The Truth Behind the Sitcom Scandals
Gilligan's Island & Diff'rent Strokes
Tuesday 15 April 2008 on BIO

We get to take a behind the scenes tour of Diff'rent Strokes , and learn of the troubles the show's three young stars experienced in their real lives. Later, cast members from Gilligan's Island speak about their time on the show.

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  external: Actress serving probation under... Mar 12, 2008 (Score: 45)
  

Dawn started out as a chemistry major, later leaning toward theater training, as a student at the all-girl school, Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. When she graduated, her first role was in a play portraying a fourteen-year-old boy. (edit) Dawn was the cast member who received the most fan mail during the 1964-67 broadcasting of the CBS television sitcom, Gilligan's Island. (edit) Dawn was arrested for possession of marijuana and sentenced to six months probation, after being pulled over while driving erratically in her car on October 17, 2007. Her lawyer produced witnesses that she was not intoxicated or otherwise under the influence when she left a surprise birthday party earleir that day and that a friend of hers did leave the marijuana in the car after borrowing it without her knowledge. Her driving was attributed to her trying to find the heating controls in the car, a new one with which she had no familiarity. (edit) Dawn attended Gilligan's Island creator Sherwood Schwartz's award ceremony where he received a Television star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, along with Brady Bunch star Florence Henderson on March 7, 2008. (edit) During an interview on Dave White's Talking Television, Dawn Wells recounted a moment connected with the tv-movie The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island that she said she would never forget. On the day that the weak and ailing Jim Backus came in to shoot the one scene that his failing health would allow, he gave a wonderful performance. Then after the scene ended he turned to Wells and asked her "Was I funny?" She reassured him that he was indeed funny, and it broke her heart to realize how far gone he was at that point that he couldn't judge his own work. (edit)

Dawn Wells: Mary Ann has been such a big part of my life these past 40 years, it's really impossible to get away from it. But, why would I want too? Everywhere in the world that I go I am greeted with love. Some kids who watched the show back then are still watching, but with their grandchildren now. That is a really wonderful thing! As an actress I have succeeded, I created a character that meant something to some people and it has lasted. So, I refuse to ignore it and run away from it. (edit) Dawn Wells: Acting is my first love. (edit) Dawn Wells: Just because a woman is over 50 does not mean she no longer has anything to offer. If anything, we have so much more to offer! We have lived life, we get better with age. I do my best work now in my 60s. Sure, I could retire; but what would I do? Play Bingo? I think not!
(edit)

Star
Channing Nancy Kyle	Dawn Wells: Reel Adventures Herself
Gilligan's Island Mary Ann Summers	Gilligan's Planet voice of Mary Ann & Ginger

Guest Star
1 vs 100 Episode 201 Video Question Presenter	77 Sunset Strip Open and Close in One Judy Rogers
77 Sunset Strip The Inverness Cape Caper Connie Kenwood	77 Sunset Strip The Corsican Caper Yvonne Martell
77 Sunset Strip The Rival Eye Caper Nixie Martin	87th Precinct Out of Order Kathy

Other
Batman (1966) Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt Co-Executive Producer	Gilligan's Island Surviving Gilligan's Island Producer