"Feed the Kitty" finds the castaways on safari, once they learn that a lion now stalks the island. Mrs. Howell's allergies pinpoint the animal's location, but it's Gilligan who manages to befriend the king of beasts by imitating Daniel in the lion's den and removing a thorn from its foot. Unwilling to have his new friend put in a cage, Gilligan wanders off and uses cans of corned beef to train it to star in a new circus financed by Mr. Howell, but what to do after the corned beef runs out? Not as funny as other episodes but the point where the lion sees each castaway as a different morsel is priceless, as is the one where an unseen Skipper seems to be calling Gilligan from inside the lion's stomach! An intrepid Bob Denver actually shares the screen with the lion, forgiveness to those cast members who couldn't.
3 Reviews
FAMOUS EPISODE WITH ZAMBA, THE LION.
tcchelsey6 August 2023
This is a neat episode, but also quite famous for its guest stars, one human and one animal. It's all about a lion who washes up on the island in a crate. Mr. Howell, the business master mind, thinks it might be in a good idea to finance a circus --with Gilligan as the ringmaster -- AND a real deal lion! The gag here is that Gilligan looks like a GIANT can of corned beef to the lion????
The story gets an A for effort. However, the real story centers around famous Zamba, the lion. Zamba was owned by animal rights activist Ralph Helfin, a friend of Carol Burnett. Helfin strongly believed movie animals needed to be protected against cruel owners, and brought up Zamba the right way, and good for him. For years, animals were trained with whips and chairs, and thrown in cages and treated like dirt. Zamba was in scores of tv shows and movies, and quite talented and respected. He lived to age 18, passing away a few years after this episode in 1970.
The second guest star to note is Janos Prohaska, a master stunt man, who also played bears and gorillas, in this case also a lion. Janos appeared in such shows as the OUTER LIMITS, BEWITCHED and LOST IN SPACE. He tragically was killed in a plane crash in 1974 while working on a tv movie, but never forgotten in Hollywood.
One laugh out loud comedy to see again. From SEASON 2, restored dvd box set in beautiful color.
The story gets an A for effort. However, the real story centers around famous Zamba, the lion. Zamba was owned by animal rights activist Ralph Helfin, a friend of Carol Burnett. Helfin strongly believed movie animals needed to be protected against cruel owners, and brought up Zamba the right way, and good for him. For years, animals were trained with whips and chairs, and thrown in cages and treated like dirt. Zamba was in scores of tv shows and movies, and quite talented and respected. He lived to age 18, passing away a few years after this episode in 1970.
The second guest star to note is Janos Prohaska, a master stunt man, who also played bears and gorillas, in this case also a lion. Janos appeared in such shows as the OUTER LIMITS, BEWITCHED and LOST IN SPACE. He tragically was killed in a plane crash in 1974 while working on a tv movie, but never forgotten in Hollywood.
One laugh out loud comedy to see again. From SEASON 2, restored dvd box set in beautiful color.
Gilligan meets the King of the Busts.
Ralphkram20 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Even the King of the Big Cats can't lift this sleepy episode out of its doldrums. It has a formulaic plot, silly slapstick, and largely relegates the castaways to the sidelines, especially in the second half. Much of the humor is clearly aimed at the younger crowd. There is little for adults to sink their teeth into. It's a great big yawn.
The by-the-numbers cold open has Gilligan once again finding something unusual down by the lagoon. This time it is a busted up crate that has washed ashore. He and the Skipper notice the name Felis Leo imprinted on one of the boards. The Professor happens by to explain the name is Latin for lion. Leo picks that moment to make his presence known with an island-shaking roar, and the men scatter into the jungle.
Much of the first act has the frightened men fumbling around in their pursuit of the lion, desperate for laughs, acting like the four Stooges out on safari. Leo, meanwhile, being the red-blooded lion that he is, is busy surveilling the girls from atop a boulder. They flee and take refuge in the Howell's hut. Not surprisingly, the lion slips through their barricade, causes them to vacate, and camps out on Mrs. Howell's bed. Our skittish lead begs off the hunt for Leo, and, also not surprisingly, winds up cornered by him.
The pair recreate a scene from Daniel and the Lion when Gilligan plucks a thorn out of Leo's paw, and become fast friends. The other castaways are concerned about who Gilligan is now hanging out with and ask him to choose between them and his new pal. To advance the plot, he picks our guest lion.
A chance encounter with Mr. Howell kicks off the second act; the castaways will form a circus with the billionaire's backing and Gilligan's lion as the star attraction. The idea of a circus fits the cartoonish nature of the show to a T and suits the majority of the pre-teen audience. However, the actual putting together of it doesn't go very far and seems half-hearted. Yes, the castaways take to the idea with their usual over enthusiasm and improvise costumes right on the spot, but dressing up is as much as they get to do. We see Gilligan as the 'world famous lion tamer' walk Leo across a wooden plank. The Skipper, prodded humorously by a roar, does some inept knife throwing and juggling, but that's it. We don't see any other circus acts or performances, and, for once, there is no use of the stage or building of sets. There is even time for a silly gag where Gilligan believes Leo has made a meal of his big buddy.
Gilligan's supply of corned beef, used to keep Leo in check, inevitably runs low, and the lion turns his sights to him. Our lead is persuaded by the Skipper and the Professor to cage the hungry beast for the safety of everyone involved. Any potential drama between the trio is quickly squashed as Gilligan reluctantly agrees. From that point on the rest of the episode is a washout as Leo and the circus dream go the way of the tide.
COCONOTES:
Zamba, our guest lion, spends the episode with a sleepy or bored expression on his face. Especially like his casual roar to persuade the Skipper to do some clowning.
Can clearly see Bob Denver's stunt double in the scene where he pulls out the thorn and opens the lion's mouth.
Best scene is easily when Leo imagines the castaways as prey. The girls as does and the Professor as an owl-both priceless.
Weird edit at the end of the scene where Gilligan and Ginger are discussing their circus roles.
Clearly that's a puppet in the cage at the end.
The by-the-numbers cold open has Gilligan once again finding something unusual down by the lagoon. This time it is a busted up crate that has washed ashore. He and the Skipper notice the name Felis Leo imprinted on one of the boards. The Professor happens by to explain the name is Latin for lion. Leo picks that moment to make his presence known with an island-shaking roar, and the men scatter into the jungle.
Much of the first act has the frightened men fumbling around in their pursuit of the lion, desperate for laughs, acting like the four Stooges out on safari. Leo, meanwhile, being the red-blooded lion that he is, is busy surveilling the girls from atop a boulder. They flee and take refuge in the Howell's hut. Not surprisingly, the lion slips through their barricade, causes them to vacate, and camps out on Mrs. Howell's bed. Our skittish lead begs off the hunt for Leo, and, also not surprisingly, winds up cornered by him.
The pair recreate a scene from Daniel and the Lion when Gilligan plucks a thorn out of Leo's paw, and become fast friends. The other castaways are concerned about who Gilligan is now hanging out with and ask him to choose between them and his new pal. To advance the plot, he picks our guest lion.
A chance encounter with Mr. Howell kicks off the second act; the castaways will form a circus with the billionaire's backing and Gilligan's lion as the star attraction. The idea of a circus fits the cartoonish nature of the show to a T and suits the majority of the pre-teen audience. However, the actual putting together of it doesn't go very far and seems half-hearted. Yes, the castaways take to the idea with their usual over enthusiasm and improvise costumes right on the spot, but dressing up is as much as they get to do. We see Gilligan as the 'world famous lion tamer' walk Leo across a wooden plank. The Skipper, prodded humorously by a roar, does some inept knife throwing and juggling, but that's it. We don't see any other circus acts or performances, and, for once, there is no use of the stage or building of sets. There is even time for a silly gag where Gilligan believes Leo has made a meal of his big buddy.
Gilligan's supply of corned beef, used to keep Leo in check, inevitably runs low, and the lion turns his sights to him. Our lead is persuaded by the Skipper and the Professor to cage the hungry beast for the safety of everyone involved. Any potential drama between the trio is quickly squashed as Gilligan reluctantly agrees. From that point on the rest of the episode is a washout as Leo and the circus dream go the way of the tide.
COCONOTES:
Zamba, our guest lion, spends the episode with a sleepy or bored expression on his face. Especially like his casual roar to persuade the Skipper to do some clowning.
Can clearly see Bob Denver's stunt double in the scene where he pulls out the thorn and opens the lion's mouth.
Best scene is easily when Leo imagines the castaways as prey. The girls as does and the Professor as an owl-both priceless.
Weird edit at the end of the scene where Gilligan and Ginger are discussing their circus roles.
Clearly that's a puppet in the cage at the end.
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