Gilligan's Island (1964–1967)

Seven men and women are stranded on an uncharted island following a torrential storm.

Creator:

Sherwood Schwartz

Stars:

Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Jim Backus

4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Bob Denver	...	Gilligan (99 episodes, 1964-1967)
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Jonas 'The Skipper' Grumby (99 episodes, 1964-1967)
Jim Backus	...	Thurston Howell III (99 episodes, 1964-1967)
Natalie Schafer	...	Mrs. Lovey Howell (99 episodes, 1964-1967)
Tina Louise	...	Ginger Grant (98 episodes, 1964-1967)
Russell Johnson	...	Professor Roy Hinkley (98 episodes, 1964-1967)
Dawn Wells	...	Mary Ann Summers (98 episodes, 1964-1967)

Storyline

This popular television comedy begins with the shipwreck of the S.S. Minnow in a terrible storm. Gilligan, the Skipper too, a millionaire and his wife, a movie-star, the Professor and Mary Ann are all stranded on the island. Hey, didja see the one where they almost got off the island...?

---

Plot Keywords:

island | professor | castaway | millionaire | movie star | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Family

---

Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gilligan's Travels

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), Gladysya Productions, United Artists Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (98 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White (1964-1965) Color (1965-1967)

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

Alan Hale Jr. had a tendency to address people as "little buddy". Because of this, "little buddy" became the Skipper's signature term of affection for Gilligan. It is now widely used by fans as a nickname for Bob Denver.

---

Goofs

In the opening credits, the S.S. Minnow that is shown before the cruise, and after beaching on the island is different of the one shown during the storm. (No upper deck above the windows where the helm is, and the front of the cabin is straight, rather than pointed.)

---

Quotes

Gilligan: You're a big man with a big head and - -...
Skipper Jonas Grumby: Gilligan!
Gilligan: And a big heart.
Skipper Jonas Grumby: Oh, thank you.

---

Crazy Credits

During the first season's opening credits, for some reason neither The Professor, Russell Johnson nor Mary Ann Dawn Wells received an on screen billing, nor were they referred to in the theme song. They were just referred to as "... and the rest." For seasons two and three they were added at the request of Bob Denver, who played "Gilligan" and thought it was stupid to leave out the two actors just to shorten the introductory song by a few notes.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #19.162 (2011)

---

Soundtracks

"The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle"
Words and Music by George Wyle and Sherwood Schwartz

User Reviews

After watching even one episode, who wouldn't want to get stranded on an uncharted island, just to see if you could experience what these seven experienced?

I never get tired of watching "Gilligan's Island." As one of the many 1960's TV shows with wacky premises (breaking away from the "Leave It to Beaver" mold of the previous decade), it lives on to this day. At the beginning of every episode, when the theme song begins, I always act out the lines, and then wait for something crazy to happen.

Let's look at the characters. First mate Willy Gilligan (yes, he did have a first name) is the bane of everyone who believes in order and normalcy. Clumsy, pencil-thin and naive, he bungles every chance they have to get off of the island, and yet the other castaways didn't kill him. I guess they understood that he was a good guy under that idiocy.

Skipper Jonas Grumby is everything that Gilligan isn't: fatter than fat, competent and perfectly capable of taking charge. As his weight often is the butt of Gilligan's jokes, not to mention all the times when Gilligan drops things on his feet, the Skipper usually proceeds to hit Gilligan with his hat.

Thurston Howell III is the archetypal crass capitalist. He never does any work, and sits around all day talking about money. I always get the feeling that his grand ambition is to defraud all the other castaways. In spite of all this, Mr. Howell does have one weakness: his Teddy Bear.

Eunice "Lovey" Howell is as much of an heiress as can be. Always the aesthete, Lovey engages in eternal attempts to teach everyone the ways of the elite, but they never get the hang of it. Sometimes, it seems that she and Thurston married for money more than for love. Their marriage is often rocky, but they stay together.

Ginger Grant is the castaway with whom I would like to be stranded. A sultry movie star, Ginger can always seduce the men to get information. Her endless tales about life in Hollywood make life on the island sound not so bad. Ginger's dream would apparently be for Rock Hudson to rescue her from the island...and then some.

Professor Roy Hinkley is truly too smart for his (or anyone's) own good. Still, the Professor is the only reason that they are able to stay alive on the island. Whatever anyone needs built, he can take whatever materials are on the island and whip it up in a jiffy (unless of course anyone needs a raft).

Last but not least, Mary Ann Summers. She is the only castaway who can be classified as normal (and I use that term loosely). A wholesome farm girl from Kansas, Mary Ann tends the island's crops and keeps herself entertained by tuning into the soap operas on the radio. Nothing wrong with her.

So that's the story of the seven Castaways. They've been marooned on that island for over 40 years, and Gilligan's naivety, the Skipper's short temper, Mr. Howell's greed, Mrs. Howell's stuffiness, Ginger's sex appeal, the Professor's smarts and Mary Ann's glimpse into Americana never get old. It's always a riot to see their antics again and again...here on Gilligan's isle!