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Sherwood Schwartz

Show Creator/Producer/Writer

"'Mom said don't play ball in the house.' These things are just said once, but they reverberated through generations."

About This Interview

Show creator/writer/producer Sherwood Schwartz whose creations include Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch was interviewed for six hours for the Archive of American Television. Hespeaks in depth about these shows and the many others he worked on in his long career. Mr. Schwartz also candidly describes writing for comedic legends Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Red Skelton, and working on shows including I Married Joan, It's About Time and My Favorite Martian. Conducted on September 17, 1997 by Dan Pasternack.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
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Shows

  • Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet
  • Beulah
  • Brady Bunch Hour, The
  • Brady Bunch, The
  • Emmy Awards, The (primetime and daytime)
  • I Married Joan
  • It's About Time
  • My Favorite Martian
  • Red Skelton Show, The
  • Very Brady Christmas, A

People

  • Ann B. Davis
  • Richard Donner
  • Michael Eisner
  • Florence Henderson
  • Bob Hope
  • Lloyd J. Schwartz
  • Hal Kanter
  • Newton N. Minow
  • John Rich
  • Mel Shavelson
  • Phil Silvers
  • Frank Stanton
  • Ted Turner

Topics

  • Characters & Catchphrases
  • Gay/Lesbian
  • JFK Assassination and Funeral
  • Studio Management
  • TV Theme Songs
  • WWII

Professions

  • Producer
  • Writers & Show Creators

Featured Content

Sherwood Schwartz was inducted into the 18th Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.Emmy Hall of Fame Logo

Resources

Brady Brady Brady Book

Book: Brady, Brady, Brady: The Complete Story of The Brady Bunch as Told by the Father/Son Team who Really Know by Sherwood and Lloyd Schwartz

Book: Inside Gilligan's Island: A Three-Hour Tour Through The Making Of A Television Classic by Sherwood Schwartz

DVD: The Brady Bunch - Complete Series (Seasons 1-5)

 

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  • Interview
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Highlights

  • <DIV contenteditable="true" class="gx_free">Sherwood Schwartz on seeing evidence of the power of television when a <i>Red Skelton Show </i> comic sketch was taken seriously by certain viewers</DIV>Sherwood Schwartz on seeing evidence of the power of television when a Red Skelton Show comic sketch was taken seriously by certain viewers
    Clip begins at: 09:27, Duration: 03m 55s
  • Sherwood Schwartz on how much<i> Gilligan's Island</i> and <i>The Brady Bunch</i> influenced pop cultureSherwood Schwartz on how much Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch influenced pop culture
    Clip begins at: 14:00, Duration: 01m 54s
  • Sherwood Schwartz on the concept of <i>Gilligan's Island</i>Sherwood Schwartz on the concept of Gilligan's Island
    Clip begins at: 17:52, Duration: 03m 58s
  • Sherwood Schwartz on the genesis of <i>The Brady Bunch</i>Sherwood Schwartz on the genesis of The Brady Bunch
    Clip begins at: 01:14, Duration: 15m 09s
  • Sherwood Schwartz on the yet-unproduced Gilligan's Island feature filmSherwood Schwartz on the yet-unproduced Gilligan's Island feature film
    Clip begins at: 27:14, Duration: 01m 58s

Interview

  • Part 1
  • On his early years growing up in New Jersey; his dream to be a doctor; and his decision to move to California 
    Clip begins at: 0:76
  • On meeting Bob Hope through his brother, and starting to write jokes for Hope
    Clip begins at: 17:26
  • Part 2
  • On writing for Bob Hope's radio show
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On serving in the U.S. Army and writing for Armed Forces Radio during World War II
    Clip begins at: 04:41
  • On working as a writer on radios Ozzie and Harriet and Beulah
    Clip begins at: 14:10
  • On writing comedy for radio and first seeing television
    Clip begins at: 20:29
  • On his first television writing job on I Married Joan
    Clip begins at: 25:19
  • Part 3
  • On laugh tracks; leaving I Married Joan for other projects
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On working on The Red Skelton Show
    Clip begins at: 03:03
  • Part 4
  • On leaving The Red Skelton Show; and the Emmy he won for his work on the show
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On his dealings with CBS and his work on My Favorite Martian
    Clip begins at: 04:07
  • On his approach to storytelling
    Clip begins at: 13:35
  • On the genesis of Gilligan's Island and how he sold the show to CBS (part 1)
    Clip begins at: 17:52
  • Part 5
  • On selling the concept of Gilligan's Island to CBS (part 2) and the financing behind the show
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On the casting of the pilot of Gilligan's Island
    Clip begins at: 16:20
  • Part 6
  • On casting Tina Louise as Ginger on Gilligan's Island
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On bringing Gilligan's Island to air
    Clip begins at: 02:36
  • Sherwood Schwartz on the production details of Gilligan's Island (he also displays the last piece of the lagoon)
    Clip begins at: 20:46
  • Part 7
  • On producing Gilligan's Island and its eventual cancellation
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On producing It's About Time
    Clip begins at: 15:54
  • On network programming strategies at CBS
    Clip begins at: 24:06
  • Part 8
  • On the genesis of The Brady Bunch
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On the casting of The Brady Bunch and his difficulties with Robert Reed
    Clip begins at: 16:23
  • Part 9
  • On casting Ann B. Davis and Florence Henderson, and his continuing difficulties with Robert Reed on The Brady Bunch
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Part 10
  • Sherwood Schwartz on the last episode of The Brady Bunch and the reunion specials and movies that followed it
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Sherwood Schwartz on loading... and Gilligan's Island reunions and feature films
    Clip begins at: 14:43
  • Part 11
  • On difficulties getting a Gilligan's Island feature made
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On learning that Red Skelton had passed away the day of the interview
    Clip begins at: 03:45
  • On the disappearance of "Tiger" on The Brady Bunch  and the legacy of his shows
    Clip begins at: 06:20
  • On his current view of television
    Clip begins at: 09:17
  • On how he'd like to be remembered and his thoughts on some of his colleagues
    Clip begins at: 18:48
  • Part 12
  • On the impact of his shows and recollections of some of the individuals he has worked with
    Clip begins at: 0:0

Shows

  • Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet
    • Sherwood Schwartz on working for Ozzie Nelson as a writer for the Ozzie and Harriet radio show
      Clip begins at: 14:10, Duration: 02m 58s
  • Beulah
    • Sherwood Schwartz on working as a writer on the radio show, Beulah
      Clip begins at: 17:08, Duration: 03m 21s
  • Brady Bunch Hour, The
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the Brady Brunch feature film
      Clip begins at: 21:50, Duration: 05m 24s
  • Brady Bunch, The
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the genesis of The Brady Bunch
      Clip begins at: 01:14, Duration: 15m 09s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on Ann B. Davis, Florence Henderson and Robert Reed
      Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 07m 40s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the last episode of The Brady Bunch and the reunion specials and movies that followed it
      Clip begins at: 00:05, Duration: 14m 38s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the fate of "Tiger" on The Brady Bunch
      Clip begins at: 06:20, Duration: 02m 57s
  • Emmy Awards, The (primetime and daytime)
    • Sherwood Schwartz on winning an Emmy for writing on The Red Skelton Show
      Clip begins at: 01:59, Duration: 01m 08s
  • Gilligan's Island
    • Sherwood Schwartz on seeing evidence of the power of television when viewers sent telegrams calling for the rescue of the Gilligan's Island castaways
      Clip begins at: 13:22, Duration: 02m 16s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the concept of Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 17:52, Duration: 03m 58s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on trying to sell the Gilligan's Island concept to CBS
      Clip begins at: 21:50, Duration: 07m 47s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the difficulty of selling the concept of Gilligan's Island to CBS executives
      Clip begins at: 00:03, Duration: 11m 23s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the entities that have owned stakes in his series Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 11:26, Duration: 04m 54s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on casting Gilligan's Island  
      Clip begins at: 16:20, Duration: 12m 04s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on casting Tina Louise as Ginger on Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 00:02, Duration: 02m 34s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the Gilligan's Island theme song
      Clip begins at: 02:36, Duration: 03m 40s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the shooting of the pilot and the series premiere Gilligan's Island 
      Clip begins at: 06:16, Duration: 14m 30s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the production details of Gilligan's Island (he also displays the last piece of the lagoon)
      Clip begins at: 20:46, Duration: 07m 26s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the sets of Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 00:03, Duration: 02m 40s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the directors of Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 02:43, Duration: 02m 10s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the cancellation of Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 04:53, Duration: 11m 01s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the Gilligan's Island reunion specials
      Clip begins at: 14:43, Duration: 05m 43s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the yet-unproduced Gilligan's Island feature film
      Clip begins at: 27:14, Duration: 01m 58s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on Tina Louise's refusal to participate in subsequent Gilligan's Island shows and the impact of the series on the public
      Clip begins at: 00:37, Duration: 03m 37s
  • I Married Joan
    • Sherwood Schwartz on his first TV writing job on I Married Joan
      Clip begins at: 25:19, Duration: 03m 46s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the cancellation of I Married Joan
      Clip begins at: 01:49, Duration: 00m 44s
  • It's About Time
    • Sherwood Schwartz on producing It's About Time
      Clip begins at: 15:54, Duration: 08m 12s
  • My Favorite Martian
    • Sherwood Schwartz on trying to fix script issues on the first season of My Favorite Martian
      Clip begins at: 06:18, Duration: 07m 17s
  • Red Skelton Show, The
    • Sherwood Schwartz on agreeing to work on The Red Skelton Show
      Clip begins at: 03:03, Duration: 05m 49s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on seeing evidence of the power of television when a Red Skelton Show comic sketch was taken seriously by certain viewers
      Clip begins at: 08:52, Duration: 04m 30s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on Red Skelton's pantomiming abilities
      Clip begins at: 15:38, Duration: 04m 47s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on his difficulties working with Red Skelton
      Clip begins at: 20:25, Duration: 08m 35s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on leaving The Red Skelton Show
      Clip begins at: 00:10, Duration: 01m 49s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on winning an Emmy for writing on The Red Skelton Show
      Clip begins at: 01:59, Duration: 01m 08s
  • Very Brady Christmas, A
    • Sherwood Schwartz on Robert Reed returning to the Brady cast on A Very Brady Christmas
      Clip begins at: 20:26, Duration: 01m 24s

People

  • Rod Amateau
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the directors of Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 02:43, Duration: 02m 10s
  • Jim Aubrey
    • Sherwood Schwartz on trying to sell the Gilligan's Island concept to CBS
      Clip begins at: 00:00
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the difficulty of selling the concept of Gilligan's Island to CBS executives
      Clip begins at: 00:03, Duration: 11m 23s
    • On network programming strategies at CBS
      Clip begins at: 24:06, Duration: 04m 19s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on Jim Aubrey
      Clip begins at: 21:46, Duration: 01m 00s
  • Ann B. Davis
    • Sherwood Schwartz on casting Florence Henderson and Ann B. Davis on The Brady Bunch
      Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 02m 55s
  • Jim Backus
    • Sherwood Schwartz on casting Jim Backus on Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 16:20, Duration: 01m 03s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on convincing Jim Backus to be on Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 20:24, Duration: 02m 36s
  • Red Barber
    • Sherwood Schwartz on his difficulties working with Red Skelton
      Clip begins at: 20:25, Duration: 08m 35s
  • Imogene Coca
    • Sherwood Schwartz on Imogene Coca
      Clip begins at: 19:35, Duration: 00m 47s
  • Scatman Crothers
    • Sherwood Schwartz on working as a writer on the radio show, Beulah
      Clip begins at: 17:08, Duration: 03m 21s
  • Dorothy Dandridge
    • Sherwood Schwartz on working as a writer on the radio show, Beulah
      Clip begins at: 17:08, Duration: 03m 21s
  • Joan Davis
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the cancellation of I Married Joan
      Clip begins at: 01:49, Duration: 00m 44s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on his first TV writing job on I Married Joan
      Clip begins at: 25:19, Duration: 03m 46s
  • Bob Denver
    • Sherwood Schwartz on casting the role of the Skipper on Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 23:00, Duration: 05m 24s
  • Barry Diller
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the genesis of The Brady Bunch
      Clip begins at: 01:14, Duration: 15m 09s
  • Richard Donner
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the directors of Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 02:43, Duration: 02m 10s
  • Michael Eisner
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the genesis of The Brady Bunch
      Clip begins at: 01:14, Duration: 15m 09s
  • Alan Hale, Jr.
    • Sherwood Schwartz on casting the role of the Skipper on Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 23:00, Duration: 05m 24s
  • Florence Henderson
    • Sherwood Schwartz on casting Florence Henderson on The Brady Bunch
      Clip begins at: 26:28, Duration: 01m 56s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on casting Florence Henderson and Ann B. Davis on The Brady Bunch
      Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 02m 55s
  • Bob Hope
    • Sherwood Schwartz on being offered a contract with Bob Hope
      Clip begins at: 17:26, Duration: 08m 00s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on Bob Hope
      Clip begins at: 25:26, Duration: 00m 27s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on writing for Bob Hope's radio show
      Clip begins at: 00:09, Duration: 04m 32s
  • Lloyd J. Schwartz
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the Brady Brunch feature film
      Clip begins at: 21:50, Duration: 05m 24s
  • Hal Kanter
    • Sherwood Schwartz on Hal Kanter
      Clip begins at: 20:22, Duration: 00m 44s
  • Paul Klein
    • On network programming strategies at CBS
      Clip begins at: 24:06, Duration: 04m 19s
  • Perry Leff
    • Sherwood Schwartz on trying to sell the Gilligan's Island concept to CBS
      Clip begins at: 21:50, Duration: 07m 47s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the difficulty of selling the concept of Gilligan's Island to CBS executives
      Clip begins at: 00:03, Duration: 11m 23s
  • Tina Louise
    • Sherwood Schwartz on casting Tina Louise as Ginger on Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 00:02, Duration: 06m 14s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on Tina Louise's refusal to participate in subsequent Gilligan's Island shows and the impact of the series on the public
      Clip begins at: 00:37, Duration: 03m 37s
  • Hattie McDaniel
    • Sherwood Schwartz on working as a writer on the radio show, Beulah
      Clip begins at: 17:08, Duration: 03m 21s
  • Newton N. Minow
    • Sherwood Schwartz on FCC Chair Newton Minow's "vast wasteland" speech and his naming of the Gilligan's Island boat the S.S. Minnow
      Clip begins at: 11:14, Duration: 04m 37s
  • Ozzie Nelson
    • Sherwood Schwartz on working for Ozzie Nelson as a writer for the Ozzie and Harriet radio show
      Clip begins at: 14:10, Duration: 02m 58s
  • Robert Reed
    • Sherwood Schwartz on casting and working with Robert Reed on The Brady Bunch
      Clip begins at: 19:04, Duration: 07m 25s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on working with Robert Reed on The Brady Bunch
      Clip begins at: 02:55, Duration: 07m 30s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on Robert Reed returning to the Brady cast on A Very Brady Christmas
      Clip begins at: 20:26, Duration: 01m 24s
  • John Rich
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the directors of Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 02:43, Duration: 02m 10s
  • William S. Paley
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the cancellation of Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 04:53, Duration: 11m 01s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the difficulty of selling the concept of Gilligan's Island to CBS executives
      Clip begins at: 00:03, Duration: 11m 23s
  • Al Schwartz
    • Sherwood Schwartz on being offered a contract with Bob Hope
      Clip begins at: 17:26, Duration: 08m 00s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on his brother's firing from The Red Skelton Show
      Clip begins at: 00:10, Duration: 01m 49s
  • Mel Shavelson
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the Gilligan's Island theme song
      Clip begins at: 02:36, Duration: 03m 40s
  • Phil Silvers
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the entities that have owned stakes in his series Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 11:26, Duration: 04m 54s
  • Red Skelton
    • Sherwood Schwartz on agreeing to work on The Red Skelton Show
      Clip begins at: 03:03, Duration: 05m 49s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on Red Skelton's pantomiming abilities
      Clip begins at: 15:38, Duration: 04m 47s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on leaving The Red Skelton Show
      Clip begins at: 00:10, Duration: 03m 57s
  • Frank Stanton
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the difficulty of selling the concept of Gilligan's Island to CBS executives
      Clip begins at: 00:03, Duration: 11m 23s
  • Ted Turner
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the entities that have owned stakes in his series Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 11:26, Duration: 04m 54s
  • Jerry Van Dyke
    • Sherwood Schwartz on offering Jerry Van Dyke the title role in Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 17:24, Duration: 00m 56s
  • George Wyle
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the Gilligan's Island theme song
      Clip begins at: 02:36, Duration: 03m 40s

Topics

  • Historic Events and Social Change > Diversity in Television > Gay/Lesbian
    • Sherwood Schwartz on knowing early on that Brady Bunch actor Robert Reed was gay
      Clip begins at: 07:40, Duration: 02m 45s
  • Historic Events and Social Change > JFK Assassination and Funeral
    • Sherwood Schwartz on hearing of JFK's assassination while filming the Gilligan's Island pilot
      Clip begins at: 10:05, Duration: 01m 09s
  • Historic Events and Social Change > War > WWII
    • Sherwood Schwartz on  serving in the U.S. Army and writing for Armed Forces Radio during World War II
      Clip begins at: 04:41, Duration: 09m 29s
  • Pop Culture > Characters & Catchphrases
    • Sherwood Schwartz on how he chose the name "Gilligan" for Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 25:21, Duration: 00m 54s
  • Pop Culture > TV Theme Songs
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the Gilligan's Island theme song
      Clip begins at: 02:36, Duration: 03m 40s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on The Brady Bunch theme song
      Clip begins at: 16:19, Duration: 01m 57s
  • Television Industry > Studio Management
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the classic network script note, "no martian would ever say a thing like this"
      Clip begins at: 10:22, Duration: 01m 08s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on FCC Chair Newton Minow's "vast wasteland" speech and his naming of the Gilligan's Island boat the S.S. Minnow
      Clip begins at: 11:14, Duration: 04m 37s
    • On network programming strategies at CBS
      Clip begins at: 24:06, Duration: 04m 19s

Genres

  • Comedy Series
    • Sherwood Schwartz on using comedy in his series Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch
      Clip begins at: 20:41, Duration: 01m 07s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on seeing evidence of the power of television when a Red Skelton Show comic sketch was taken seriously by certain viewers
      Clip begins at: 09:27, Duration: 03m 55s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on seeing evidence of the power of television when viewers sent telegrams calling for the rescue of the Gilligan's Island castaways
      Clip begins at: 13:22, Duration: 02m 16s
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the success of Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch
      Clip begins at: 09:17, Duration: 01m 18s
  • Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the classic network script note, "no martian would ever say a thing like this"
      Clip begins at: 10:22, Duration: 01m 14s

Professions

  • Writers & Show Creators > Show Creator
    • Sherwood Schwartz on his approach to storytelling
      Clip begins at: 13:35, Duration: 04m 17s
  • Writers & Show Creators > Writer
    • Sherwood Schwartz on the writer's, director's and producer's role in a production
      Clip begins at: 27:26, Duration: 01m 39s
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Submitted by GeorgeVreelandHill2 on Fri, 2011-07-15 07:18.

Sherwood Schwartz was a wonderful person who was so full of life.
He cared about every person he came in contact with and never forgot them.
He was a loving family man and friend.
Sherwood's talent was amazing and what he did and created gave millions of people joy and memories.
He will be missed, but always loved.

George Vreeland Hill

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