Does anyone remember the TV show "Fantasy Island"?

Question

I always remember the little dwarf guy shouting, "De Plane" "De Plane"

Answer 1

Herve Villechaize is sadly, dead.

Hervé Jean-Pierre Villechaize (April 23, 1943–September 4, 1993) was a French actor of Filipino ancestry who achieved worldwide recognition for his role as Mr. Roarke's assistant, Tattoo, in the television series Fantasy Island (1978 – 1984).

As a consequence of his health problems and troubles in his professional career, Villechaize became alcoholic and depressive in the last few years of his life, which led to erratic and sometimes violent behavior, including an incident in which he allegedly held his agent at gunpoint in a booth at a restaurant in L.A.

In 1993, he shot himself at his home and was found by his common law wife, Kathy Self. He died in a hospital in North Hollywood, California as a result of his injuries, aged 50.

Answer 2

OMG.. yesss!! It used to show on Star Plus - before it changed to a hindi channel - friday and saturday evenings, followed by 'the love boat'. I liked it.. used to watch it with my grandfather when we'd go over to their place - still remember the shows tho I was only 8... My grandfather passed away last year.
Tatoo was soo funny.. and the old guy - one of those smart-type
The shows were so true to life.. today, living on an island myself, I've learned so much more about life - and those shows all had really valuable lessons -- plus it was fuuunnn!!! Gosh... I miss fantasy island.. and those lovely carefree days.. and my grandfathee.. Why do people have to grow old? Why do things just get more difficult as time goes by? Ahh....

Answer 3

Oh yea..I remember that show from when I was a kid. I really liked it. People's problems or whatever the reason why they were there kind of got fixed and things came into perspecitve.
Did you see the new one a few yrs back? I forget what channel it was on. Malcom McDowell was Mr.Rourke. The newer one was a little more dark.

Answer 4

I'm too young ot have seen it's original run, but i do remember reruns. and there was also a short lived remake of the show in the late 90's. It was pretty good, don't know why it got taken off after only about a year :(

Answer 5

Yep, I do. the little guy name was Herve. He was french and a truly fantastic painter. He died about ten years ago.

To answer your question, Fantasy Island was on about 10 years on ABC. It came on right after the love boat

Answer 6

Fantasy Island was introduced to viewers in 1977 through two highly-rated made-for-television films in which Mr. Roarke and Tattoo played relatively minor roles. Airing from 1978 to 1984, the original series starred Ricardo Montalban as Mr. Roarke, the enigmatic overseer of a mysterious island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean (presumably near Hawaii) where people from all walks of life could come and live out their fantasies — for a price.

Roarke was known for his white suit and cultured demeanor, and he was initially accompanied by an energetic sidekick, Tattoo, played by the diminutive Hervé Villechaize, who ran up the main bell tower to ring the bell and shout "The plane! The plane!" to announce the arrival of a new set of guests at the beginning of each episode. This line, shown at the beginning of the show's credits, became an unlikely catchphrase thanks to Villechaize's spirited delivery and French accent (he actually pronounced it, "De plane! De plane!"). In later seasons, he would come down to drive in his personal go cart, sized for him, and recklessly drive to join Roarke for the visitor reception. From 1980 to 1982, Wendy Schaal joined the cast as another assistant named Julie. Villechaize quit the series prior to the 1983-1984 season (its last) and Tattoo was replaced by a more sedate butler type named Lawrence, played by Christopher Hewett.


Tattoo and Mr. Roarke welcome visitors to Fantasy Island.In the early seasons, it was noted that each guest had paid $50,000 in advance for the fulfillment of their fantasies and that Fantasy Island was, at its heart, a business. In the two pilot movies Roarke was actually a rather sinister figure, but once the series went into production he soon became much more benevolent. In later seasons there were often supernatural overtones suggesting that Mr. Roarke was an angel, or perhaps a space alien or something else other-worldly, and that his powers to fulfill fantasies were the result of a supernatural being or beings needing to correct things that had happened in the past. Usually, he employed some sort of object - a magic potion, for instance - in order to make the fantasy come true. He also seemed to have his own magical powers of some sort, although it was never explained how this came to be. In one notable episode late in the series, Roarke battled a character who appeared to be The Devil (played by Roddy McDowall). Roarke had a strong moral code throughout, but he was always merciful as he tried to teach his guests the error of their ways. Several guests died on the island, either due to their own negligence, aggression or arrogance, or because they'd been due to die anyway and Roarke was allowing them to live out one last wish.

The usual format of each episode consisted of an introduction in which Roarke would describe to Tattoo (or another assistant) the nature of each person's fantasy, usually with a cryptic comment suggesting the person's fantasy will not turn out as they expected. The episode would then alternate between two or three independent storylines as the guests experienced their fantasies and interacted with Roarke. Often, the fantasies would turn out to be morality lessons for the guests, sometimes to the point of (apparently) putting their lives at risk, only to have Roarke step in at the last minute and reveal the deception. It is mentioned a few times that a condition of visiting Fantasy Island is that guests never reveal what goes on there.

Like several other series of the era, such as The Love Boat and Murder, She Wrote, Fantasy Island employed many B-list celebrities as guest stars, often bringing them back repeatedly for different roles. The guests included TV stars such as Bill Bixby and Bob Denver, classic film stars such as Peter Lawford and Ray Bolger, young starlets like Victoria Principal and Barbi Benton and soap opera actors like Dack Rambo.

The program was popular in its day, and its campy style has won it a cult following in reruns.

Answer 7

That was one of the best moment of the show. Hervé Villechaize, who was the dwarf, later killed himself in the 90's. I miss that show though.

Answer 8

Could that guy teach a lesson or what? He was like the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle for adults who needed to get a clue...

Answer 9

Yes, little Tatoo "De Plane" "DePlane" and Ricardo Montalban wearing his white impecable suit.

Answer 10

yea I remember when they used to have re-runs on fx a while ago