MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO, THE: WILLIAM S. PALEY TELEVISION FESTIVAL 2004: A SALUTE TO SHERWOOD SCHWARTZ: GILLIGAN'S ISLAND & THE BRADY BUNCH {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Museum of Television & Radio's William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held this year at the Directors Guild of America Theatre Complex, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television and is dedicated to television's creative community. This evening honors Sherwood Schwartz and his two iconic sitcoms, "Gilligan's Island" and "The Brady Bunch." Panelists include the following: Schwartz; his son and sometime collaborator Lloyd Schwartz; other collaborators John Rich, Les Martinson, and Mel Shavelson; as well as "The Brady Bunch" cast members Ann B. Davis, Christopher Knight, and Susan Olsen, and "Gilligan's Island" actress Dawn Wells. Museum television curator Ron Simon opens the program, welcoming the audience and introducing Schwartz. Schwartz takes the stage to introduce the evening's screenings: the original theme music and opening credits to "Gilligan's Island," the "Gilligan's Island" episode "The Little Dictator," and "The Brady Bunch" episode "The Show Must Go On" which are on this tape in their entirety.
After the screenings, Schwartz opens by discussing how he mastered the art of comedy. He also talks about working with Bob Hope in his early years; why he chose a career in television over radio and film; how he created Gilligan; and the serious themes tackled on "Gilligan's Island." Rich talks about directing the "Gilligan's Island" pilot. Lloyd Schwartz details joining the "family business" at the age of seventeen. Sherwood Schwartz further details where his idea for "The Brady Bunch" came from; the idea of the "blended family"; and the Brady kid auditions. Knight and Olsen further discuss their auditions. Schwartz ends by talking about writing the theme songs for both shows. Questions from the audience then lead to an examination of the following topics: Schwartz's theater work; The Annoyance Theater's presentation of a stage version of "The Brady Bunch"; how Gilligan finally did get off the island; the upcoming "Gilligan's Island" reality show; and why the original calypso version of the "Gilligan's Island" theme song was changed.
(Includes the "Gilligan's Island" episode "The Little Dictator" and "The Brady Bunch" episode "The Show Must Go On" which are a part of the Museum's collection and may be viewed separately. See "Gilligan's Island: The Little Dictator" (T:25309) and "The Brady Bunch: The Show Must Go On" (T:79841) for summaries.)
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: March 12, 2004 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:04:25
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:80919
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ron Simon … Moderator
- Ann B. Davis … Panelist
- Christopher Knight … Panelist
- Les Martinson … Panelist
- Susan Olsen … Panelist
- John Rich … Panelist
- Lloyd Schwartz … Panelist
- Sherwood Schwartz … Panelist
- Mel Shavelson … Panelist
- Dawn Wells … Panelist
- Bob Hope