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The premise of Sherwood Schwartz's popular 1964 sitcom "Gilligan's Island" is handily explained in its theme song: five passengers check into a three-hour boat tour, run by the skipper and first mate of a tiny tourist boat called the S.S. Minnow. The ship hits some bad weather and is thrown miles off course, landing on an uncharted desert isle. The seven tourists become seven stranded castaways. No phones, no lights, no motorcars, not a single luxury. Like "Robinson Crusoe," it's as primitive as can be. The septet have to learn to live together, usually to comedic effect. 

Gilligan (Bob Denver) was the above-mentioned first mate, and his innocent cluelessness and tendency to bumble often thwarted the castaways' ability to escape. He shared the island with his Skipper (Alan Hale), a professor (Russell Johnson), a pair of married millionaires (Natalie Schafer and Jim Backus), a farmer (Dawn Wells), and a...

60 years ago, "Gilligan's Island" blessed the world with an ensemble seemingly fashioned by the gods. Bob Denver as Gilligan, Alan Hale Jr. as the Skipper, Russell Johnson as the Professor, Jim Backus as Thurston Howell III, Natalie Schafer as Eunice Howell, Dawn Wells as Mary Ann, and Tina Louise as Ginger. They are immortalized in the theme song, and ironclad comedic types thanks to the reinforcement of syndication. "Gilligan's Island" was always meant to be, and we must consider ourselves fortunate that we lived to behold its goofball majesty.

So prepare to be shocked. When the "Gilligan's Island" pilot went before cameras, Sherwood Schwartz hadn't yet fully communed with the comedy gods. In terms of the castaways, he had five out of seven figured out. Where he'd yet to strike gold was with the young female characters. Schwartz had a very different notion of how to give the show the...

In the "Gilligan's Island" episode "New Neighbor Sam," the castaways begin hearing mysterious voices from the bushes. Suspecting there are other people on the island, several of them go to investigate and discover -- after some slapstick shenanigans, of course -- that the voices were all coming from a talking macaw. The macaw identifies itself as Sam, and the Professor (Russell Johnson) tries to get the bird to say more, hoping to glean more information as to where it came from. The macaw also speaks like a gangster, so the Professor figures it must have once belonged to a career criminal, but somehow escaped and flew to their island.

The Professor's suspicions are confirmed when Sam steals a diamond belonging to Mrs. Howell (Natalie Schafer) and tries to abscond with it. Clearly, this macaw knows about jewels. Eventually, the castaways find the cave where the parrot had been hiding, and...

In the "Gilligan's Island" episode "Forward March", the castaways find themselves unexpectedly under attack. Grenades begin flying at them from the bushes, thrown by an unseen assailant. The explosions activate the war trauma of Mr. Howell (Jim Backus), and he immediately appoints himself a General, taking charge of the castaways and organizing a slapstick counterstrike. The castaways search the island and find that they are being attacked by a gorilla (Janos Prohaska), who has been living in a nearby cave. The gorilla has a machine gun and boxes upon boxes of hand grenades, presumably left over from World War II. The Professor (Russell Johnson) figures that the gorilla was merely imitating the soldiers it once observed, decades earlier. 

Gilligan (Bob Denver) manages to stare the gorilla down, and eventually trains it to throw its explosives out into the nearby lagoon, where no one will be hurt. The gorilla eventually runs out of ammo,...

The classic 1960s sitcom "Gilligan's Island" follows a handful of very different individuals who all become marooned together when their ship, the Minnow, runs aground on a deserted island. The series ran for three seasons and was moderately popular during its initial run, only to become even more popular in time through syndication. Unfortunately for some of the stars of the series, filming "Gilligan's Island" itself was kind of like being on that island, as the actors were in constant close contact with one another and there were some seriously conflicting personalities. 

Actor Russell Johnson, who had the incredibly important role as the Professor, frequently the voice of reason on the island, unfortunately, came to regret playing the character or starring on "Gilligan's Island" in the first place. He, unfortunately, became typecast due to the show's popularity, which derailed his career a bit in his eyes, but according to some...

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The stereotype of the actor-as-diva gets overplayed. Most actors are total professionals who occasionally fall prey to a bout of bad humor or a feeling of being unappreciated – i.e. they're just like everyone else on this planet. For the most part, they want to do what they've been hired to do: memorize their lines, study their character (insofar as there's a character to study), hit their marks, basically be the best of themselves they can be, and call it a day. They'd prefer not to be miserable, so that means they're not out to make anyone else's life miserable.

That stereotype, however, didn't just appear out of nowhere. It's not a whole-cloth invention. No. I'm here to tell you that monsters are real. Marlon Brando really did refuse to memorize his lines at a certain point in his career,...

Netflix’s upcoming limited series, Senna, promises to captivate fans of Formula 1 (F1) racing and newcomers alike with its dramatic portrayal of one of motorsport’s most celebrated figures, Ayrton Senna. Premiering on November 29, 2024, the six-part series tells the story of the Brazilian legend who captured the world’s heart with his unmatched speed, skill, and determination on the racetrack. Senna’s life was cut short during a tragic accident at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, but his legacy has only grown stronger over the past 30 years.

With Brazilian actor Gabriel Leone in the role of Senna, Netflix’s Senna is poised to offer an intimate look at the man behind the legend. Here’s everything we know about the release date, storyline, cast, and what to expect from this highly anticipated biographical series.

What to expect from Senna? Gabriel Leone in Senna (2024) | Credit: Netflix

The series is set...

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The old axiom states that the show must go on, and if you've ever participated in even a school play, you probably know why it applies. When you're bopping around hastily crafted sets (or sturdily built backdrops), it's not uncommon to get a splinter or two. You might sustain a mild head injury by walking straight into a low-hanging metal girder or sprain your ankle by tripping up over a cable protector where someone forgot to place glow tape. (These aren't oddly specific because they happened to me -- so far as you know.) These are unfortunate occurrences, but unless you're fancy enough to have an understudy, you've got to suck it up and show up for the next performance.

Obviously, there are certain extreme maladies that can shut you down for a while. Harrison Ford was out of commission...

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In Paul A. Cantor's 2001 book "Gilligan Unbound: Pop Culture in the Age of Globalization," the author posited that Sherwood Schwartz's celebrated-and-lambasted-in-equal-measure 1964 sitcom "Gilligan's Island" stood as a symbol of America's indomitable confidence in its post-War, Baby Boom period. One could, "Gilligan's" argued, place a random assortment of seven Americans in whatever isolated locale you wanted, and they would essentially form a pleasant democracy. The seven stranded castaways of "Gilligan's Island" might have bickered, but they never went to war. Instead, several distinct American classes came together. The ultra wealthy (Jim Backus and Natalie Schafer's Howells) hobnobbed with a farmer (Dawn Wells' Mary Ann). The intelligentsia (Russell Johnson's Professor) got along perfectly well with the Hollywood elite (Tina Louise's Ginger), and they were all held together by a gentle military hand (Alan Hale's Skipper). Gilligan, meanwhile,...

In the first season of Sherwood Schwartz's "Gilligan's Island," the opening theme song infamously left out character descriptors for Dawn Wells and Russell Johnson. It listed Gilligan, the Skipper too, the millionaire and his wife, the Movie Star, but then merely described Wells and Johnson as "And the rest." This was certainly unfair, as all seven members of the show's ensemble were equally important, each one bringing something valuable to the overall character dynamic. 

As many "Gilligan's" fans know, the reason Wells and Johnson weren't described was because of a stipulation in co-star Tina Louise's contract. Louise, who played Ginger the Movie Star, required that she be named last on any opening credits roll. Title star Bob Denver, however, felt that Wells and Johnson deserved more, and pulled rank on Louise. It seemed that he, too, had a contract stipulation allowing him to be listed in the credits wherever he wanted.

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Author Paul A. Cantor suggested in his book "Gilligan Unbound: Pop Culture in the Age of Globalization" that Sherwood Schwartz's 1964 sitcom "Gilligan's Island" stood as a confident symbol for the triumph of American democracy during the post-war Baby Boom. Cantor noted that the series essentially created a random seven-character cross-section of the United States, and then abandoned them in a remote location. Despite their isolation and lack of resources, the seven stranded castaways formed a functional democracy. The rich and the poor, the farmers and the intelligentsia, actors and sailors, all became fast friends and easily set up shelter and systems of acquiring food. 

Additionally, Schwartz assembled a great ensemble of diverse character types, allowing them all to serve a particular dramatic function. Sure, the castaways were broad archetypes without much richness or complexity, but they certainly functioned. The...

In the realm of television, shooting a pilot is by no means a guarantee of going to series. The broadcast landscape is littered with failed one-and-done ventures like "Heat Vision and Jack," "Lookwell" and the "Beverly Hills Cop" series starring Brandon T. Jackson. If network executives don't like the way a promising concept plays once its up on its feet and before a camera, they'll nix it without a second thought. So it's important for show creators to put their best foot forward with that pilot, lest they join those aforementioned shows and hundreds of others on the scrap heap.

Amazingly, some shows can slap together a disastrous pilot and still make it to series. "Game of Thrones" famously stumbled out of the gate (forcing the producers to recast Daenerys Targaryen). Meanwhile, on the other end of the tonal spectrum, "Gilligan's Island" encountered choppy waters on its way to smooth...

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Every comedy team needs a straight man. Lou Costello had Bud Abbot. The Marx Brothers had Margaret Dumont. The Three Stooges had everyone they came in contact with. And while it may not sound like a good deal of fun to be the person setting up the funny folks for laughs, it does take a lot of skill to do it proficiently. And any comedian worth their weight in yuks knows the better the setup, the bigger the laugh.

This applies to many sitcoms, where the cast of zanies needs a steadily turning planet around which to wildly orbit. If you're really good at it, there could be multiple Primetime Emmys coming to you (e.g. Ed Asner won three for "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"). And if you happen to find yourself on "Gilligan's Island," while there might not...

There are some sitcoms that simply don't work if you're down so much as a single cast member. Could you imagine an episode of "Cheers" without Sam, Carla, Cliff and Norm? The series' producers and writers couldn't, which is why they never missed an episode. The same was true on a much larger scale for "The Brady Bunch," where every single member of the family (and their live-in housekeeper Alice) reported for duty on all 117 episodes.

This kind of consistency was evidently key to a successful Sherwood Schwartz sitcom. The writer/producer who created "The Brady Bunch" was also the mastermind behind "Gilligan's Island," the CBS joker about seven castaways who wash up on the shore of an uncharted island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. The key to the show's success was its shamelessness: from the pilot to the series finale (which arrived a little sooner than expected thanks to...

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The writers of "Gilligan's Island" were typically careful to retain storytelling clarity by pairing two of seven stranded castaways for their stories. Most typically, the bumbling Gilligan (Bob Denver) was paired with the short-tempered Skipper and their explosive relationship would unfold naturally. Mr. and Mrs. Howell (Jim Backus and Natalie Schafer) tended to move as a unit, and many felt that there was romantic chemistry between Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) and the Professor (Russell Johnson). Mary Ann was also often paired with Ginger (Tina Louise) as they were the only two unmarried women on the island and they bunked together.

Seen less often was the pairing of Mary Ann and Gilligan, which is a bit of a head-scratcher. Gilligan was the slapstick buffoon, while Mary Ann was the optimistic farm girl, both possessed of a disarming friendliness and an appealing naïveté.

The overarching story of "Gilligan's Island" is, upon a moment of reflection, surprisingly nihilistic. Sherwood Schwartz's whimsical 1964 sitcom may take place in a cartoon-like universe where no one is really desperate, starving, or unclean, but it also takes place in a world where hope cannot thrive. At the beginning of every episode, the seven stranded castaways are presented with the opportunity to escape the island and return home. They become joyous and hopeful. Then a cataclysm occurs, usually at the bumbling hands of the clueless Gilligan (Bob Denver), and their opportunity is squandered. The castaways are stranded for another week, their prison sentence essentially extended. Hope becomes despair, again and again, creeping into this petty pace from day to day, to the last syllable of recorded time.

Sisyphus would relate.

"Gilligan's Island," however, offsets its despair with an unshakeable sense of whimsy. The show's characters may have eternally been pushing a boulder uphill,...

When Sherwood Schwartz was creating "Gilligan's Island" back in 1964, he designed the series as one might an animated show. It was meant to be a broad, unrealistic farce, so Schwartz had no issues with making "Gilligan's Island" into something colorful and artificial. The characters, for the most part, wore the same clothes every day, allowing Schwartz to color-code them. Gilligan (Bob Denver) always wore a long-sleeve red shirt and sailor's cap. The Skipper (Alan Hale) always wore blue and wore a captain's hat. The Professor (Russell Johnson) always wore slacks and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Ginger (Tina Louise) may have changed often, but she always wore something glamorous, and her red hair was always highlighted. 

What's more, Schwartz seemingly kept a close eye on characters' silhouettes. One of the reasons why The Skipper and Gilligan emerged as such an effective comedy duo was that Gilligan was...

Producer Sherwood Schwartz wasn't looking to make anyone a star when he began casting his 1960s sitcom "Gilligan's Island." The show was intended to be slapstick fun for the whole family, peppered with jokes that landed just as hard with parents as they did with their children. To get this across, he needed an ensemble that could remain in mellifluous orbit around Bob Denver's blundering Gilligan. (Denver himself was already a small screen star thanks to his portrayal of beatnik Maynard G. Krebs on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.") If the actors could get away with delivering Schwartz's groan-worthy banter without evoking groans from the undemanding folks at home, they were welcome on his uncharted desert island.

This isn't to say he hired a bunch of nobodies to fill out the cast of "Gilligan's Island." Jim Backus and Natalie Schafer were established, veteran performers, while Tina Louise...

Most actors are lucky to be remembered for one role once they've shuffled off this mortal coil, let alone a handful or more. Would you rather be consigned to dinner theater until you're too old to remember your lines, or would you prefer to have a few seasons in the sun as the main character on a ludicrous network sitcom that inexplicably turned into a syndication phenomenon?

The latter option should be a no-brainer, but some of the folks who found themselves stranded on "Gilligan's Island" spent most of their careers wishing they'd never taken that three-hour tour. Natalie Schafer was distraught before she even shot a single episode, weeping upon landing what a part that rescued her from small supporting turns in mostly unremarkable films.

As for Russell Johnson, who played the amiable Professor, he was of two minds. The World War II veteran, who survived getting shot down...

In the "Gilligan's Island" episode "The Kidnapper", the castaways are found, but not in the most helpful way. A rogue kidnapper named Norbert Wiley (Don Rickles) has found his way to the island, and he begins to ply his trade immediately. He kidnaps Lovey Howell (Natalie Schafer) and demands the castaways pay $10,000. Mrs. Howell manages to give her kidnapper the slip, but he manages to kidnap Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) in exchange, now demanding $20,000. The cycle repeats itself again when Mary Ann escapes, and Norbert kidnaps Ginger (Tina Louise), demanding $30,000. 

Eventually, the castaways capture Norbert using Gilligan (Bob Denver) as the ultimate bait. In a bamboo cage, Norbert explains that kidnapping is a compulsion for him and that he cannot be reformed. Ginger takes it upon herself to psychoanalyze him and reform him, while the Skipper and the Professor (Russell Johnson) repair the boat that brought him to the island.

If you're hoping to discover that Russell Johnson, the level-headed, boundlessly inventive Professor Roy Hinkley from "Gilligan's Island" lived a life riddled with scandal, prepare to be sorely disappointed. Aside from his 1948 divorce and the time he entered the Burbank Post Office parking lot through the exit lane because he was running late for a Kiwanis Club dinner, there's not so much as a speck of dirt on this guy.

Born in 1924, you won't be surprised to learn that he served in World War II. But you might be interested to learn that on his 45th bombing raid in the Pacific Theater, his B-25 was shot down, forcing him to ditch the aircraft off the coast of the Philippines. His co-pilot was killed, while Johnson broke both of his ankles. Johnson received a fistful of medals, was honorably discharged, and used the G.I. Bill to study performance at the Actors' Lab in Hollywood.

Alan Hale Jr. was a showbiz veteran before he could speak. The son of Alan Hale, a popular character actor best known for his portrayal of Little John in Michael Curtiz' classic "The Adventures of Robin Hood," Hale Jr. appeared in silent films as a baby and made a few war movies as a young man before serving in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. Once the war was over, Hale Jr. worked steadily in film and television, turning up on episodes of "Gunsmoke," "Mister Ed," and "Lassie" while landing supporting roles in movies starring John Wayne, Gregory Peck, and Randolph Scott.

Hale Jr. would be castigated as a nepobaby today, but while being literally born to the business didn't hurt his cause, he was a natural in front of the camera and a welcome presence in just about everything. So, it's no surprise that, after a difficult casting process,...

After Sherwood Schwartz's hit sitcom "Gilligan's Island" wrapped in 1967, actress Tina Louise, who played the glamorous movie star Ginger Grant, was finished. While most of Louise's co-stars would return for "Gilligan's Island" TV movies and spinoffs, she would stay away from the franchise, pursuing other film and TV projects as her whims dictated. Louise's refusal to make more "Gilligan's Island" after 1967 led to persistent rumors that she hated the show and didn't enjoy her time on it. While Louise might have been a little cold to her co-stars, she has revealed that she never resented them for any reason, and actually very much enjoyed her time on "Gilligan's Island."

After "Gilligan's Island," Louise starred in several high-profile films, including the Matt Helm spy spoof "The Wrecking Crew," the sci-fi horror film "The Stepford Wives," and the made-for-tv sequel "Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby." Her most recent performance came...

Before "Gilligan's Island," comedian Alan Hale, Jr. had a prolific, decades-long career on stage and screen. He made his stage debut in 1931 at the age 10, began a very busy film career in 1941, and made multiple films a year throughout the 1950s. He played the title characters in both the 1953 adventure series "Biff Baker, U.S.A." and the 1957 Western "Casey Jones." He was a regular visitor of "The Gene Autry Show," and had guest spots in many of the more popular TV shows of the day. He was in "Maverick," "Bonanza," "The Untouchables," "Gunsmoke," and "Rawhide." There was, it seemed, nothing he couldn't do. 

Hale was reported always friendly and affable, and it was his affability that landed him the role of Jonas Grumby, aka The Skipper, on Sherwood Schwartz's 1964 sitcom "Gilligan's Island." The Skipper had to be the outraged, wrathful friend of the bumbling title character, but also...

The theme song for "Gilligan's Island" was written by executive producer and show creator Sherwood Schwartz and songwriter George Wyle. It remains, without contest, one of the best TV theme songs of all time, efficiently communicating the show's premise and all seven of its characters, wrapped in one of the most insidious earworms ever recorded. Only the theme to "The Brady Bunch" can rival its cultural power. Only Jack Marshall's theme to "The Munsters" and Danny Elfman's theme to "Tales from the Crypt" can surpass it musically. 

It may be shocking to learn, then, that the sea shanty version we all known and love was the second theme attempted. The original theme song had a calypso beat and different lyrics. Incidentally, the original was penned by music legend John Williams. Schwartz himself sang the theme song, although one would be forgiven for thinking it was voice luminary Mel Blanc.

Actress Dawn Wells passed away in 2020 at the age of 82, having experienced a prolific career in TV and on film. In the early 1960s, Wells appeared on hot TV shows like "Wagon Train," "Maverick," and "77 Sunset Strip" in various supporting roles, and her career boomed in 1964 when she was hired to play the friendly hayseed Mary Ann on Sherwood Schwartz's mega-hit "Gilligan's Island." While "Gilligan's Island" was derided at the time for its silliness and broad, cartoony tone, it was still a huge hit, and the seven lead actors all became household names. Indeed, "Gilligan's Island" became so popular that several of its stars had trouble shaking off their association with the show.

After the series ended, Wells continued to work on hit shows like "Bonanza," and she appeared in notable horror movies like "The Town That Dreaded Sundown" and "Return to Boggy Creek," but many of her...

Deep-cut fans of Sherwood Schwartz's 1964 sitcom "Gilligan's Island" will likely be able to tell you all about the show's original pilot episode, "Marooned." Considered a "dry run" of the series, "Marooned" featured the same premise -- seven whimsically mismatched castaways are trapped together on an uncharted desert isle -- but the characters were reshuffled a little bit. Gilligan (Bob Denver), the Skipper (Alan Hale), and the Howells (Jim Backus and Natalie Schafer) were present, but the Professor (Russell Johnson), Ginger (Tina Louise), and Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) hadn't been invented yet. 

In their places were completely different characters played by different actors. The original Ginger was played by Kit Smythe and was a sardonic secretary. Mary Ann was originally a character named Bunny, Ginger's ditzy best friend, played by Nancy McCarthy. The Professor, meanwhile, was originally a high school teacher played by actor John Gabriel, probably best known for...

Most audiences, I feel, would describe Sherwood Schwartz's 1964 sitcom "Gilligan's Island" as an ensemble piece. All of the seven castaways were important to the overall comedic dynamic, and no single star was any more important than the other. Well, apart from Bob Denver, the title character, who might have been the central figure of the ensemble. When the show first began, actor Jim Backus -- the millionaire Thurston Howell, III -- might have been the most recognizable star on the cast, but he fell in with the ensemble easily. He was a professional.

Despite the ensemble nature of the show, however, there was an issue over its credits. Tina Louise, who played the movie star Ginger Grant, insisted that her name be listed last in the credits, feeling that she was to be one of the show's biggest draws. For the first season, the opening credits of "Gilligan's Island...

Say what you will about "Gilligan's Island," but the critically derided 1960s sitcom knew its audience and pandered to them with buffoonish élan. Though that audience didn't fully materialize until after the series' cancellation in 1967, decades of successful syndication is all the proof you need to acknowledge that creator Sherwood Schwartz (who also brought together "The Brady Bunch") was some kind of low-aiming visionary.

Those of us who blew countless hours of our childhood hanging with the castaways on that uncharted desert isle somewhere in the Pacific Ocean owe Schwartz a debt of gratitude. Watching Bob Denver's Gilligan ineptly ensure that the Skipper (Alan Hale Jr.) and the passengers of the S.S. Minnow remain stranded on that tropical patch of earth made not doing chores and/or homework a brain-numbing joy. Yes, the jokes were awful and the plots shamelessly recycled, but there was something strangely compelling about Schwartz's dramatis personae.

TV trivia fanatics will happily point out that the first-season theme song to Sherwood Schwartz's seminal sitcom "Gilligan's Island" is different from the theme heard in later seasons. The song is the same -- it's the usual, earworm sea shanty that everyone can sing from memory -- but the final listing of the show's dramatis personae is different. In the later seasons, the theme song listed Gilligan (Bob Denver), the Skipper too (Alan Hale), the Millionaire (Jim Backus) and his wife (Natalie Shafer), the movie star (Tina Louise), the professor (Russell Watson) and Mary Ann (Dawn Wells), there on Gilligan's isle.

In the first season, however, the professor and Mary-Ann were introduced merely as "And the rest." Watson and Wells didn't have credits and photos like everyone else. This was a little baffling, as all seven characters were of equal value to the series; no one was a supporting player.

Back when Saturday morning cartoons were actually a thing, animated spinoffs were network executives' golden ticket for extending the lifespan of their biggest hits. 1960s sensations "Star Trek" and "Gilligan's Island" both enjoyed new leases on life when they were revived via cartoon series years after going off the air, bringing back most of the original casts in their beloved roles. In the case of Sherwood Schwartz's silly slapstick sitcom about a group of people stranded on a remote island somewhere in the Pacific, it actually got a second animated spinoff, if you can believe it.

If you're wondering how the hell Schwartz wrung enough juice for two whole other shows out of the "Gilligan's Island" formula, the answer is he didn't — not exactly. Where the showrunner's Western knockoff "Dusty's Trail" swapped out Bob Denver's sailor gear for a cowboy getup, stuck the passengers of the SS Minnow on a wagon train,...

Sherwood Schwartz's 1964 sitcom "Gilligan's Island" occupies a strange space in popular culture. Thanks to decades of reruns, the series became deeply embedded into the American subconscious, becoming one of the bedrocks of 1960s television. There was a time when everyone in a certain age bracket learned all about "Gilligan's Island" without even trying, and no Gen-Xer worth their weight in clove cigarettes couldn't sing the show's theme song. At the same time, however, "Island" was widely derided by critics and audiences alike for being silly "low art" entertainment, reliant on silly slapstick over any sense of realism. "Gilligan's Island" was ubiquitous, but it wasn't necessarily respected.

The cast of "Gilligan's Island" were victims of their own popularity. Bob Denver, Alan Hale, Dawn Wells, Russell Johnson, and Tina Louise all continued to work after the series -- and they all have broad, decades-long careers in entertainment besides -- but they...

So, is it The Watchers or is it The Watched? In North America it’s the former, in the UK and Ireland it’s the latter, and it’s a testament to the all-over-the-shop plotting of Ishana Night Shyamalan’s feature debut that it doesn’t really make much difference whichever way you look at it. Working from a folk-horror novel by A.M. Shine, Shyamalan takes a simple single-location genre premise — literally, it’s a cabin-in-the-woods story — and somehow creates a thriller that’s both unnecessarily complex and almost entirely uninteresting.

Alarm bells ring when the curtain rises, and a voiceover tells us of the forest that’s not on any map, that draws in lost souls “like a moth to a flame” and is so deadly that “those that wander in never come back out”. To illustrate this, we see a stranded backpacker — whose identity we learn later — running...

Way back in 2019, Avengers: Endgame handed over the mantle of Captain America to Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson. Two years later, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier made the point canon and established the hero firmly into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which canonically was flaring up in tensions owing to the sudden re-emergence of the population that vanished and returned leading to mass displacement and worldwide chaos.

Anthony Mackie taking over as Captain America in Avengers: Endgame | Marvel Entertainment

To address the issue in depth as well as mark the first big-screen debut of the new Captain, Marvel Studios announced in 2022 a new movie titled Captain America: Brave New World, the fourth installment in the franchise. However, only little headway in terms of actual production made progress, marred by cast and storyline changes as well as the rechristening to Captain America: Brave New World. To add to the woes, a...

Imagine watching Nick at Nite back when shows from the 1950s through to the '70s dominated the programming block. It just so happens that "Gilligan's Island" season 1, episode 19, "Gilligan Meets Jungle Boy," is on. By and large, you know what to expect: Gilligan (Bob Denver) getting up to slapstick mayhem; Jonas Grumby, aka "The Skipper" (Alan Hale Jr.), on the verge of blowing a fuse over his first mate's antics; and the shipwrecked passengers of the SS Minnow staging yet another comically failed attempt in their Sisyphean quest to escape the titular island. Sherwood Schwartz's supremely silly sitcom series was nothing if not consistent in its formula.

It's at this point that a 13-year-old Kurt Russell shows up with no shirt and a leopard loincloth on.

"Jungle Boy" does indeed hit all the anticipated beats for an episode of "Gilligan's Island." It also, in true to form fashion,...

Get ready for a double dose of fun and family antics on the latest episode of “Hailey’s on It!” airing this Saturday at 11:00 Am on Disney. In “Student of the Weak; Smother Knows Best,” Hailey is on a mission to secure the coveted title of Student of the Week. With determination and creativity, she pulls out all the stops to impress her teachers and classmates.

But Hailey’s quest for recognition takes an unexpected turn when she and Scott embark on a wild adventure of “Running with the Goats” to check off a list item. As they navigate the challenges of goat running, Hailey finds herself facing another hurdle: keeping her meddling mom at bay. With her mom’s well-intentioned but overbearing interference, Hailey must strike a balance between independence and family bonds.

Join Hailey and her lovable cast of characters for a hilarious and heartwarming episode filled with laughter,...

Tune in for a double dose of adventure and hilarity with Season 1 Episode 26 of “Hailey’s on It!” titled “Out of Body Slam Experience; Get Whale Soon,” airing at 11:00 Am on Saturday, April 20, 2024, on Disney. In this action-packed installment, viewers are in for a wild ride as Hailey and her friends find themselves in two sticky situations.

First up, watch as Scott unwittingly provokes the formidable Rowdy Ronnie while under hypnosis, leading to an epic wrestling showdown. Will Scott emerge victorious, or will Rowdy Ronnie prove too tough to handle?

Meanwhile, Hailey’s attempts to rescue a stranded whale are thwarted by her chatty next-door neighbors, causing chaos and comedy to ensue. Can Hailey save the day and help the whale before it’s too late?

With its blend of excitement, humor, and heartwarming moments, “Hailey’s on It!” promises to entertain viewers of all ages. So don’t miss out...

Rob Zombie’s debut horror feature House of 1000 Corpses just celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, and Zombie has taken to Instagram this week to announce that a brand new making-of book will be joining last year’s Blu-ray re-release as part of the celebration.

Zombie writes this afternoon, “To celebrate the 21st anniversary of House of 1000 Corpses being released, I thought I would give you a sneak peek at the House of 1000 Corpses book that I have been working on. This thing is packed with rare photos, blueprints, storyboards, makeup tests and my original script with all my handwritten notes and sketches.”

“Coming your way soon,” Zombie notes in the Instagram post, which includes a series of rare behind the scenes photographs that will be appearing in the upcoming making-of book.

The photos from Zombie’s personal collection feature stars Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, and Sheri Moon Zombie,...

Join Hailey, the intrepid teenager from Oceanside, Calif., on another exciting adventure in the latest episode of “Hailey’s on It!” airing this Saturday at 11:00 Am on Disney. In this thrilling installment titled “When Squeeples Attack; Cool Intentions,” Hailey finds herself facing off against the mischievous Squeeples, who are wreaking havoc in her neighborhood.

Armed with her quick thinking and resourcefulness, Hailey takes on the challenge of stopping the Squeeples before they cause any more chaos. But that’s not all – Hailey also has her sights set on tackling some cool new projects that will not only save the day but also showcase her determination and ingenuity.

Get ready for action-packed scenes, heartwarming moments, and plenty of laughs as Hailey dives headfirst into her latest missions. Don’t miss “Hailey’s on It!” this Saturday at 11:00 Am, only on Disney.

Release Date & Time: 11:00 Am Saturday 13 April 2024 on Disney

Hailey’s on It!

Get ready for a double dose of fun and mischief with the latest episode of “Hailey’s on It!” airing on Disney at 11:00 Am this Saturday, April 6th. In Season 1, Episode 24, titled “The Saw-shank Redemption; No More Mr. Rice Guy,” viewers are in for an entertaining ride as Hailey and Scott find themselves in a series of hilarious predicaments.

First up, Hailey and Scott find themselves in detention after a mishap lands them in trouble. But being the resourceful duo they are, they embark on a mission to turn their punishment into an adventure.

Meanwhile, Hailey accidentally sparks a strike when she inadvertently inspires her dad to protest. As if that wasn’t enough, she faces another challenge when she struggles to replicate her dad’s famous fried rice for a school event.

With its mix of humor, heart, and relatable family moments, “Hailey’s on It!” continues to delight audiences of all ages.

This Saturday at 11:00 Am on Disney, get ready to join Hailey on another thrilling adventure in “Hailey’s on It!” In Season 1 Episode 23, titled “Bad Bear Deay; 2001: A Spouse Odyssey,” Hailey, the resourceful teenager from Oceanside, Calif., is back with a new set of challenging tasks to tackle.

In this episode, Hailey finds herself facing off against some unexpected obstacles, including a mischievous bear causing trouble in her neighborhood. But with her trademark determination and quick thinking, Hailey is determined to outsmart the bear and restore peace to Oceanside.

Meanwhile, Hailey also takes on the challenge of navigating the complexities of relationships as she helps a friend navigate the ups and downs of young love. With humor, heart, and a dash of teenage wisdom, Hailey proves that even the most daunting tasks can be conquered with the right attitude and a little bit of creativity.

Don’t miss out...

In 1989, "Weird Al" Yankovic released a song called "Isle Thing," a parody of Tone Lōc's 1988 hit "Wild Thing." In Yankovic's version, the song's narrator met an attractive woman at the Circle-k and went back to her place, presumably for some active coitus. Instead, however, the woman eschewed sex for a marathon of "Gilligan's Island" reruns. The narrator immediately began to recognize the logical inconsistencies in Sherwood Schwartz's beloved 1963 sitcom, notably that the Professor (Russell Johnson) could build a nuclear reactor using only coconuts, but wasn't able to construct a boat to escape the desert island he and the castaways were stranded on. Yankovic also noted that "those homeboys brought an awful lot for just a three-hour tour."

The premise of "Gilligan's Island" is made clear in the show's opening theme song. Two sailors and five guests were to take a three-hour boat tour around Hawai'i when they hit bad weather,...

This Saturday at 11:00 Am on Disney, get ready for another exciting adventure with Hailey in Season 1 Episode 22 of “Hailey’s on It!” In this action-packed episode titled “The Umpire Strikes Back; Magician: Impossible,” our fearless protagonist, Hailey, a risk-averse but resourceful teenager from Oceanside, Calif., is on a mission to save the world.

Hailey is determined to complete every item on her long list of challenging tasks, even if some seem impractical. In “The Umpire Strikes Back,” Hailey finds herself facing off against an unexpected opponent in a high-stakes game of baseball. Will her quick thinking and resourcefulness help her prevail?

Then, in “Magician: Impossible,” Hailey dives into the world of magic as she attempts to unravel the secrets of a mysterious illusionist. With danger lurking around every corner, Hailey must use all her skills to uncover the truth and save the day.

Join Hailey on her thrilling journey as...

This Saturday at 10:00 Am on Disney, viewers are in for a double dose of adventure with “Hailey’s on It!” In Season 1 Episode 21, titled “Mer-made in Oceanside; Full House (of Bugs),” Hailey embarks on a mission to uncover the secrets of the oceanside mermaid. As Hailey delves into the mystery, audiences can anticipate a thrilling journey filled with surprises and unexpected twists.

Meanwhile, the Denogas join forces with the Banks family, setting the stage for comedic chaos. Hailey and Scott find themselves caught in the whirlwind, attempting to navigate the challenges of merging two families under one roof. The result promises to be a hilarious and heartwarming episode, showcasing the show’s signature blend of humor and family dynamics.

Don’t miss the excitement unfolding in “Hailey’s on It!” at 10:00 Am this Saturday on Disney, as the characters dive into the unknown and navigate the uncharted waters of family life.

Watching "Gilligan's Island" reruns as a child always had this author wondering if "Gilligan" was the character's first name or last name. Gilligan, as played hilariously by Bob Denver, was the main character of the series, but also its buffoonish comic relief. He was most countered by his straight man, the Skipper (Alan Hale) or Professor Roy Hinckley (Russell Johnson), but he served as a foil for every character. Denver doesn't get enough credit for his pliability as a comic performer. Denver passed away in 2005 at the age of 70, best known for "Gilligan's Island" and for the 1959 sitcom "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis." He was also a regular on the Sherwood Schwartz series "Dusty's Trail" as well as the 1968 series "The Good Guys."

On "Gilligan's Island," many fans wondered what Gilligan's full name was. It seems that, at the end of the day, he's like Cher or Fabian, sporting only one name.

"The Ballad of Gilligan's Island," penned by executive producer and show creator Sherwood Schwartz and songwriter George Wyle holds the distinction of being the best TV theme song of all time. It might only be tied with the theme song to "The Brady Bunch" ... which was also co-written by Schwartz. In both cases, the theme songs cleverly weave earworm-ready melodies into explicit descriptions of the show's premise. In only 55 seconds, audiences learn that they're about to watch a sitcom about seven stranded castaways on a tropical island, how those castaways got there, and who each of the castaways are. "The Ballad of Gilligan's Island" is both hummable and functional. Even the amazing surf guitars of "The Munsters" or the wicked pip organs of "Tales from the Crypt" cannot approach the utilitarian glories of "Gilligan."

The first season theme song famously omitted the names of the Professor (Russell Johnson) and Mary...

Sherwood Schwartz's 1963 sitcom "Gilligan's Island" was a high-concept series that, thanks to the gods of syndication, remained in the public consciousness for decades after it went off the air. The show's impeccable theme song, written by Schwartz and George Wyle, may be the best theme in television history, as it handily explains the premise using a hummable sea shanty: five tourists boarded the S.S. Minnow -- manned by Captain Jonas Grumby (Alan Hale) and his first mate Gilligan (Bob Denver) -- for a three-hour tour off the coast of Honolulu. When the tiny ship hit some bad weather, the seven characters landed on a desert island, stranded. The series followed their merry attempts to survive. 

"Gilligan's Island" ran for 98 episodes, ending its initial run in 1967, but reruns continued to air well into the 1990s. Yes, there was a time when "Gilligan's Island" was a reliable TV staple, occupying...

"Futurama" is a fantastic series, but it's destined to rank second place in creator Matt Groening's legacy. How could it not when the man has "The Simpsons" on his resume?

"The Simpsons" is a genuine American cultural institution — everyone knows who the titular family is — and while plenty complain "The Simpsons" has declined over the years, there are others who insist it's still good. It has run continuously for 30+ years, so there's still an audience for it. "Futurama," since its 1999 debut, has been on-again/off-again with cancellations and revivals (it's currently in an on-again phase thanks to Hulu).

Still, the "Futurama" team has plenty to be proud of with their show and tries not to see it as in competition with "The Simpsons." The two shows are "different animals," said "Futurama" voice actor Billy West at the London McM Expo in May 2011.

At this Expo, West sat on a...

The much-awaited prequel of Netflix’s superhit Spanish series Money Heist is finally here and the fans are loving it. Berlin follows the story of the titular character before the events of Money Heist as he recruits a gang of master thieves to pull off one of the biggest jewel heists ever in Paris. Created by Álex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato, Berlin stars Pedro Alonso in the lead role with Begoña Vargas, Julio Peña, Itziar Ituño, and Michelle Jenner starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the Netflix series here are some similar shows you might want to check out next.

Money Heist (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Money Heist is the original series that started this madness. The Netflix heist thriller series became a global hit for the streamer because of its intense and clever storyline with genuine and relatable characters. Money Heist tells the story of a motley...

Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige tends to fall between the stage boards when it comes to the director’s oeuvre. It’s not as blockbuster as his Batman trilogy or as critically acclaimed as Oppenheimer (which sold so well on Blu-ray it led to a major studio shortage) but it no doubt stands as one of his finest achievements: narratively, technically and, yes, magically. And it took years to get to the screen. Distracted and delayed off and on since the days of Memento, The Prestige would end up a feat that stands alone–ironically enough when you think about it…–in Christopher Nolan’s filmography.

But this is just the Pledge. So how did Christopher Nolan turn The Prestige into a minor masterpiece? How did he pull the rabbit out of the hat? Let’s find out: Wtf Happened to this movie?!

Christopher Nolan first got wind of The Prestige – Christopher Priest’s 1995 novel,...