"Marooned" was the pilot for the series GILLIGAN'S ISLAND, conceived by veteran comedy writer Sherwood Schwartz, coming off a 1961 Emmy win for THE RED SKELTON SHOW. A premise that seemingly no one, not even Schwartz's agent, had any faith in, failing to reckon with the carefully crafted representation of society types: Thurston Howell III and wife Lovey (Eunice Wentworth Howell) were upper class, occasionally snobbish millionaires, the Professor a hard working, knowledgeable teacher, the movie star who knows the ins and outs of getting by in the spotlight, and the innocent farm girl who knows how to make great tasting pies. The Skipper (Jonas Grumby) was a born sailor and WW2 veteran, coupled with well meaning but inept first mate Willie Gilligan, his first name never revealed on the show. This pilot was shot in November 1963, on location in Hawaii, with a calypso theme which would be replaced for the series, picked up for the 1964 fall season by CBS. Also replaced would be three actors from "Marooned," John Gabriel, Kit Smythe, and Nancy McCarthy, the professor a bit younger, Ginger a mere secretary, and Bunny, another secretary, renamed Mary Ann. Much of the footage from this unaired pilot would be recycled in the Christmas episode, "Birds Gotta Fly, Fish Gotta Talk," but for the most part the main characters, even in embryonic form, are pretty mush etched in stone. Jim Backus was the only actor considered for Mr. Howell, the perfect actor to maintain a likability even when showing his selfish, greedy side. Keeping up with the veteran, multitalented actor became a constant joy for Natalie Schafer, who didn't envision being stuck in a TV series, merely signing on for a trip to Hawaii, but she loved her character. Bob Denver was second choice for Gilligan, after Jerry Van Dyke turned it down, as earnest in his efforts as the bumbling on screen character. The most difficult role to cast was the Skipper, until one night Schwartz noticed Alan Hale sitting nearby at a local restaurant, and after a successful test the show was finally born. Hale embraced his role like no other cast member, a great big teddy bear who could yell and scream at Gilligan all day long, the audience never doubting that he still loved his 'little buddy.' Plotwise, we don't have anyone trying to leave the island on a raft (that would take place in the first proper episode), most situations reshot by the new cast where the old footage could not be used. After back to back positive previews, the network picked up the series rather quickly, though no one would ever believe how popular it would become.