Dawn Wells: Remembered Fondly, and With Love
Original Airdates: Jan. 15-17, 2021
TVC 523.1: TV Confidential dedicates its entire program this week to the life and career of Dawn Wells, the iconic actress, author, and producer who passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at age eighty-two. Beloved by three generations of TV viewers around the world as Mary Ann Summers on Gilligan’s Island, Dawn left her mark on many other aspects of the entertainment industry before and after Gilligan, including more than sixty stage credits (ranging from Noel Coward and Neil Simon to Steel Magnolias and The Owl and the Pussycat); her legendary boot camps in Idaho, which taught thousands of actors and crew members many important essentials about the “business” of show business; and her starring role, opposite Michael Dante, in the classic western Winterhawk. In this segment, Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss why Dawn, Mary Ann, and Gilligan’s Island all remain indelible pieces of our childhood.
The Insatiable Curiosity of Dawn Wells
Original Airdates: Jan. 15-17, 2021
TVC 523.2: Emmy Award-winning and Grammy Award-nominated writer/producer Geoffrey Mark talks to Ed about Dawn Wells’ innate interest in learning everything she could about the world, how things worked, and about the people she encountered, whether they were fans, friends, or loved ones. Geoff knew Dawn Wells for more than twenty-five years.
The Character of Dawn Wells
Original Airdates: Jan. 15-17, 2021
TVC 523.3: Geoffrey Mark shares a few more memories of his friend Dawn Wells, including her proclivity for letting the people in her life shine as people. Dawn Wells passed away Wednesday, Dec. 30 at age eighty-two.
The Stars Come Out for Dawn Wells
Original Airdates: Jan. 15-17, 2021
TVC 523.4: Ed plays highlights from the September 2019 ceremony at the Hollywood Museum honoring Dawn Wells and the legacy of Gilligan’s Island, including remarks by actress Ruta Lee, producer Lloyd Schwartz, and Dawn Wells herself. This segment also includes a clip from our July 2017 conversation with actor Michael Dante in which he speaks fondly about working with Dawn on the 1975 western Winterhawk. Dawn Wells passed away Wednesday, Dec. 30 at age eighty-two.
Dawn Wells: “She Clicked with Everybody”
Original Airdates: Jan. 15-17, 2021
TVC 523.5: Bill Funt, son of Candid Camera creator Allen Funt, and a longtime friend of Sherwood Schwartz and the family members of many Gilligan’s Island cast members, shares some memories of his friend Dawn Wells, including how reverent she was about people and all kinds of life, and how close she became to comedienne Samantha Hale, granddaughter of “Skipper” Alan Hale (pictured, far left, and with Dawn and Bill). Bill knew Dawn Wells for more than ten years.
Dawn Wells: An International Treasure
Original Airdates: Jan. 15-17, 2021
TVC 523.6: Bill Funt talks to Ed about how beloved Dawn Wells was across generations around the world, almost on the same level as The Beatles. Dawn Wells passed away Wednesday, Dec. 30 at age eighty-two.
Dawn Wells on the “Doris Day Quality” of Mary Ann
Original Airdates: Jan. 15-17, 2021
TVC 523.7: From July 2017: Ed, Tony, and Donna welcome Dawn Wells, star of Gilligan’s Island, Life Interrupted, Winterhawk, and more than sixty stage productions. Of Dawn’s three appearances on TV Confidential, this is my personal favorite.
Dawn Wells: Extra Portion
Original Airdates: Jan. 15-17, 2021
TVC 523.8: From July 2017: Dawn Wells talks to Ed, Tony, and Donna about how much of the appeal of Gilligan’s Island stems from the casting of the actors who played the seven castaways, and particularly the Laurel and Hardy-like comic timing of Bob Denver and Alan Hale.
Dawn Wells, Winterhawk, and The Owl and the Pussycat
Original Airdates: Jan. 15-17, 2021
TVC 523.9: From July 2017: Ed, Tony, and Donna talk to Dawn Wells about some of her many non-Gilligan credits, including the classic western Winterhawk and the stage production of The Owl and the Pussycat (one of Dawn’s favorite roles), and the highly rated made-for-TV movies she produced about the back stories of Gilligan’s Island and Batman.
Coda to Dawn Wells
Original Airdates: Jan. 15-17, 2021
TVC 523.10: Ed reads a brief passage from Russell Johnson’s foreword to Dawn Wells’ book What Would Mary Ann Do? A Guide to Life that captures why we all continue to love Dawn Wells and the Mary Ann character. Dawn Wells passed away Wednesday, Dec. 30 at age eighty-two.
Want to advertise/sponsor our show?
TV Confidential has partnered with AdvertiseCast to handle advertising/sponsorship requests for the podcast edition of our program. They’re great to work with and will help you advertise on our show. Please email sales@advertisecast.com or click the link below to get started:
https://www.advertisecast.com/TVConfidentialAradiotalkshowabout
