A little earlier than Gilligans' Island!
Maynard G. Krebs is the "beatnik" sidekick of the title character in the U.S. television sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, which aired on CBS from 1959 to 1963.
The Krebs character, portrayed by actor Bob Denver, begins the series as a stereotypical beatnik, with a goatee, "hip" (slang) language, and a generally unkempt, bohemian appearance. His abhorrence of conventional social forms is signified by comical reactions to three words: "work", "marriage", and "police". For example, whenever the word "work" is mentioned, even in passing, he yelps "Work?!" and jumps with fear or even faints. He serves as a foil to the well-groomed, well-dressed, straight-laced Dobie, and the contrast between the two friends provides much of the humor of the series. Among the memorable phrases uttered in the series is Gillis' regular comment, "Good stuff, Maynard," which long-preceded its use in the Malt-O-Meal commercial from the early 1980s that so many reference as the phrase's origin.
