For one thing, the original "Gilligan's Island" castaways included two very different characters. What's more, someone other than the great Jim Backus almost played Thurston Howell III.

A still from a 1964 episode of “Gilligan’s Island,” with Natalie Schafer and Jim Backus as Lovey and Thurston Howell III.Credit...CBS, via Getty Images It’s not that she regrets it ...

As you might imagine, both Mr. Howell and the Skipper imagine themselves to be the natural choice to lead the Castaways in their island society. However, when the votes are counted Gilligan is ...