Slap & Tickle

So Long, Little Buddy
Bob Denver, the beloved Gilligan on Gilligan’s Island passed away at 70. Gilligan. 70. Who’d have thought?

Sure the show was inane, unrealistic, and silly, but all the best shows of the 60’s were: Green Acres, Petticoat Junction, and Beverly Hillbilly’s to name a few. But, it never failed to make me laugh. I don’t think Gilligan ever dropped a coconut--or some other heavy object--on the Skipper’s foot that I didn’t laugh.

When I was a kid and was sick, I’d crawl into my parent’s bed and watch TV and feel better. Game shows were in the morning, but in the afternoon, I Dream of Jeannie, Brady Bunch and Gilligan’s Island would come on. (If I was sick for a week with the flu, I would throw in “Dialing for Dollars” for a little variety.) It didn’t matter how sick I was, Gilligan always made me laugh.

It wasn’t until I got older and KBHK 44 would run its summer specials of old shows from the 50’s and 60’s (before TVLand) that I gained an appreciation for his Maynard G. Krebs and just how damn funny he and the Many Loves of Dobie Gillis were.

At least he left of with a legacy of very silly fun. So, a big thank you to Maynard and Gilligan for coming into my family room (and sick room) and making a little kid and a big kid forget the bad things of this world and letting me laugh really hard.

I think I’m gonna go get myself a big slice Banana Cream Pie and toast my favorite Castaway.

Thanks, Little Buddy! I’d tell you to hold onto those coconuts when you see the Skipper, but I have a feeling you won’t… and I'm smiling just thinking about it.