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R.I.P. Bob Denver

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Tue Sep 06, 2005 at 08:25:02 PM EST
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Bob Denver died Friday.

Most of the blog eulogies for Bob Denver talk about Gilligan's Island. Thanks to Avedon Carol of Sideshow for pointing out that for some of us, his role as Maynard G. Krebs on Dobie Gillis is his defining moment.

Bob Denver was born in my hometown, New Rochelle, NY. I was only in elementary school, but I never missed the Dobie Gillis show, although it was more because of Tuesday Weld. Where has she been lately? Who'll Stop the Rain, Play It As It Lays, Pretty Poison and Looking for Mr. Goodbar are some of my all-time favorite movies.

R.I.P. Mr. Denver.

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    R.I.P. Bob Denver | 15 comments (15 topical)
    Re: R.I.P. Bob Denver (none / 0) (#1)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:23 PM EST
    Work!!!!!

    Re: R.I.P. Bob Denver (none / 0) (#2)
    by cpinva on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:23 PM EST
    funny you mentioned "dobie gillis". my wife, 8 years my junior, had never heard of it, or realized that mr. denver had any tv roles prior to "g's island". every so often, "dobie gillis" will show up on late-night cable, and i still find it hilarious. it was, i submit, a show ahead of its time. mr. denver's "maynard g. krebs" was the perfect encapsulation of the beatnik image, as portrayed by the middle and upper middle class, a total caricature. as i watch it now, i realize he realized it too, and played it as farce. he'll be missed.

    Re: R.I.P. Bob Denver (none / 0) (#3)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:23 PM EST
    I'm glad to say I remember watching Dobie Gillis. We always looked forward to seeing Maynard, though in retrospect he seemed a bit hyper for a beatnik. Denver was great. Via con Dios, little buddy.

    Re: R.I.P. Bob Denver (none / 0) (#4)
    by Kitt on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:23 PM EST
    Aaron Brown was doing some impersonization or something weird tonite on his show regarding Dobie Gillis. I don't remember 'Dobie Gillis.' I remember 'Sky King' though.

    Re: R.I.P. Bob Denver (none / 0) (#5)
    by SeeEmDee on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:23 PM EST
    Yep, lovable old Bob Denver...who in the late 1990's was the target of a very small-time pot investigation. God knows how much of the taxpayer's money was spent in trying to bring down a man who probably had never hurt anyone in his life, for using something that has not killed a single human being in 5,000 years of recorded human history. While murderers, rapists and child molestors are loose among us. Fine use of our resources, huh?

    Re: R.I.P. Bob Denver (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:24 PM EST
    Tuesday Weld IMDB entry

    Re: R.I.P. Bob Denver (none / 0) (#7)
    by desertswine on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:24 PM EST
    I didn't realize that Gilligan's Island was only on for three years. It seems like much, much longer.

    Re: R.I.P. Bob Denver (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:24 PM EST
    I remember watching "Dobie Gillis" on NickAtNite and thinking what an incredibly funny show and why didn't more people watch it. I was a fan of "Gilligans Island" ever since I was four years old and remain one to this day. I will miss Mr. Denver very much. Also, R.L. Burnside, bluesman extrodinaire, passed away in the last week as well.

    Re: R.I.P. Bob Denver (none / 0) (#9)
    by teacherken on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:24 PM EST
    We Werre neighbors I grew up in Larchmont, in the unicorporated part of the Town of Mamaroneck, just off Chatworth Ave and not too far from City Park New Rochelle Like you, I associated Denver far more with Dobie Gillis .. that was my youth, and I really didn't enjoy Gilligan's Island.

    Re: R.I.P. Bob Denver (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:24 PM EST
    Rest in peace, Bob. You entertained me many times in my younger years.

    Re: R.I.P. Bob Denver (none / 0) (#11)
    by Avedon on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:25 PM EST
    Someone commenting to my announcement mentioned that the woman who payed Zelda is feminist lawyer and openly-gay California state senator Sheila Kuehl.

    Re: R.I.P. Bob Denver (none / 0) (#12)
    by N in Seattle on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:26 PM EST
    Avedon is referring to me. I've mentioned Zelda/Sheila in a number of places.

    Re: R.I.P. Bob Denver (none / 0) (#13)
    by john horse on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:26 PM EST
    I'll miss Bob Denver. In interviews he seemed like a really gentle, nice guy, just like the characters he played on tv. I'll remember him more for Dobie Gillis than Gilligan. In the Ozzie and Harriet whitebread world of early 60's television, there weren't too many characters like Maynard G. Krebs. By the way, does anyone know what the "G" stood for?

    Re: R.I.P. Bob Denver (none / 0) (#14)
    by N in Seattle on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:26 PM EST
    By the way, does anyone know what the "G" stood for? Gilligan? :-)

    Re: R.I.P. Bob Denver (none / 0) (#15)
    by Peter G on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:26 PM EST
    Thanks for this item, TL. I loved Maynard G. Krebs in Dobie Gillis, too. And for the fascinating info about "Zelda," too, NiS. Bye, Bob.

    R.I.P. Bob Denver | 15 comments (15 topical)