Yesterday we lost Mary-Anne

[Dukasaur]

Yesterday we lost Mary Ann.



One by one, they've all died. With the death of Dawn Wells (Mary Ann) the only surviving cast member is Tina Louise (Ginger). All the others are dead. Hard to believe. Seems like yesterday I was sneaking over to my neighbour's house to watch Gilligan's Island. They all seemed so young.

All dead now. Even the crushingly beautiful fountain of youth, Mary Ann.

[betiko]

I'm a 40yo old fart and I'm too young to have ever watched or heard of that thing. You need to move on, grandpa

[2dimes]

Excellent point betiko, where is your favorite place to go for chili cheese dogs?

[jonesthecurl]

I'm a 40yo old fart and I'm too young to have ever watched or heard of that thing. You need to move on, grandpa

I'm much older than that and I never saw it cos I'm British.

[DoomYoshi]

Brains before breasts:
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annal ... st-in-2020

[jonesthecurl]

Brains before breasts:
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annal ... st-in-2020

I've known a few girls with massive frontal lobes.

[jimboston]

Ginger or Mary Ann?

[Dukasaur]

Mary Ann, of course.

Unfortunately, it was intentional.

The studio's intention right from Day 1 was to market Ginger as "the beauty queen" while marketing Mary Ann as "the plain girl next door." Except she wasn't so plain; we were just told she was, but she was actually quite cute. The studio figured that most guys would feel a social expectation to prefer Ginger while actually preferring Mary Ann. This would be every guy's little guilty pleasure that he would carry around inside him and help keep him hooked on the show. And it worked, perfectly.

Like most guys, I preferred Mary Ann, and like most guys, I thought I was unique. I thought I was a real badass rebel for lusting after the one that we were officially told was plain instead of the one that we were officially told was beautiful. Until I got to high school and started comparing notes with my friends and found out that I wasn't all that unique. Surveys show more than 80% of guys prefer Mary Ann.

It wasn't until much later that I read an article by someone who worked on the production and found out the whole thing was intentional from the beginning. They played us like a Stradivarius.

Sort of like guys who buy Che Guevara t-shirts made by some of the most proletariat-exploiting factories on earth.

[betiko]

So for the younger ones, but yet quite a bit old... Kelly Kapovsky, Jessie Spanlow or Lisa Turtle? I actually didn't think any of the 3 was that attractive, I think we just all wanted to be as cool as Zack Morris and his very impressive hair. But Kelly Kapovsky who was supposed to be the hottest of the high school was definitely nowhere near Jessie Spanlow.

[jimboston]

Mary Ann, of course.

Unfortunately, it was intentional.

The studio's intention right from Day 1 was to market Ginger as "the beauty queen" while marketing Mary Ann as "the plain girl next door." Except she wasn't so plain; we were just told she was, but she was actually quite cute. The studio figured that most guys would feel a social expectation to prefer Ginger while actually preferring Mary Ann. This would be every guy's little guilty pleasure that he would carry around inside him and help keep him hooked on the show. And it worked, perfectly.

Like most guys, I preferred Mary Ann, and like most guys, I thought I was unique. I thought I was a real badass rebel for lusting after the one that we were officially told was plain instead of the one that we were officially told was beautiful. Until I got to high school and started comparing notes with my friends and found out that I wasn't all that unique. Surveys show more than 80% of guys prefer Mary Ann.

It wasn't until much later that I read an article by someone who worked on the production and found out the whole thing was intentional from the beginning. They played us like a Stradivarius.

Sort of like guys who buy Che Guevara t-shirts made by some of the most proletariat-exploiting factories on earth.

How to take the fun out of it Duk!

Also, I’m pretty sure that interviews and comments from production people about their “intentions” 30years later is a little bit of Monday-Morning-Quarterback type revisionist history. Yes they knew they wanted a “good girl” and “bad girl” archetype... but they knew they were both attractive and they knew the discussion over the “Mary Ann / Ginger” would be part of what kept people watching. It’s not genius, it’s the oldest trick in the book. Archie has Betty and Veronica, Superman has Lois and Lana, you. can find more recent examples.

[jimboston]

So for the younger ones, but yet quite a bit old... Kelly Kapovsky, Jessie Spanlow or Lisa Turtle? I actually didn't think any of the 3 was that attractive, I think we just all wanted to be as cool as Zack Morris and his very impressive hair. But Kelly Kapovsky who was supposed to be the hottest of the high school was definitely nowhere near Jessie Spanlow.

I have no clue what show you re talking about.

[mookiemcgee]

OK BOOMER THREAD

[betiko]

So for the younger ones, but yet quite a bit old... Kelly Kapovsky, Jessie Spanlow or Lisa Turtle? I actually didn't think any of the 3 was that attractive, I think we just all wanted to be as cool as Zack Morris and his very impressive hair. But Kelly Kapovsky who was supposed to be the hottest of the high school was definitely nowhere near Jessie Spanlow.

I have no clue what show you re talking about.

saved by the bell. a 90s show for teens. you're too old.

[betiko]

OK BOOMER THREAD

i'm sure you watched "saved by the bell" too. I think we're about the same age.

[jimboston]

So for the younger ones, but yet quite a bit old... Kelly Kapovsky, Jessie Spanlow or Lisa Turtle? I actually didn't think any of the 3 was that attractive, I think we just all wanted to be as cool as Zack Morris and his very impressive hair. But Kelly Kapovsky who was supposed to be the hottest of the high school was definitely nowhere near Jessie Spanlow.

I have no clue what show you re talking about.

saved by the bell. a 90s show for teens. you're too old.

I’ve heard the show... I never watching it... I think I’d recognize the Zack guy and I’m not sure if he was ever that “cool”.

[betiko]

So for the younger ones, but yet quite a bit old... Kelly Kapovsky, Jessie Spanlow or Lisa Turtle? I actually didn't think any of the 3 was that attractive, I think we just all wanted to be as cool as Zack Morris and his very impressive hair. But Kelly Kapovsky who was supposed to be the hottest of the high school was definitely nowhere near Jessie Spanlow.

I have no clue what show you re talking about.

saved by the bell. a 90s show for teens. you're too old.

I’ve heard the show... I never watching it... I think I’d recognize the Zack guy and I’m not sure if he was ever that “cool”.

I was like 11yo and he was definitely super cool for any boy that age. He had a brick cellphone in his locker... in the freakin early 90s bro

[Dukasaur]

So for the younger ones, but yet quite a bit old... Kelly Kapovsky, Jessie Spanlow or Lisa Turtle? I actually didn't think any of the 3 was that attractive, I think we just all wanted to be as cool as Zack Morris and his very impressive hair. But Kelly Kapovsky who was supposed to be the hottest of the high school was definitely nowhere near Jessie Spanlow.

I have no clue what show you re talking about.

saved by the bell. a 90s show for teens. you're too old.

I’ve heard the show... I never watching it... I think I’d recognize the Zack guy and I’m not sure if he was ever that “cool”.

+1

Also, I’m pretty sure that interviews and comments from production people about their “intentions” 30years later is a little bit of Monday-Morning-Quarterback type revisionist history. Yes they knew they wanted a “good girl” and “bad girl” archetype... but they knew they were both attractive and they knew the discussion over the “Mary Ann / Ginger” would be part of what kept people watching. It’s not genius, it’s the oldest trick in the book. Archie has Betty and Veronica, Superman has Lois and Lana, you. can find more recent examples.

Yeah, I've often thought that Betty and Veronica were the models for Mary Ann and Ginger.

If I'd had to guess, I would have thought that's one of the kids from 'Home Improvements'.

[HitRed]

The Rolling Stones outlived Gilligan's Islands cast. Think about that.

[Dukasaur]

I think the Rolling Stones outlived Gilligan's Islands cast. Think about that.

Scary!

[mookiemcgee]

OK BOOMER THREAD

i'm sure you watched "saved by the bell" too. I think we're about the same age.

My sister did, and yes I'm familiar cus I'm not a boomer like Duku and Jim.

[betiko]

OK BOOMER THREAD

i'm sure you watched "saved by the bell" too. I think we're about the same age.

My sister did, and yes I'm familiar cus I'm not a boomer like Duku and Jim.

yeah but you and me are with younger women and I'm sure you get the "ok boomer!!" thing once in a while. I would totally be called a boomer by my GF if I mentionned this type of show she's never heard of.
What would be the show that most represents your teens?
For me the earliest one is definitely saved by the bell... then a bit later came the fresh prince. There was this show called DeGrassi Junior High, but after googling it's canadian so I don't know if it made it to the US, sure made it to France.
Oh, there was Parker Lewis can't lose... that was awesome too. Heartbreak high... that was more mid late 90s and it was Australian... not sure you guys had it. Basically, I expect americans to never import anything because your networks are tooscared to show stuff from oter countries.. like your audience isn't prepared to know how people live anywhere else in the world.

[riskllama]

[2dimes]

Too bad this place is so packed with all you old balls.

Maybe when mr swdk gets back we can talk about hot girls like iCarly and Sam.

[jimboston]

I was like 11yo and he was definitely super cool for any boy that age. He had a brick cellphone in his locker... in the freakin early 90s bro

So he was a spoiled rich brat?

[mookiemcgee]

OK BOOMER THREAD

i'm sure you watched "saved by the bell" too. I think we're about the same age.

My sister did, and yes I'm familiar cus I'm not a boomer like Duku and Jim.

yeah but you and me are with younger women and I'm sure you get the "ok boomer!!" thing once in a while. I would totally be called a boomer by my GF if I mentionned this type of show she's never heard of.
What would be the show that most represents your teens?
For me the earliest one is definitely saved by the bell... then a bit later came the fresh prince. There was this show called DeGrassi Junior High, but after googling it's canadian so I don't know if it made it to the US, sure made it to France.
Oh, there was Parker Lewis can't lose... that was awesome too. Heartbreak high... that was more mid late 90s and it was Australian... not sure you guys had it. Basically, I expect americans to never import anything because your networks are tooscared to show stuff from oter countries.. like your audience isn't prepared to know how people live anywhere else in the world.

My girlfriends only say 'OK BOOMER' to me in bed, and it has nothing to do with age

The nice thing about all the classic teen shows from the 80/90s that I grew up with is that hollywood got lazy in the 2000's and have basically created new versions of the exact same shows (Saved by the bell 2020, Fuller House, animaniacs, Party of Five, Charmed, IT, apparently Fresh prince is getting a re-boot too)... So now when I date a 20 year old they don't entirely miss the reference, instead they just think I'm talking about the current version lol.

As far as importing 'shows' into the states... we've been doing it for some UK based shows for over 40 years (mostly on PBS). No one else really tried until Netflix, but I swear Netflix has been trying to get me to watch all sort of import shows this year. Most of them suck with bad dubbing, or i miss stuff cus I get too distracted to read the subtitles. However there have been a couple great surprises! The shows from Iceland and North European countries in particular have managed to hold my interest:

Money Heist - great Spanish show about a group of bank robber, probably the biggest surprise for me as I thought I'd hate it.
Dark - german... was interesting but kinda gets too hard to follow
How to sell drugs online - German, kind of a teenage show but very adult humor and writing. Ripped through it in a weekend.
Fauda - Israel - basically its the show 24 but in Israel/west bank. Great first season, 2nd season and beyond were ok.
The Valhalla Murders - Iceland, crime mystery
Trapped -Iceland- On Amazon not netflix, but one of my top picks on this list. great crime/mystery/drama
Case - Iceland - another detective/mystery show