "out of my league." However, with 90% of men chasing Mary Ann, ironically, the odds would be better going after Ginger.
I followed that thinking and advice to a tee, found myself a "Ginger" and am now married to.....wait for it....GINGER :)
There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. - Winston Churchill
January 16th, 2014 at 8:44:25 PM
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Perhaps a fitting tribute would be to spell his name correctly in the title of the thread. Lol
Just kidding, wiz. I am sorry for your loss. I imagine the passing of an idol or someone that you relate to (even if a TV character) is still personal.
Just kidding, wiz. I am sorry for your loss. I imagine the passing of an idol or someone that you relate to (even if a TV character) is still personal.
January 16th, 2014 at 9:11:36 PM
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Have 2 women been fantasized about more on TV than
Ginger and Mary An? 50 years later and men in 3rd
world countries are drooling over them. I was in HS
in 1964, it was locker room talk every day.
Ginger and Mary An? 50 years later and men in 3rd
world countries are drooling over them. I was in HS
in 1964, it was locker room talk every day.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
January 16th, 2014 at 9:28:43 PM
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I had forgotten how many times MaryAn got kissed on
the mouth by the regulars. The writers knew we lusted
after her, what a doll.
the mouth by the regulars. The writers knew we lusted
after her, what a doll.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
January 16th, 2014 at 9:36:52 PM
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Regarding Ginger and Mary Ann, a past thread here cracked me up when Frank Scoblete once said that he doesn't even know who they are...lol
Fighting BS one post at a time!
January 16th, 2014 at 9:55:37 PM
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Quote: Beethoven9thRegarding Ginger and Mary Ann, a past thread here cracked me up when Frank Scoblete once said that he doesn't even know who they are...lol
I knew who they were but really didn't know what they looked like. The theme song is what I am most aware of (I'm 33 years old).
January 16th, 2014 at 10:52:58 PM
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Quote: Beethoven9thRegarding Ginger and Mary Ann, a past thread here cracked me up when Frank Scoblete once said that he doesn't even know who they are...lol
I'm british, and I know who they are... only through the Gilligan's island pinball machine. Pumped a lot of ten pence pieces into that at university. Never seen the show, but playing that machine at the Pinball hall of fame was such good memories.
"Then you can admire the real gambler, who has neither eaten, slept, thought nor lived, he has so smarted under the scourge of his martingale, so suffered on the rack of his desire for a coup at trente-et-quarante" - Honore de Balzac, 1829
January 17th, 2014 at 7:44:29 AM
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Leave it to the Wizard to turn that fantasy into a Probability & Statistics lesson. ;)Quote: WizardWhen you ask the average man who he prefers between Ginger and Mary Ann, about 90% will say Mary Ann. I think this is because most men feel that Ginger is "out of my league." However, with 90% of men chasing Mary Ann, ironically, the odds would be better going after Ginger.
Regarding the coconut radio: I think this started from some stand up comic's routine. I never would have thought that Johnson would have embraced the joke.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
January 17th, 2014 at 8:26:56 AM
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Quote: EvenBobHave 2 women been fantasized about more on TV than
Ginger and Mary An?
In a word... Yes:
Besides "Charlie's Angels", a little show called "Baywatch" also comes to mind...
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
January 17th, 2014 at 8:54:57 AM
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I can't watch that show anymore, and will have to block this thread. The earworm it gives me is dreadful. Of course this means I spent hours and hours watching that show.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earworm
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earworm
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell! She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
January 17th, 2014 at 9:01:48 AM
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Quote: odiousgambitI can't watch that show anymore, and will have to block this thread. The earworm it gives me is dreadful. Of course this means I spent hours and hours watching that show.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earworm
Just sit right back
And you'll hear a tale
A tale of a fateful trip,
Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth. - Mahatma Ghandi
January 17th, 2014 at 9:07:58 AM
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Quote: 1BBJust sit right back
And you'll hear a tale
A tale of a fateful trip,
That started from this tropic port,
Aboard this tiny ship.
The ship set sail...
If the House lost every hand, they wouldn't deal the game.
January 17th, 2014 at 9:26:35 AM
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Quote: 1BBJust sit right back
And you'll hear a tale
A tale of a fateful trip,
Quote: beachbumbabsThat started from this tropic port,
Aboard this tiny ship.
The ship set sail...
a 3 hour tour, a 3 hour tour ...
A 3 HOUR EARWORM!
I didn't block this fast enough [g]
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell! She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
January 17th, 2014 at 9:30:49 AM
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I really liked the show also. Ironically, TV Land just started showing it from the first episode last night!
