The other day I heard a rumor that the original unaired pilot for the popular 60s show
Gilligan's Island, was the basis for the newer show
Lost. While I was not able to find out through research if this was actually true, it got me thinking on the similarities and differences of the shows. Both of the shows involve a plane crash of a group of people on a desert island, who are forced to live there waiting to be found. And both were very popular and well-recieved shows. But the plot of the shows are played out very differently. Gilligan's Island is a happy- go- lucky comedy where as Lost is a dark, action-packed thriller.
Although these shows have very similar premises, the way the show played out is starkly different. I believe it has to do with what the audience will accept at the different time periods. Lost premiered nearly 40 years after Gilligan's Island. How does the audience at the time of the show dictate the material that is played? Why is a modern audience able to watch a darker more sinister show? How do the current shows on television reflect our society and morals today?
I think this difference has to do a lot with what kind of shows the people of the time watched. Back then, there were a lot of comedy shows, because people wanted to be entertained by something funny. Now, I think our society has become more vicious, because we now think that other people getting hurt is funny. Breakups amuse us, and we laugh at naiive characters who don't understand the world they are living in. Also, we want to see action and adventures. Since we can't very well just go out and do something, we have to watch others have all the fun for us. Just some ideas. But possibly the most important thing is having a character to relate to. A well-developed character who struggles with all sorts of things is someone who we can relate to. Back then, I don't think that was as important.
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