IMHO - There was the cast and then there was Tina Louise (Ginger). Tina had already done some film work and was moving nicely. Her agent brought her the contract for Gilligan’s Island and sold it to her. She signed despite misgivings. The story goes that at first table reading, Tina complained that Bob Denver had more lines, was getting more laughs and it seemed like he was the star of the show. Everyone kind of looked at her with looks of pity, confusion and, just one or two, with contempt. This was when she was advised and reminded that it’s Gilligan’s Island, not Ginger’s Island. Tina Louise was not happy with that at all.
Now there are stories of how Tina Louise would do her lines, perform her character and then would stay separate from the rest of the cast. ... Further stories go on about how Tina would be vocal about not enjoying doing the show. And so you had 6 cast members who would laugh, joke and work well together and then you had Tina Louise. It got to the point that when certain pictures were being taken, Bob Denver refused to take any with Tina Louise being in the shot.
There were several reunion movies but Tina Louise would have nothing to do with them. She wanted to distance herself from the character as much as possible. She did show up for reunion interviews like on the Fox late show with Ross Shafer in 1988. But if you watch these shows, you can see that there is a finite space between Louise and Alan Hale Jr. When she comes out, there are no embraces or kisses. Barely a hand shake. Dawn Wells and Russell Johnson practically don’t acknowledge her. Louise kisses Jim Backus when he comes out and Natalie Schafer gives her a quick handshake but nothing more. Louise spent more time in the interview promoting her indy film The Pool then she did chatting about Gilligan. The host has to draw it out of her by asking her to talk like Ginger.
In an earlier reunion on GMA with Kathie Lee Gifford hosting, Hale Jr. is on her right and leaning away from her and Russell Johnson has defined space away from her on the couch. She has the gall to say they were a family and all had fun. Ha!! Gifford asks her about not having done the reunion flicks and Louise stammers for a moment in response. It was obvious she had to choose her words carefully.
On the whole, the cast was tight and happy together and all but Louise said they would do it again.
Louise was born Tina Blacker on February 11, 1934, in New York City.[2] An only child, she was raised by her mother, Sylvia (née Horn, later Myers), a fashion model. Her father, Joseph Blacker, was a candy store owner in Brooklyn, and later an accountant.[1][3] Her parents divorced by the time she was four. Louise attended PS 6, Scarborough Day School and Miami University.[4] She is Jewish.[5]
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