Whom would you cast as TV's favorite castaways?

[thatcrazycajun]

By now, almost every classic television series from the 1950s and 1960s that anyone really remembers has been made into a big-screen, big-budget, big-star motion picture for cinemas. Two glaring exceptions remain: Hogan's Heroes, which is probably safe from such treatment in this era of political correctness, and that "tale of a fateful trip" that lasted only three seasons on CBS but gained a generation of fans in syndication, Gilligan's Island. With the passing of its star, Bob Denver, last fall, I began awaiting news of a Gilligan movie, but so far nobody at the major studios has made any such plans public.

Naturally, if (when?) such a film does come about, no one else but John Goodman could possibly play Capt. Jonas Grumby, AKA "The Skipper." Likewise, only Jim Carrey comes close to having the kind of rubber-faced, manic innocence and adeptness at physical comedy needed to pull off Gilligan. Carrey, though, may now be too old and too far down the road of high-minded dramatic thespian to do it. Robin Williams is definitely too old, but in a pinch I might allow for the possibility of Andy Dick. (I used to like watching him, but Dick's slobbering all over poor Nichelle Nichols and practically everyone else at Shatner's roast on Comedy Central last year still leaves a bad taste in my brain.)

So...who would you pick to round out the "seven stranded castaways" on the big-screen version of TV's most famous uncharted desert isle? (And if they do make this and Dawn "Mary Ann" Wells doesn't at least get a cameo, someone's gonna get hurt—badly. Ditto for Russell Johnson and Tina Louise, if she's finally mellowed out about the whole thing.) Is Uma Thurman glamour-puss enough to tackle playing sultry starlet Ginger Grant? Is there anyone who can play mega-millionaire Thurston Howell III without aping the late, lamented Jim Backus? William H. Macy might work as the Professor, and I would just love to see what Glenn Close could do with the role of Mrs. Howell, AKA "Lovey." Whattaya think?

Comments

[scruffycritter.livejournal.com]

Jennifer Anniston for Mary Ann.

Ginger is tough. Uma Thurman keeps getting those roles and I have no idea why. I think I'd go for Catherine Zeta Jones.

If they try to "Update" the character of Ginger, to be a pop-star type waif, I'm boycotting.

Kelsey Grammer needs a dual role of Professor and Mr. Howell.

[signy1.livejournal.com]

They never did say-- in any of the aired episodes-- whether it was his first name or his last. In a draft of the pilot, they called him 'Willy Gilligan', but I think they threw even the idea that it was his real name into the trash. So depending on how canonical you want to get, there is an option.

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Wikipedia reports that his first name was indeed Willy, but cites no source. Since I have no better source, I'll take their word.

My Matching Government Issue Die-Cast-Metal Portraits of President Lincoln

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I like Scruff's idea of Kelsey Grammer as Mr. Howell if Wm. H. Macy is the Professor... but if Kelsey plays the Professor, they should pull out the Hackman.

Ginger? Angelina Jolie.

Mary Ann? Anne Hathaway if you don't mind tall, otherwise Alexis Bledel.

Gilligan?








Jack Black.

Re: My Matching Government Issue Die-Cast-Metal Portraits of President Lincoln

[msminlr.livejournal.com]

Jack Black as Gilligan to John Goodman's Skipper would violate the skinny guy / chunky guy comic paradigm that goes at least as far back as Laurel and Hardy.

Penn and Teller as the Skipper and Gilligan?

Re: My Matching Government Issue Die-Cast-Metal Portraits of President Lincoln

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

First off, explain that headline. Weird.

Second: Gene Hackman as Howell? Hmmm...interesting notion. Grammer would definitely be way better cast as the Professor. As for Hathaway, I have absolutely no problem with tall gals...especially her. :-)

And I had another thought: How about Rick Moranis as Gilligan?

[(Anonymous)]

"I used to like watching him, but Dick's slobbering all over poor Nichelle Nichols and practically everyone else at Shatner's roast on Comedy Central last year still leaves a bad taste in my brain."

..oh, come on...a) how is that different from anything else Andy dick has ever? b)it was a freakin' roast -- bad taste is mandatory; and c) Nichelle Nichols is grown up. She can take care of herself. You don't need to be reflexively protective of her.

That much said, I really can't stand Andy Dick. Nothing against him personally, but I don't find him entertaining. {one of my favorite moments in that roast was George Takei telling him "as a fellow gay man, even I have to say, 'tone it down!'").

Regarding the subject at hand, casting Gilligan is a tough one, if you're drawing strictly from the pool of available celebrities (surely there are any number of unknowns who are the right type and can assay the role - it's not Shakespeare).

Most of the candidates I can think of are too old. Or dead. I don't catch too many current films; between my rare theatergoing experiences, the occasional DVD, and TV broadcasts (I don't subscribe to any premium cable channels), I see about 4 new films a year, tops, so I don't know who's current.

So, basically, after all that typing, I have nothing to add.

Typical.

Forgot to sign in...

[darrenzieger.livejournal.com]

...the above post was me.