Rest In Peace, Sherwood Schwartz

Thanks to sitting in front of an analog television playing Gilligan’s Island reruns for hours, I’m pretty sure that the first words I ever learned how to read were: “Sherwood Schwartz executive producer.” So the burnt coconut in my chest is beating one out for Sherwood Schwartz today. The L.A. Times reports that Sherwood took a three hour tour all the way up to heaven today at the age of 94. Sherwood died of natural causes in his sleep while surrounded by his family. Note to my family: Don’t watch me sleep, even if I’m about to die. Thank you.

Sherwood was the mastermind behind The Brady Bunch, Gilligan’s Island and Dusty’s Trail, and was a writer on Harper Valley P.T.A. Sherwood is also responsible for writing the theme songs to The Brady Bunch and Gilligan’s Island. I forget the names of my own relatives all the time, but I’ve never forgotten the lyrics to Gilligan’s Island. Hell, if you asked me to sing the theme song to the first season of Gilligan’s Island, you know I’d sing out “AND THE REST!” instead of “The Professor and Mary Ann!” It’s like that.

Rest in peace, Sherwood! I’m sure heaven is like snuggling with Ginger’s peach gown.