Despite critical barbs as sharp as a Maroobi spear, Gilligan's Island has proven unsinkable. It's first season was 1964's top-rated show. The expository theme song is one of television's most quoted, and its characters--the Skipper, first mate Gilligan, the millionaire and his wife, a movie star, "and the rest" as the Professor and Mary Ann are pop culture icons. Gilligan's Island centered around a this group who were stranded on an uncharted deserted island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. They all were on a boat tour, which found itself in the middle of a storm leading them to crash on an island! Gilligan was the first mate on the boat, the SS Minnow. Most episodes dealt with the castaways trying to get off the island, but their attempts seemed to always be foiled by Gilligan. That, and the unending debate: Ginger or Mary Ann?

Cast & Characters

• Bob Denver as Gilligan
• Alan Hale, Jr. as Jonas Grumby (The Skipper)
• Jim Backus as Thurston Howell III
• Natalie Schafer as Mrs. Lovey Howell
• Tina Louise as Ginger Grant
• Russel Johnson as Roy Hinkley (The Professor)
• Dawn Wells as Mary Ann Summers

Broadcast History

First Telecast: September 26, 1964
Last Telecast: September 4, 1967
Original Network: CBS
Number of Seasons: 3
Number of Episodes: 98
Gilligan's Island Episode Guide
Original Primetime TV Schedule:

• September 1964- September 1965, CBS, Saturday 8:30-9:00pm
• September 1965- September 1966, CBS, Thursday 8:00-8:30pm
• September 1966- September 1967, CBS, Monday 7:30-8:00pm

Theme Song Lyrics & Opening Credits

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

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, A tale of a fateful trip That started from this tropic port Aboard this tiny ship. The mate was a mighty sailing man, The skipper brave and sure. Five passengers set sail that day For a three hour tour, a three hour tour. The weather started getting rough, The tiny ship was tossed, If not for the courage of the fearless crew The minnow would be lost, the minnow would be lost. The ship set ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle With Gilligan The Skipper too, The millionaire and his wife, The movie star The professor and Mary Ann, Here on Gilligans Isle. So this is the talel of the castways, They're here for a long, long time, They'll have to make the best of things, It's an uphill climb. The first mate and the Skipper too, Will do their very best, To make the others comfortable, In the tropic island nest. No phone, no lights no motor cars, Not a single luxury, Like Robinson Crusoe, As primative as can be. So join us here each week my freinds, You're sure to get a smile, From seven stranded castways, Here on "Gilligan's Isle."

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Gilligan's Island Trivia

Carroll O'Connor (Archie Bunker on "All In the Family) tested for the role of the skipper, Dabney Coleman (Mr. Drysdale in the Beverly Hillbillies Movie) tested for the role of the professor, and Jayne Mansfield was offered the role of Ginger but turned it down.

The theme song for Gilligan's Island refers to Mr. Howell as a Millionaire, but in several episodes he's referred to as a Billionaire.

Bob Denver (Gilligan) was cast in a major role on another TV show 5 years before Gilligan's Island. He played the part of Maynard Krebs in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis".

The original pilot episode never aired due to changes made after it was shot. The professor, Ginger and Mary Ann were all replaced with new actors. Ginger and Mary Ann were changed from secretaries to a movie star and a farmer's daughter.

The Gilligan's Island theme song lyrics originally went: ... The movie star, and the rest ... and was changed to ... The movie star ... The Professor and Mary Ann ... After all, it wasn't fair that all of the actors except the professor and Mary Ann were referred to in the song!

Jim Backus (Mr. Howell) provided the voice for the well-known cartoon charachter Mr. Magoo.

Gilligan was the only character that never had his full name mentioned on the TV show. Some of the people associated with Gilligan's Island say his first name was supposed to be "Willy" but Bob Denver insists that he always believed that Gilligan was his first name!