Originally airing on CBS on October 14, 2001, the film stars three of the four cast members from the 1960s series who were still alive at the time: Bob Denver, Dawn Wells, and Russell Johnson.
She had consistently refused to participate in any Gilligan's Island-related spin-offs or projects since the original series ended, other than an appearance on The Late Show with Ross Schaffer with the rest of the cast in 1988, and a cameo appearance on Roseanne with Denver, Johnson and Wells in 1995 (neither of which is addressed).
It also chronicles Louise's repeated efforts at removing herself from her contract, and the subsequent side effect it would have on the relationships between herself and her co-stars.
This docudrama covers the period from the concept and casting of the first series pilot in 1963 through to its cancellation in 1967; it then touches on moments in the 1970s and early 1980s, including the production of the Gilligan's Island reunion TV movies, and Jim Backus's declining health during that time, and ends with a sequence discussing the deaths of original cast members Alan Hale, Jim Backus and Natalie Schafer, and the present-day (as of 2001) activities of Wells, Denver, and Johnson.
Special features of the DVD release include the casting of the performers, a trivia game, and other information about the behind-the-scenes look at the series.