Within the “Baywatch” episode “Now Sit Proper Again and You may Hear a Story” (February 24, 1992), Eddie (Billy Warlock) and Shauni (Erika Eleniak) are out within the ocean making an attempt to rescue a beleaguered jet skier, after they uncover an island that they hadn’t ever observed earlier than. Going ashore, they discover that two folks have been residing on this island, stranded removed from shore, for many years. They’re Mary Ann (Daybreak Wells) and Gilligan (Bob Denver), the identical characters seen on the 1964 sitcom “Gilligan’s Island.”
Wait, what? Aren’t these fictional characters? Gilligan and Mary Ann clarify that their experiences being stranded on the uncharted desert isle are very a lot actual. Shauni marvels, “I assumed you have been only a TV present!” However everybody type of lets the unreality of the state of affairs slip previous. No additional questions are requested about how Gilligan and Mary Ann have been filmed or how their footage was transformed right into a 1964 CBS comedy sequence.
There’s a sensible cause, nonetheless, for a way Gilligan and Mary Ann are on this Californian island, as a substitute of the unique island the place their present happened. It appears that evidently the pair arrived on the secondary island after the Professor was in a position to assemble a two-person vessel, permitting them to flee their unique tropical dwelling. They complain that individuals got here to their island on a regular basis (a daily prevalence on “Gilligan’s Island”), however they by no means discovered a approach to escape. With the arrival of Eddie and Shauni, although, it appears their prayers have lastly been answered.
As soon as Gilligan and Mary Ann return to the mainland, nonetheless, they meet the enthused Captain Thorpe (Monte Markham) who is a big “Gilligan’s Island” fan, and he simply occurs to have received the lottery. Together with his newfound wealth, he needs to provide his personal model of “Gilligan’s Island,” with Gilligan and Mary Ann taking part in themselves. It is all very meta, as was fashionable within the Nineties.
The Gilligan’s Island episode of Baywatch was meta and daffy.
On Thorpe’s model of “Gilligan’s Island,” Thorpe, now a millionaire, would stand in for Mr. Howell. Shauni would play Ginger, Garner (Gregory Allen Williams) would play the Skipper, and Harvey (Tom McTigue) would play the Professor. There did not appear to be a Mrs. Howell in his model of the present. Eddie would additionally tag alongside, however he would play a secondary Gilligan. Naturally, one in all Thorpe’s concepts would contain capturing on an actual boat, and also you may have the ability to predict what occurred subsequent. It appears that evidently the boat hit tough climate, and the seven characters have been blown off-course to an actual abandoned island. It was “Gilligan’s Island” yet again, simply with “Baywatch” characters.
(It must be famous that “Now Sit Proper Again” takes place in a world the place the Seventies and Eighties “Gilligan’s Island” TV film follow-ups by no means occurred. In these TV films, the castaways did escape from the island, returned, escaped once more, and opened a resort. None of these occasions appear to be referenced on “Baywatch.”)
After all, there’s a proof for all these odd shenanigans. It appears that evidently Eddie merely slipped on his lifeguard ramp initially of the episode and was knocked out. It was all a dream. He wasn’t actually interacting with Gilligan and Mary Ann however merely imagining what they’d appear to be within the 12 months 1992. Thorpe publicizes that he did certainly win the lottery, however the prize was solely $58.
“Now Sit Proper Again” was written by Lloyd J. Schwartz, the son of “Gilligan’s Island” creator Sherwood Schwartz. Lloyd’s TV profession concerned working alongside his father, and the pair labored on many “Brady Bunch” initiatives collectively as producers, together with stage musicals. Lloyd additionally wrote episodes of “Alice” and “The A-Group” along with his “Baywatch” episode.
Like “Gilligan’s Island” itself, “Now Sit Proper Again” was made in good enjoyable, reminding audiences that “Baywatch” is a straight-up goofy present. And Denver and Wells have been very sporting. They have been simply as dedicated as ever.