by Bob Denver
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In Gilligan, Maynard & Me Bob Denver takes us backstage and behind the scenes of Dobie Gillis and Gilligan's Island, two of the most popular shows in television history.
Writing in a remarkably friendly and affable style, Denver tells what it was like to be plucked from complete obscurity to portray America's most celebrated beatnik, Maynard G. Krebs, and then to become Gilligan, the world's favorite stranded castaway.
Containing hundreds of stories about the cast and crews of Denver's various shows, Gilligan, Maynard & Me also provides a genial insider's view of how Hollywood and television works: the way pilots and series are created; his relationship with Max Schulman of Dobie Gillis and Sherwood Schwartz ofGilligan's Island; the task of casting the skipper, the millionaire (and his wife), the movie star, the professor and Mary Ann; the decisions and antics of studio and network executives which turned out to be far wackier than anything ever staged for a sitcon.
With an almost childlike sense of wonder, Denver explains the painstaking work behind all the pratfalls, explosions, special effects, and gadgets that made Gilligan's Island such a surreal joy to watch time and again.
In addition, Denver reveals:
• his twenty-five favorite Dobie Gillis episodes
• his fifty favorite Gilligan's Island shows
his fondest memories of Dwayne Hickman, Warren Beaty, Tuesday Weld, Alan Hale Jr., Jim Backus, Dawn Wells, Russell Johnson, and that inimitable movie star Tine Lousie.
A must for all baby boomers and show-biz buffs, Gilligan, Maynard & Me is sure to put a smile on the face of anyone who's ever relished the outrageous antics and self-deprecating slapstick of that television original, Bob Denver.