For Immediate Release
Source: CBS Entertainment

BOB DENVER, DAWN WELLS AND RUSSELL JOHNSON STAR IN "SURVIVING GILLIGAN'S ISLAND: THE INCREDIBLY TRUE STORY OF THE LONGEST THREE-HOUR TOUR IN HISTORY," A NEW TELEVISION MOVIE NOW IN PRODUCTION FOR BROADCAST ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

June 4th, 2001-SURVIVING GILLIGAN'S ISLAND: THE INCREDIBLY TRUE STORY OF THE LONGEST THREE-HOUR TOUR IN HISTORY, a new television movie about what really happened behind the scenes of one of America's most popular television shows, CBS's "Gilligan's Island," has begun production in Los Angeles for broadcast on the CBS Television Network.

This nostalgic romp, starring original cast members Bob Denver (Gilligan), Dawn Wells (Mary Ann) and Russell Johnson (the Professor), features little known facts and insights -- from on and off-screen -- into one of television's most beloved casts. This re-creation of pivotal events that took place during production of the series as told by original cast members offers an unusual look inside a show that became a cultural phenomenon.

The story, told from the point of view of Dawn, Bob and Russell, begins with the battle the creator faced convincing network executives to green light the original pilot. After struggling to cast the show, he fought to have the series picked up. The network couldn't argue with the favorable reaction audiences had to the seven unusual castaways and their plight. However, even after the series was picked up, the obstacles faced on "Gilligan's Island" were not only in front of the cameras. From Russell Johnson's reluctance to take the role that eventually solidified his place in pop culture to the private pain Natalie Schaeffer (Mrs. Howell) endured, the events taking place behind the scenes were far different from the lighthearted on-screen escapades of the shipwrecked seven.

Emmy Award winner Paul A. Kaufman ("Run the Wild Fields") is the executive producer. He is also directing the film from a script by Duane Poole ("The David Cassidy Story") for Landscape Entertainment, in association with The Kaufman Company. Dawn Wells ("Gilligan's Island") and Larry Germain ("Brady Bunch Home Movies") are the co-executive producers.

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