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The Real Gilligan’s Island : Gilligan Zac Talks About The Love Triangle
June 14, 2005 11:15 PM by Joe Blackmon
In an exclusive interview with Reality TV Magazine, Gilligan Zac Turney from the hit TBS reality TV show The Real Gilligan’s Island talks about the love triangle between him, Mary Ann Mandy, and Professor Andy. Gilligan Zac also shares some details about his background, the casting process, and his plans for the future.
Reality TV Magazine: How did you get cast for The Real Gilligan’s Island?
Gilligan Zac: It was last May and I was at a strange point in my life where I had just dropped out of school due to financial reasons and was forced to sell everything I owned for food money, it wasn’t a real happy time in my life. I took the first job available to me at a hotel called The Don CeSar as a cabana boy. After working there for about a month, one of my fellow cabana boys mentioned to me "you know they are doing try outs for Gilligan’s Island down at the Pier [St. Pete], you’re a goofy guy, you should do it!"
At the time it seemed like a backhanded compliment. However, later that night I found myself sitting in an empty house with nothing to do so I went downtown to check it out. While there I decided I would audition for Professor since I’m very analytical and a biology student. Come to find out that the only person I was qualified for was Gilligan. So during the interview I explained to them my philosophies on optimism and climbed a girder and swung around through the building, the rest as they say is history.
Reality TV Magazine: What is your occupation/work background?
Gilligan Zac: As far as boating, I grew up in New Smyrna Beach, so me and my buddies were out every afternoon after school wake boarding and causing mischief on various boats. During the summer I worked with my father at his dental office and even went to UF to get my Dental Radiology Certificate. During the rest I am a student and college DJ. After I dropped out I went from cabana boy to manager in a couple months, saved up enough money and returned to school full time where I currently am now. I’m majoring in Biology and Creative Writing. I’m hoping to be a professional writer. I’ve written a movie script that I am trying to pitch and working on a self help book on optimism for manic depressives.
Reality TV Magazine: In the first episode, there was a lot made of your attraction to Mary Ann Mandy. Did you and do you still have a crush on Mary Ann Mandy or was it overplayed in the show’s editing?
Gilligan Zac: Well, I went out there thinking we have a 1/8 chance of winning the money. So I figured the next best thing would be to try to segue this into acting or whatever. First chance I got Mandy and Andy alone I proposed my idea of the love triangle to them. The three of us would stick together into the finals, but fake a love triangle to make "good TV" for the audience and increase our overall air time.
As funny as it is, life so often imitates art and toward the end, everyone’s feelings sort of became true. I knew I didn’t have a chance, but I continued anyways. There was just something about the novel appeal of trying to win Mary Ann’s heart. So it was half fake, half real.
Just a comment about editing. It can change your actions and make you look different on what you do, but it can’t change attitude. Everyone is really as they were represented.
Reality TV Magazine: What did you think of Professor Andy getting close to Mary Ann Mandy (even though he is said on the show to have a girlfriend back home)?
Gilligan Zac: Well, we are all good friends now in real life. We all contacted each other after it was over and hung out a few times. Andy is still with his real girlfriend, so no dirt there. In real life Mandy and Shawn may be dating now (I’m not too sure, if so she downplays it).
Reality TV Magazine: If you had your choice, do you prefer Mary Ann or Ginger?
Gilligan Zac: I take cute over hot any day, so definitely Mary Ann
Reality TV Magazine: Is there anyone on the show that you did not get along with?
Gilligan Zac: I pretty much got along with everyone, probably more-so than anyone else. There isn’t one person that I really didn’t like. It’s just the kinda guy I am. Even with Tiy-E’s cockiness and Shawn’s judgmental attitude I found ways to like them for their good qualities.
Reality TV Magazine: Who is your favorite fellow castaway on the show?
Gilligan Zac: Charlie and Andy. Charlie was like a father figure to me, he really is a great person, a little loud, but a heck of a guy. Andy and I share the most in common in real life. I was eager to meeting the professor since I’ve spent so long in the student role. He was my hunting buddy out there. Him and I were killing and eating anything we could catch. He’s one of the nicest guys you could know.
Reality TV Magazine: How do you think The Real Gilligan’s Island compares to Survivor?
Gilligan Zac: Yeah, it’s a knockoff, but it’s a knockoff with more flavor. GI is ultimately a comedy show that just happens to be a reality show. But our challenges are equally as hard and we were all just as sneaky and backstabbing.
Reality TV Magazine: Do you have any regrets about your experience on The Real Gilligan’s Island?
Gilligan Zac: None. I think I did everything that I did out there the way it should have been done. I may seem goofy, but I had a plan for everything. I do regret the fact that they cut out anything remotely cool that I did or invented. Can’t have a cognitive Gilligan. 
Reality TV Magazine: Now that The Real Gilligan’s Island is airing, how has it impacted your life? Do people recognize you from the show when you’re out?
Gilligan Zac: In real life I always have a straw hat on, so I think that detracts from the similarity. So even though I’m the only male from the show on the billboards across the nation, I’m still just Zac Turney average guy in the grocery checkout lines.
As for impact, the experience was priceless. You won’t see it, but I basically lived totally off the land. It was just awesome to know that if it ever happened I would have no troubles finding myself at home. I’m hoping to use the momentum for this to help get published and get a professional radio show. Some of the producers told me that they expect that I will get the most publicity from the show and have a chance of doing bigger and better things. I got a part for a show that is going to run 3 years around the world and films in 10. I can’t tell you what it is since I’m still waiting on the GI legal team.
If you want to learn more about Gilligan Zac, then check out his website online at www.zacturney.com. Also, be sure to tune into the Real Gilligan’s Island on Wednesday, June 15 on TBS at 9P.M. EST.
Reality TV Magazine is your source for The Real Gilligan’s Island news. For other great The Real Gilligan’s Island news, please also check out SirLinksALot: The Real Gilligan’s Island.
Topics: The Real Gilligans Island |
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June 15th, 2005 at 1:58 pm
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