I saw an article prior to Minnow’s death that the producers of Gilligan’s Island didn’t like Minnow saw they named the SS Minnow after him. I had the same response as A & J. What I didn’t know, he was a big supporter of PBS and educational TV on commercial TV as part of their FCC license. I think Big Bird mourned his passing.
The narrative is not from Arlo. It’s a TV show they’re watching and find it boring until the information RE Gilligan’s Island is presented. JJ is being sarcastic.
Naming it the Minnow was more than an inside joke. He (Minnow) wasn’t popular with his Wasteland comment among other things in the television community so it was a bit of a put down
I was never really able to get into the show, it just seemed after Giliigan messing up them getting rescue all the time just made it get boring to me. I think I may have seen half a season and after that I quit.
What a sweet tribune to a real dynamo, the late Newton Minow, a good friend of the late, great Congressman and Justice Abner Mikva, a mentor of mine from childhood. They were both giants in their respective fiedls.
Da'Dad over 1 year ago
On one hand we do not like getting lectured, and yet, we do enjoy the odd tidbit of something new.
alasko over 1 year ago
Figures. Newton would be a bad boat name. DYSWIDT?
Tyge over 1 year ago
Some things do get through their filter of interest!
SpacedInvader Premium Member over 1 year ago
The professor could make all sorts of things except a boat repair or a working radio.
smurf764 over 1 year ago
I saw an article prior to Minnow’s death that the producers of Gilligan’s Island didn’t like Minnow saw they named the SS Minnow after him. I had the same response as A & J. What I didn’t know, he was a big supporter of PBS and educational TV on commercial TV as part of their FCC license. I think Big Bird mourned his passing.
Homerville Premium Member over 1 year ago
Arlo is a wealth of knowledge.
dlkrueger33 over 1 year ago
I love trivia like that! I never would have suspected the boat was named after a person. I figured, "small boat equals ‘minnow’ "
AnneFackler over 1 year ago
I’m with you, Janis. I started yawning at panel 1. Woke up for panel 4.
1504jarvis over 1 year ago
Always bothered me that it was the SS Minnow. Should have been the MV Minnow.
cleaman301 Premium Member over 1 year ago
What was in that bowl in the second frame?
Just-me over 1 year ago
I learn something new pretty much every day here on GC.
The Orange Mailman over 1 year ago
We love trivia more than the meta narrative.
Skeptical Meg over 1 year ago
Interesting? It’s fascinating.
Prescott_Philosopher over 1 year ago
The narrative is not from Arlo. It’s a TV show they’re watching and find it boring until the information RE Gilligan’s Island is presented. JJ is being sarcastic.
Ignatz Premium Member over 1 year ago
Here’s the creator of Gilligan’s Island saying that the boat was named after Newton Minow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlk86NVeWPI&t=358s
shorzy over 1 year ago
Gerry Mander’s book ‘Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television’ is still a classic written by an ad exec…
Uncle Bob over 1 year ago
C’mon! … really?
jarvisloop over 1 year ago
Evidently, Minow was unaware of a basic truth of humankind: “One person’s wasteland is another’s paradise.”
Not everyone wants – or is able, as is my case – to become an intellectual.
FassEddie over 1 year ago
Sherwood Schwartz (GI’s producer)wouldn’t disagree with the vast wasteland statement. He was farming it.
MuddyUSA Premium Member over 1 year ago
Please stop with this stuff…………………..
Rich_Pa over 1 year ago
That radio they had lasted for years on the same battery.
paranormal over 1 year ago
I was going to say what is in the last panel…
I'm Sad over 1 year ago
I love a good factual history lesson!!!! Need more of this stuff!!!
Ken Norris Premium Member over 1 year ago
Hundred’s of channels and streaming services and still only a few things worth watching…
someotherotherguy over 1 year ago
Wonder what he’d make of TV now that it’s vaster and more wasted.
mjpalmer over 1 year ago
Yes that is where we are today……heads under the sand….
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace over 1 year ago
I could well be wrong but I’m a disbeliever.
chief tommy over 1 year ago
Naming it the Minnow was more than an inside joke. He (Minnow) wasn’t popular with his Wasteland comment among other things in the television community so it was a bit of a put down
amaryllis2 Premium Member over 1 year ago
Interesting. Then Minow would have known my late in-law who was on the board of the FCC around then. Thanks!
Daeder over 1 year ago
I bet C-Dog knew that.
oakie817 over 1 year ago
cool
Sambora1 over 1 year ago
I was never really able to get into the show, it just seemed after Giliigan messing up them getting rescue all the time just made it get boring to me. I think I may have seen half a season and after that I quit.
Spooky D Cat over 1 year ago
Steve Allen had a newt in an aquarium behind his desk on his show back then. He named it Minnow. Minnow the newt.
tomfromthe50s over 1 year ago
Gilligan’s Island was part of the vast wasteland!
dlauber Premium Member over 1 year ago
What a sweet tribune to a real dynamo, the late Newton Minow, a good friend of the late, great Congressman and Justice Abner Mikva, a mentor of mine from childhood. They were both giants in their respective fiedls.