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The 10 Best Classic TV Theme Songs
by Maggie Furlong, posted Oct 19th 2011 2:00PM
The TV theme song is sort of a dying art: Some shows still have them -- and they're making a comeback of late -- but most choose a quick diddy and they're done. Having anything TV-related stuck in your head for days in this line of work is a very good sign of something special, so we prefer the shows that go all out.Our pals over at AOL Radio are re-launching with a new and improved listening experience today, powered by Slacker, and one of the stations we're most looking forward to is TV Tunes. Obviously. They're playing theme songs from popular shows, past and present, 24 hours a day, now with 50% fewer commercial interruptions ... if only real TV was like that.
It got us thinking about our own favorite TV theme songs (including new ones like 'New Girl' on Fox. "Who's that girl? It's Jess!" ... and we adore her), which got us going a ways back in the old AOL TV archives for these gems: Our reader picks for the Best TV Theme Songs. Ever.
Take a look and tell us if you agree with this classic-filled top 10 ...
'The Early Show' Remembers 'Gilligan's Island' and 'Brady Bunch' Creator Sherwood Schwartz (VIDEO)
by Nick Zaino, posted Jul 13th 2011 1:30PM
Sherwood Schwartz, sitcom writer and creator of 'Gilligan's Island' and 'The Brady Bunch,' died Tuesday at the age of 94. 'The Early Show' (weekdays, 7AM on CBS) took a look back at his career Wednesday with some interview footage of the man himself and a couple of contributions from people in the street.In the interview footage, Schwartz explained the concept behind 'Gilligan's Island.' "It's about how seven unrelated people have to learn to get along with each other," he said. The segment noted that 'The Brady Bunch,' which ran from 1969 to 1974, had a comeback in the '90s with a movie franchise. It wasn't a critical success, but people liked it. "They did assassinate the show, but the show always bounced back strong," said Sherwood.
Sherwood also wrote the theme songs for both shows, which are arguably as well-remembered as the shows themselves. As proof, 'The Early Show' went out on the street to find a few people who would sing them for their cameras, albeit severely off-key.
Sherwood Schwartz, 'Brady Bunch' Creator, Dies at 94
by Chris Harnick, posted Jul 12th 2011 1:15PM
Sherwood Schwartz, the brain behind some of TV's most endearing and recognizable sitcoms, has died, according to TMZ. He was 94.Schwartz, who created 'The Brady Bunch' and 'Gilligan's Island,' got his start on as a writer on 'I Married Joan' and 'The Red Skelton Hour.' He won an Emmy in 1961 for the latter. Prior to his TV credits, Schwartz wrote for the radio versions of 'The Bob Hope Show' and 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.'
'Gilligan's Island' took off in 1964 and ran for three seasons on CBS. The series starred Bob Denver, Alan Hale and Dawn Wells (pictured with Schwartz). Following the success of 'Gilligan's,' Schwartz created 'The Brady Bunch,' starring Florence Henderson and Robert Reed, for ABC in 1969.
Do You Want To See a Big-Screen 'Gilligan's Island?'
by Bob Sassone, posted Mar 3rd 2010 2:30PM
The mining of old TV shows for new movie ideas continues with this latest news: they're turning 'Gilligan's Island' into a big-screen movie.How is this seen as a good idea in the executive offices at Warner Brothers? How exactly will they make a one-time 90 minute movie out of a dumb (but in a lovable way) show from the 60s? As we've been saying here for the past several years, big-screen adaptations of old TV shows usually don't work ('Bewitched,' 'The Beverly Hillbillies,' 'Charlie's Angels,' the list goes on and on) because it's not that those shows necessarily had brilliant plots, it's because they existed in a certain time and had a specific cast that we love and remember. Bob Denver is Gilligan. I'm not going to go see a big-screen version just because they cast, say, Christopher Mintz-Plasse in the role (no casting yet, but I can picture him being considered).
What's the best TV theme of all-time, Happy Days or Gilligan's Island?
by Bob Sassone, posted Nov 12th 2009 3:04PM

I know, I know, you're thinking, those are the only two choices I get, Happy Days and Gilligan's Island? Yes, according to this poll over at AOL Television. For the past several weeks they've pit various TV show theme songs against each other in a tournament, and the two finalists, for some reason, are Happy Days theme and the Gilligan's Island theme.
Now, it seems like these aren't the "best" theme songs, just the ones that readers and TV fans thought were the most iconic, or maybe it's the fact that they both have lyrics and that's what readers were looking for?
Ginger vs. Mary Ann: Unsung TV Sitcom Hotties
by Gary Susman, posted Nov 5th 2009 6:00PM
The eternal Ginger-vs.-Mary Ann debate will never be settled. Even the babe connoisseurs at Asylum can't really decide between the 'Gilligan's Island' sirens.Asylum's recent list of "TV Sitcom Hotties Through the Years" does seem to come down on the side of Mary Ann (Dawn Wells), though with the caveat, "For today, at least." In other words, no slight to Ginger Grant (Tina Louise), the Marilyn Monroe-inspired starlet who, even on a desert island, always appeared glamorous enough for the red carpet. On any given day, Asylum might have voted her the island's top hottie over girl-next-door Mary Ann.
Like Ginger, there are lots of funny, sexy women who might just as easily have graced Asylum's list. Not to take away anything from Jeannie (Barbara Eden) on 'I Dream of Jeannie,' Jennifer Marlowe (Loni Anderson) on 'WKRP in Cincinnati,' or Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) on 'The Office,' but how could they have left off the following funny, foxy females?
And now, Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island shows you how to peel a potato
by Bob Sassone, posted Sep 22nd 2009 5:09PM
Hey, it's National Potato Month! If you find yourself making potato-oriented meals and you just hate peeling the spuds, Dawn Wells from Gilligan's Island is here to help. In this video, she shows you how to peel a potato quickly and without jamming a peeler into your thumb. Though I think peeling one would be faster.
[via Boing Boing]
This post is about Star Trek and porn
by Bob Sassone, posted Jul 1st 2009 11:29AM
Porn movies are well known (so I've heard) for taking film titles and making them a little bit dirtier (so I've heard). Now Hustler is taking TV shows and creating a whole series of films based (or debased) or them. I'm kind of surprised that they're allowed to use Star Trek in the title of a film, like they have with This Ain't Star Trek XXX. I guess the "this ain't" part saves them from legal problems. There's also one called Not The Cosbys.Other shows get pornified: Happy Days, The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island, and Hell's Kitchen, which seems like a weird choice for a porn movie that I don't want to think about. There's also something called Everybody Loves Lucy, which is really self-explanatory.
Once upon a time, Gilligan got stuck on another planet
by Bob Sassone, posted Jun 24th 2009 7:35PM
A lot of people think that The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island is the worst example of the Gilligan's Island movies and spinoffs we've had over the years. But this could rival it. It's a show I put out of my mind until I saw a link about it on Pop Culture Junk Mail. It's Gilligan's Planet. That's right, planet. They tried to get off the island via rocket ship and landed on another world (but couldn't find their way back to Hawaii??). Please note that Dawn Wells does the voice of Maryann and Ginger.
[via The BooBerry Alarm Clock]
Gilligan is going to be shipwrecked in the theaters
by Brad Trechak, posted Dec 28th 2008 11:03AM
It looks like Sherwood Schwartz is having his other major television brainchild made into a movie (because The Brady Bunch and its sequels weren't enough). Even more interesting, his Gilligan of choice is Michael Cera, the same guy holding up the Arrested Development movie.Would this movie work in this day and age? Maybe. It's a very silly premise and could work as a humorous take on Lost (or perhaps more accurately Lost is a serious take on Gilligan's Island). Of course, the planning is in the early stages so a myriad of things could happen to frick this entire idea up completely.
I can see Hollywood trying to make the cast multi-ethnic to give it a more modern sensibility. Will it have an African-American Jonas Grumby (that's the Skipper for all you lacking in Gilligan's Island trivia knowledge)? An Asian Mary Ann? A gay Professor (I only say this given his historic lack of pursuit of Mary Ann or Ginger)? The mind boggles. What do you think?
How would you like a ride on the S.S. Minnow?
by Bob Sassone, posted Jul 31st 2008 3:20PM
I'm surprised that someone hasn't thought of this before.The owners of the Quality Foods supermarkets are now the owners of the boat used on Gilligan's Island. The company plans to send the boat on a promotional tour for Quality Foods, and might even get Dawn Wells (Mary Ann on the show) and Russell Johnson (The Professor) to take part in the event.
Maude, Merv & M*A*S*H man entering Emmy Hall of Fame
by Allison Waldman, posted Apr 18th 2008 3:20PM
Each year, the Emmys honor the best in current TV. They also recognize the all-time greats. This year Bea Arthur, Larry Gelbart, Merv Griffin, Daniel Burke, Tom Murphy and Sherwood Schwartz will be entering the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Hall of Fame. Grand choices, in my opinion, with only a minor quibble which I'll mention later.According to ATAS chairman and CEO John Shaffner , "The Hall of Fame is a special recognition for those who have made significant contributions and have left an indelible mark on the television business." As Maude in the 1970's and Dorothy on The Golden Girls in the 1980's (into the '90s) Beatrice Arthur, made her mark. She was more effective on TV than she was in the theater, and she was a dynamo on stage.
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HP: "The computer is personal again"
by Brett Love, posted Feb 4th 2007 9:39PM
Et tu HP? Ya know, I just don't get the fascination with American Chopper. It's an ok show, but it has fallen into the Gilligan's Island trap long ago. You know, the joke about Gilligan's Island? "Did you ever see the one where they almost got off the island, but then they didn't?"
Well.... did you ever see the American Chopper where they almost ran out of time and then Paul and Paul Jr. had a fight? It's repetitive, and the bikes are too similar to keep me coming back to watch the show. For some reason though, companies all over the place want to be associated with them. Good for them on taking advantage of it. Their presence kind of killed this one for me, but it was a well done spot otherwise. Nice animation, and it gets the HP name out there to what must be an audience that I just don't comprehend.
Classic TV on DVD, cheap!
by Brett Love, posted Jan 1st 2007 11:01AM
I can't be the only one that sometimes suffers an attack of sticker shock when shopping for TV on DVD. Farscape and The Sopranos, well... anything by HBO for that matter, come to mind. So I was thrilled to find, while walking through my local Half Price Books, the TV Time Comedy Collection. This 12 disk set contains The Andy Griffith Show (16 eps), Hal Roach's Rascals (9 eps), Dick Van Dyke (6 eps), Petticoat Junction (4 eps), The Lucy Show (19 eps), The Beverly Hillbillies (20 eps), Ozzie and Harriet (18 eps), Burns and Allen (10 eps), and the Rescue From Gilligan's Island movie. All for the low low price of $9.98, new in box. It's a fun collection. While I wouldn't be in the market for season sets of any of these shows, with the possible exception of Dick Van Dyke, it's nice to have them around when the networks go all repeat on us. And finding a twenty-something Dennis Hopper guest starring as a beatnik poet on an obscure Petticoat Junction episode makes it funny in a whole new way.
Unfortunately, I can't seem to track down this exact set anywhere online. Amazon does have a similar set from the same company with a slightly different mix of episodes, and minus the Gilligan movie, new for $23.99, and used for $10.97. Still not a bad deal.
Gilligans Island pilot theme song - VIDEO
by Brett Love, posted Oct 18th 2006 11:34AM
There are a lot of great things about the internet, and unearthing crazy stuff like this is one of them. I've heard a few different versions of the Gilligan's Island theme song over the years, including The Sweaty Nipples singing the song to the music of Greenday's Longview. Of all of them though, this one is the worst. Telling you it is the worst is probably not the best way to sell you on the video, but it's one of those 'so bad you have to see it' things. Whoever decided to redo the theme song was about as right as anyone has ever been in television. Take a look for yourself, the video is after the jump.
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