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

    About This Interview

    In his six-hour interview, Sherwood Schwartz (1916-2011) talks about his early years, and his first writing job for Bob Hope’s radio show. He recalls writing for various series including I Married Joan and My Favorite Martian, and being a staff writer for The Red Skelton Show, where he frequently clashed with Skelton over scripts. He discusses selling the idea of Gilligan’s Island to CBS, and the popularity and impact of that show. He chronicles creating The Brady Bunch, including casting the show, and his difficulties with Robert Reed, who played “Mike Brady.” He concludes by discussing the then-current state and future of television as a medium. Dan Pasternack conducted the interview on September 17, 1997 in Beverly Hills, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Sherwood Schwartz

    Sherwood Schwartz on casting The Brady Bunch

    02:39
    Thumbnail of Sherwood Schwartz

    Sherwood Schwartz on casting Jim Backus as "Thurston Howell III" on Gilligan's Island

    01:04
    Thumbnail of Sherwood Schwartz

    Sherwood Schwartz on his issues with Robert Reed as "Mike Brady" on The Brady Bunch

    07:25
    Thumbnail of Sherwood Schwartz

    Sherwood Schwartz on shooting the pilot of The Brady Bunch

    02:45
    Thumbnail of Sherwood Schwartz

    Sherwood Schwartz on the Gilligan's Island theme song

    03:36
    Thumbnail of Sherwood Schwartz

    Sherwood Schwartz on the last episode of The Brady Bunch which Robert Reed did not appear in

    07:48
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early years growing up in New Jersey; his dream to be a doctor; and his decision to move to California 

    16:10

    On meeting Bob Hope through his brother; on making the choice not to become a doctor, and to be a writer instead

    08:44

    Chapter 2

    On writing for Bob Hope's radio show; on serving in the U.S. Army and writing for Armed Forces Radio during World War II

    14:04

    On working as a writer on radio's Ozzie and Harriet; on writing for the Beulah radio show

    06:18

    On writing comedy for radio and first seeing television; on writing comedy for radio and first seeing television; On his first television writing job on I Married Joan

    08:42

    Chapter 3

    On the use of the laugh track; on leaving I Married Joan to work on a play, and then the show's cancellation; on agreeing to work on The Red Skelton Show

    08:49

    On seeing evidence of the power of television when a Red Skelton Show comic sketch was taken seriously by certain viewers; on seeing evidence of the power of television when viewers sent telegrams calling for the rescue of the Gilligan's Island castaways

    06:45

    On Red Skelton's pantomiming abilities; on his difficulties working with Red Skelton

    13:23

    Chapter 4

    On leaving The Red Skelton Show; and the Emmy he won for his work on the show

    03:57

    On his dealings with CBS; on his work on My Favorite Martian

    10:03

    On his approach to storytelling; on creating Gilligan's Island

    15:35

    Chapter 5

    On selling the concept of Gilligan's Island to CBS

    16:17

    On the casting of the pilot of Gilligan's Island

    12:08

    Chapter 6

    On casting Tina Louise as Ginger on Gilligan's Island; on the Gilligan's Island theme song;

    10:16

    On hearing of JFK's assassination while filming the Gilligan's Island pilot; on CBS's initial reaction to the Gilligan's Island pilot; on FCC Chair Newton Minow's "vast wasteland" speech and his naming of the Gilligan's Island boat the S.S. Minnow

    05:34

    On finally getting Gilligan's Island on the air at CBS; on initial reaction to Gilligan's Island and on having freelance writers write the show; on his day-to-day duties when Gilligan's Island was on the air

    12:24

    Chapter 7

    On the sets of Gilligan's Island; on the directors of Gilligan's Island; on the critical and audience reaction to Gilligan's Island

    07:21

    On Richard Donner directing Gilligan's Island; on the cancellation of Gilligan's Island, and on its afterlife in syndication

    08:32

    On producing It's About Time; on network programming strategies at CBS by people like James T. Aubrey

    12:32

    Chapter 8

    On the genesis of The Brady Bunch; on selling The Brady Bunch to ABC

    16:21

    On casting The Brady Bunch; on his issues with Robert Reed as "Mike Brady" on The Brady Bunch; on casting Florence Henderson as "Carol Brady" on The Brady Bunch

    12:06

    Chapter 9

    On Florence Henderson as "Carol Brady" and Ann B. Davis as "Alice"; on Robert Reed's problems playing "Mike Brady"; on shooting the pilot of The Brady Bunch

    10:24

    On the challenges of shooting The Brady Bunch with six children in the cast; on his son Lloyd Schwartz's role on The Brady Bunch; on The Brady Bunch theme song, and on the Brady kids becoming a pop group

    08:38

    On the Saturday morning cartoon version of The Brady Bunch; on his favorite Brady Bunch episodes; on the end of The Brady Bunch

    09:34

    Chapter 10

    On the last episode of The Brady Bunch which Robert Reed did not appear in; on the continuing popularity of The Brady Bunch after it was cancelled; on Barry Williams' book about The Brady Bunch, and on the cast dating each other

    14:42

    On the Gilligan's Island reunion specials; on Robert Reed returning to the Brady cast on A Very Brady Christmas; on The Brady Bunch feature films

    14:32

    Chapter 11

    On his difficulties getting a Gilligan's Island feature made; on learning that Red Skelton had passed away the day of the interview; on the disappearance of "Tiger" on The Brady Bunch 

    09:16

    On why The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island have been ingrained in our culture; on the then-current state of television; on the then-future of television

    06:54

    On then-current projects; on how he'd like to be remembered; on people he's worked with in his career

    11:38

    Chapter 12

    On Tina Louise's refusal to participate in subsequent Gilligan's Island shows and the impact of the series on the public; on various people he's worked with in his career; on his brother, son, and wife

    13:30

    Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet, The

    Sherwood Schwartz on working for Ozzie Nelson as a writer for the Ozzie and Harriet radio show

    03:05

    Beulah

    Sherwood Schwartz on working as a writer on the radio show, Beulah

    03:15

    Brady Brides, The

    Sherwood Schwartz on the Saturday morning cartoon version of The Brady Bunch

    03:59

    Sherwood Schwartz on Robert Reed returning to the Brady cast on The Brady Brides

    01:25

    Brady Bunch Hour, The

    Sherwood Schwartz on the Brady Brunch feature film

    05:22

    Brady Bunch, The

    Sherwood Schwartz on the genesis of The Brady Bunch

    05:47

    Sherwood Schwartz on selling The Brady Bunch to ABC

    10:34

    Sherwood Schwartz on casting The Brady Bunch

    02:39

    Sherwood Schwartz on his issues with Robert Reed as "Mike Brady" on The Brady Bunch

    07:25

    Sherwood Schwartz on casting Florence Henderson as "Carol Brady" on The Brady Bunch

    02:02

    Sherwood Schwartz on Florence Henderson as "Carol Brady" and Ann B. Davis as "Alice"

    03:37

    Sherwood Schwartz on Robert Reed's problems playing "Mike Brady"

    04:02

    Sherwood Schwartz on shooting the pilot of The Brady Bunch

    02:45

    Sherwood Schwartz on the challenges of shooting The Brady Bunch with six children in the cast

    02:02

    Sherwood Schwartz on his son Lloyd Schwartz's role on The Brady Bunch

    03:47

    Sherwood Schwartz on The Brady Bunch theme song, and on the Brady kids becoming a pop group

    02:49

    Sherwood Schwartz on public and critical reaction to The Brady Bunch

    01:06

    Sherwood Schwartz on his favorite Brady Bunch episodes

    02:26

    Sherwood Schwartz on the end of The Brady Bunch

    02:03

    Sherwood Schwartz on the last episode of The Brady Bunch which Robert Reed did not appear in

    07:48

    Sherwood Schwartz on the continuing popularity of The Brady Bunch after it was cancelled

    03:12

    Sherwood Schwartz on Barry Williams' book about The Brady Bunch, and on the cast dating each other

    02:34

    Sherwood Schwartz on his difficulties getting a Gilligan's Island feature made

    03:34

    Sherwood Schwartz on the fate of "Tiger" the dog on The Brady Bunch

    03:43

    Sherwood Schwartz on why The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island have been ingrained in our culture

    01:17

    Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

    Sherwood Schwartz on winning an Emmy for writing on The Red Skelton Show

    02:00

    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

    02:16

    Sherwood Schwartz on the concept of Gilligan's Island

    03:55

    Sherwood Schwartz on trying to sell the Gilligan's Island concept to CBS to James T. Aubrey

    07:57

    Sherwood Schwartz on the difficulty of selling the concept of Gilligan's Island to CBS executives

    11:25

    Sherwood Schwartz on the entities that have owned stakes in his series Gilligan's Island

    05:00

    Sherwood Schwartz on casting Jim Backus as "Thurston Howell III" on Gilligan's Island

    01:04

    Sherwood Schwartz on his trouble casting "the Skipper" on Gilligan's Island

    02:04

    Sherwood Schwartz on offering Jerry Van Dyke the title role in Gilligan's Island

    00:56

    Sherwood Schwartz on convincing Jim Backus to be on Gilligan's Island

    04:40

    Sherwood Schwartz on casting Alan Hale, Jr. as "the Skipper" on Gilligan's Island

    05:24

    Sherwood Schwartz on casting Tina Louise as Ginger on Gilligan's Island

    02:36

    Sherwood Schwartz on the Gilligan's Island theme song

    03:36

    Sherwood Schwartz on the shooting of the pilot of Gilligan's Island

    04:04

    Sherwood Schwartz on hearing of JFK's assassination while filming the Gilligan's Island pilot

    00:56

    Sherwood Schwartz on CBS's initial reaction to the Gilligan's Island pilot

    00:56

    Sherwood Schwartz on FCC Chair Newton Minow's "vast wasteland" speech and his naming of the Gilligan's Island boat the S.S. Minnow

    03:42

    Sherwood Schwartz on finally getting Gilligan's Island on the air at CBS

    04:28

    Sherwood Schwartz on initial reaction to Gilligan's Island and on having freelance writers write the show

    02:58

    Sherwood Schwartz on his day-to-day duties when Gilligan's Island was on the air

    04:55

    Sherwood Schwartz on the sets of Gilligan's Island

    02:43

    Sherwood Schwartz on the directors of Gilligan's Island

    02:13

    Sherwood Schwartz on the cancellation of Gilligan's Island

    05:28

    Sherwood Schwartz on the critical and audience reaction to Gilligan's Island

    02:25

    Sherwood Schwartz on Richard Donner directing Gilligan's Island

    00:32

    Sherwood Schwartz on Gilligan's Island going from black and white to color

    00:27

    Sherwood Schwartz on Gilligan's Island's life in syndication

    02:05

    Sherwood Schwartz on the Gilligan's Island reunion specials

    05:43

    Sherwood Schwartz on the yet-unproduced Gilligan's Island feature film

    01:59

    Sherwood Schwartz on why The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island have been ingrained in our culture

    01:17

    Sherwood Schwartz on Tina Louise's refusal to participate in subsequent Gilligan's Island shows and the impact of the series on the public

    04:20

    I Married Joan

    Sherwood Schwartz on his first TV writing job on I Married Joan starring Joan Davis

    05:25

    Sherwood Schwartz on leaving I Married Joan to work on a play, and then the show's cancellation

    01:55

    It's About Time

    Sherwood Schwartz on producing It's About Time

    08:14

    My Favorite Martian

    Sherwood Schwartz on trying to fix script issues on the first season of My Favorite Martian

    07:44

    Red Skelton Show, The

    Sherwood Schwartz on agreeing to work on The Red Skelton Show

    05:49

    Sherwood Schwartz on seeing evidence of the power of television when a The Red Skelton Show comic sketch was taken seriously by certain viewers

    04:29

    Sherwood Schwartz on Red Skelton's pantomiming abilities on The Red Skelton Show

    04:46

    Sherwood Schwartz on his difficulties working with Red Skelton on The Red Skelton Show

    08:37

    Sherwood Schwartz on leaving The Red Skelton Show

    01:57

    Sherwood Schwartz on winning an Emmy for writing on The Red Skelton Show

    02:00

    Sherwood Schwartz on CBS's efforts trying to get him to stay on The Red Skelton Show

    02:20

    Very Brady Christmas, A

    Sherwood Schwartz on A Very Brady Christmas

    01:07

    Emmy Awards

    Sherwood Schwartz on winning an Emmy for writing on The Red Skelton Show

    02:00

    Historic Events and Social Change

    Sherwood Schwartz on serving in the U.S. Army and writing for Armed Forces Radio during World War II

    09:02

    Sherwood Schwartz on hearing of JFK's assassination while filming the Gilligan's Island pilot

    00:56

    JFK Assassination and Funeral

    Sherwood Schwartz on hearing of JFK's assassination while filming the Gilligan's Island pilot

    00:56

    Pop Culture

    Sherwood Schwartz on the Gilligan's Island theme song

    03:37

    Sherwood Schwartz on The Brady Bunch theme song, and on the Brady kids becoming a pop group

    02:49

    Studio and Network Management

    Sherwood Schwartz on FCC Chair Newton Minow's "vast wasteland" speech and his naming of the Gilligan's Island boat the S.S. Minnow

    04:37

    Sherwood Schwartz on network programming strategies at CBS

    04:19

    Television Industry

    Sherwood Schwartz on FCC Chair Newton Minow's "vast wasteland" speech and his naming of the Gilligan's Island boat the S.S. Minnow

    04:37

    Sherwood Schwartz on network programming strategies at CBS

    04:19

    Sherwood Schwartz on the then-current state of television

    03:14

    Sherwood Schwartz on the then-future of television

    02:23

    TV Theme Songs

    Sherwood Schwartz on the Gilligan's Island theme song

    03:37

    Sherwood Schwartz on The Brady Bunch theme song, and on the Brady kids becoming a pop group

    02:49

    War

    Sherwood Schwartz on serving in the U.S. Army and writing for Armed Forces Radio during World War II

    09:02

    World War II

    Sherwood Schwartz on serving in the U.S. Army and writing for Armed Forces Radio during World War II

    09:02

    Writers

    Sherwood Schwartz on the difference between writing for radio and writing for television

    01:56

    Sherwood Schwartz on his approach to writing scripts for a series, and on working in the industry

    03:43

    Comedy Series

    Sherwood Schwartz on how working on early comedy shows on radio prepared him to write comedy television shows

    01:25

    Sherwood Schwartz on his first TV writing job on I Married Joan starring Joan Davis

    05:25

    Sherwood Schwartz on writing for Red Skelton Show

    25:57

    Sherwood Schwartz on trying to fix script issues on the first season of My Favorite Martian

    07:44

    Sherwood Schwartz on the concept of Gilligan's Island

    11:52

    Sherwood Schwartz on creating Gilligan's Island

    28:23

    Sherwood Schwartz on creating Gilligan's Island

    28:11

    Sherwood Schwartz on creating Gilligan's Island

    15:53

    Sherwood Schwartz on creating The Brady Bunch

    28:36

    Sherwood Schwartz on the success of Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch

    01:18

    Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

    Sherwood Schwartz on writing for The Red Skelton Show

    03:57

    James T. Aubrey

    Sherwood Schwartz on trying to sell the Gilligan's Island concept to CBS to James T. Aubrey

    07:57

    Sherwood Schwartz on the difficulty of selling the concept of Gilligan's Island to James T. Aubrey, William S. Paley, and Frank Stanton

    11:19

    Sherwood Schwartz on network programming strategies at CBS by people like James T. Aubrey

    04:19

    Sherwood Schwartz on Jim Aubrey

    01:00

    Jim Backus

    Sherwood Schwartz on casting Jim Backus as "Thurston Howell III" on Gilligan's Island

    01:04

    Sherwood Schwartz on convincing Jim Backus to be on Gilligan's Island

    02:36

    Sherwood Schwartz on Jim Backus

    34:01

    Imogene Coca

    Sherwood Schwartz on Imogene Coca

    01:07

    Scatman Crothers

    Sherwood Schwartz on working as a writer on the radio show, Beulah co-starring Scatman Crothers

    03:15

    Dorothy Dandridge

    Sherwood Schwartz on working as a writer on the radio show, Beulah with Dorothy Dandridge

    03:15

    Joan Davis

    Sherwood Schwartz on his first TV writing job on I Married Joan starring Joan Davis

    03:35

    Sherwood Schwartz on leaving I Married Joan starring Joan Davis to work on a play, and then the show's cancellation

    01:55

    Ann B. Davis

    Sherwood Schwartz on Florence Henderson as "Carol Brady" and Ann B. Davis as "Alice"

    03:37

    Richard Donner

    Sherwood Schwartz on the directors of Gilligan's Island including Richard Donner and John Rich

    02:13

    Jerry Van Dyke

    Sherwood Schwartz on offering Jerry Van Dyke the title role in Gilligan's Island

    00:56

    Florence Henderson

    Sherwood Schwartz on casting Florence Henderson on The Brady Bunch

    02:03

    Sherwood Schwartz on Florence Henderson as "Carol Brady" and Ann B. Davis as "Alice"

    03:37

    Bob Hope

    Sherwood Schwartz on his brother, Al Schwartz, writing for Bob Hope, and on being hired by Hope himself

    02:01

    Sherwood Schwartz on deciding not to become and doctor, and to write for Bob Hope

    06:36

    Sherwood Schwartz on writing for Bob Hope's radio show

    05:02

    Alan Hale, Jr.

    Sherwood Schwartz on casting Alan Hale, Jr. as the Skipper on Gilligan's Island

    05:24

    Sherwood Schwartz on Alan Hale, Jr.

    02:16

    Hal Kanter

    Sherwood Schwartz on Hal Kanter

    00:44

    Tina Louise

    Sherwood Schwartz on casting Tina Louise as Ginger on Gilligan's Island

    02:32

    Sherwood Schwartz on Tina Louise's refusal to participate in subsequent Gilligan's Island shows and the impact of the series on the public

    03:37

    Hattie McDaniel

    Sherwood Schwartz on working as a writer on the radio show, Beulah starring Hattie McDaniel

    03:15

    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

    03:42

    Ozzie Nelson

    Sherwood Schwartz on working for Ozzie Nelson as a writer for the Ozzie and Harriet radio show

    02:58

    William S. Paley

    Sherwood Schwartz on the difficulty of selling the concept of Gilligan's Island to James T. Aubrey, William S. Paley, and Frank Stanton

    11:19

    Sherwood Schwartz on the cancellation of Gilligan's Island by William S. Paley

    08:52

    Robert Reed

    Sherwood Schwartz on his issues with Robert Reed as "Mike Brady" on The Brady Bunch

    07:25

    Sherwood Schwartz on Robert Reed's problems playing "Mike Brady"

    04:02

    Sherwood Schwartz on the last episode of The Brady Bunch which Robert Reed did not appear in

    01:24

    Sherwood Schwartz on the last episode of The Brady Bunch which Robert Reed did not appear in

    07:48

    Sherwood Schwartz on Robert Reed returning to the Brady cast on A Very Brady Christmas

    01:24

    John Rich

    Sherwood Schwartz on the directors of Gilligan's Island including Richard Donner and John Rich

    02:13

    Al Schwartz

    Sherwood Schwartz on his brother, Al Schwartz, writing for Bob Hope

    02:01

    Sherwood Schwartz on his brother Al's firing from The Red Skelton Show

    01:57

    Sherwood Schwartz on his brother Al Schwartz and son Lloyd Schwartz

    01:38

    Mel Shavelson

    Sherwood Schwartz on Mel Shavelson

    00:59

    Fred Silverman

    Sherwood Schwartz on Fred Silverman and Brandon Tartikoff

    02:21

    Phil Silvers

    Sherwood Schwartz on the entities that have owned stakes in his series Gilligan's Island including Phil Silvers

    04:59

    Red Skelton

    Sherwood Schwartz on agreeing to work on The Red Skelton Show

    05:49

    Sherwood Schwartz on Red Skelton's pantomiming abilities on Red Skelton Show

    04:47

    Sherwood Schwartz on his difficulties working with Red Skelton on Red Skelton Show

    08:37

    Sherwood Schwartz on leaving The Red Skelton Show

    03:57

    Sherwood Schwartz on learning that Red Skelton had passed away the day of the interview

    01:49

    Frank Stanton

    Sherwood Schwartz on the difficulty of selling the concept of Gilligan's Island to James T. Aubrey, William S. Paley, and Frank Stanton

    11:19

    Brandon Tartikoff

    Sherwood Schwartz on Fred Silverman and Brandon Tartikoff

    02:21

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