It seems that a lot of Schwartz's actors had trouble taking ownership of his light hearted comedies. Tina Louise and Robert Reed come instantly to mind. Plus, the critics never gave him much slack. Their reviews of The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island were brutal.... but guess what? Sherwood's shows are still beloved and in constant rotation four decades later!
So, what did his shows have that the critics and "serious minded" actors missed? It wasn't kitsch appeal - that sort of thing comes and goes, never enduring for long. They didn't have sensational scripts The actiing wasn't particularly outstanding. The concepts weren't exactly cutting edge. To be honest, I don't have a good answer as to why his shows have endured for so long. They are so much a part of my childhood that I simply cannot view them objectively
Whatever the reason, I am confident that my great great great grandchildren, living inside some domed city on Mars, will still be watching The Skipper, Marcia Brady, The Movie Star, Sam the Butcher, Gilligan, and even (choke) Cousin Oliver.. Sherwood may be gone, but his wonderful creations will live on.
RIP Sherwood Schwartz
