Although Gilligan was usually the cause for most of the disasters that occured on the island, not every one was his fault. For example:

In "Quick Before It Sinks," both the Skipper and the Professor were wrong blaming Gilligan for the mix-up regarding the measuring stick the Professor was using. Gilligan would have absolutely no way of knowing for what purpose the stick was being used. In fact if anyone was to blame for the confusion and eventual mess, it would've been the Professor. Not once did he take into consideration that the stick may have been moved nor did he bother to ask the others if they had moved it before leaping to the conclusion that the island was sinking. In fact he never even gave a reason as to why he felt the need to measure the water level in the lagoon in the first place.

And of course in "The Big Gold Strike" every castaway except for Gilligan was responsible for ruining their chance for rescue by smuggling their gold on board the liferaft. And you'll notice that Gilligan didn't get angry with his fellow castaways as they surely would've gotten with him had it been his fault.

Although Gilligan was usually the cause for most of the disasters that occured on the island, not every one was his fault. For example:

In "Quick Before It Sinks," both the Skipper and the Professor were wrong blaming Gilligan for the mix-up regarding the measuring stick the Professor was using. Gilligan would have absolutely no way of knowing for what purpose the stick was being used. In fact if anyone was to blame for the confusion and eventual mess, it would've been the Professor. Not once did he take into consideration that the stick may have been moved nor did he bother to ask the others if they had moved it before leaping to the conclusion that the island was sinking. In fact he never even gave a reason as to why he felt the need to measure the water level in the lagoon in the first place.

And of course in "The Big Gold Strike" every castaway except for Gilligan was responsible for ruining their chance for rescue by smuggling their gold on board the liferaft. And you'll notice that Gilligan didn't get angry with his fellow castaways as they surely would've gotten with him had it been his fault.

LOL true, but Gilligan was there, and they were angry, so they had to take it out on someone... actually I don't know, its just a theory. (hehe) But yeah, poor Gilly. :lol:

I've done that before, too. Do something stupid, and blame someone else. :lol:

a lot more problems in the first season don't seem to be his fault. As the series goes on more problems are the result of him.

The professor's track record leaves something to be desired.
His "Scientific Method" often gave me pause.

The silent S.O.S. movie was almost everyone's fault. Gilligan opened the door in the Professor's darkroom while ther Professor was developing it, the Skipper ruined a scene by throwing Gilligan in the water, Mr. Howell couldn't direct a movie to save his life (which is exactly what he was supposed to be doing), Mrs. Howell just had to throw in a message to the royal family of Monaco, Ginger and Mary Ann had to put in their two cents' worth about a starting point in the final scene, and the Professor, of course, was no movie editor! :lol:

One thing I always wondered about the silent film----it starts with a hand writing "this is our story----help" on a piece of paper. Why didn't they write out that they were the shipwrecked crew of the Minnow and provide the Latitude and Longitude figures that they already knew? They could have filmed more useful scenes like themselves standing by the Minnow and used dialogue pages that gave personal information, people to contact, etc.

It wouldn't have been as funny, but it sure would have made a lot more sense! :)

That episode had strange parallels to the "I Love Lucy" episode in which Lucy tries to edit her, Ethel, and Fred's TV pilot into Ricky's TV pilot, inadvertantly creating a comedic montage that tremendously impresses the TV rep who see it! :lol:

One thing I always wondered about the silent film----it starts with a hand writing "this is our story----help" on a piece of paper. Why didn't they write out that they were the shipwrecked crew of the Minnow and provide the Latitude and Longitude figures that they already knew? They could have filmed more useful scenes like themselves standing by the Minnow and used dialogue pages that gave personal information, people to contact, etc.

It wouldn't have been as funny, but it sure would have made a lot more sense! :)
Who's to say they didn't do just that. Perhaps we're viewing all that was left of the shot film. :)

One thing I always wondered about the silent film----it starts with a hand writing "this is our story----help" on a piece of paper. Why didn't they write out that they were the shipwrecked crew of the Minnow and provide the Latitude and Longitude figures that they already knew? They could have filmed more useful scenes like themselves standing by the Minnow and used dialogue pages that gave personal information, people to contact, etc.

It wouldn't have been as funny, but it sure would have made a lot more sense! :)
OMG, that's what I have always said all these years!!!!!!!! Now, that for sure wasn't Gilligan's fault!!!!!! BTW since they were considered missing and surely their pics were posted back on the mainland, don't you think that silent film would have led to at least one of them being recognized?

OMG, that's what I have always said all these years!!!!!!!! Now, that for sure wasn't Gilligan's fault!!!!!! BTW since they were considered missing and surely their pics were posted back on the mainland, don't you think that silent film would have led to at least one of them being recognized?

also how would the not recgonize the Howells being how important they are. The same goes for Ginger being the movie star surley her fans and agent would see it

also how would the not recgonize the Howells being how important they are. The same goes for Ginger being the movie star surley her fans and agent would see it


That's what I always thought. But at least they won the grand prize at Cannes. Maybe it was a motorcycle! VRRRRRRRRRRR VRRRRRRRRRRRRRMMM!!! :lol:

That S.O.S. silent movie episode was always one of my favorite episodes, if only because it was so darn funny.

Their film may have won the grand prize at Cannes, but, if I remember correctly, who was credited as the director? It was not any of the castaways. It was--and as the committee could not decide whether it was Ingmar Bergman or Federico Fellini, who directed the film--both Bergman and Fellini shared the prize.

The movie is especially cool when you turn the sound off and play "Get Off My Cloud" by the Rolling Stones (the #1 song at the time the episode was aired). ;)

It looks like a video on MTV.

The movie is especially cool when you turn the sound off and play "Get Off My Cloud" by the Rolling Stones (the #1 song at the time the episode was aired). ;)

It looks like a video on MTV.

I think I will try that. :)

That S.O.S. silent movie episode was always one of my favorite episodes, if only because it was so darn funny.

Their film may have won the grand prize at Cannes, but, if I remember correctly, who was credited as the director? It was not any of the castaways. It was--and as the committee could not decide whether it was Ingmar Bergman or Federico Fellini, who directed the film--both Bergman and Fellini shared the prize.


I hope that motorcycle had a sidecar! :rofl:

I *NEVER* felt like the screw ups were Gilligan's fault. I didn't understand why everyone always got upset at Gilligan. True, he had some kind of mental or hyper condition that made him do the wild and crazy things that he did, but the rest of the castaways should have been more expectant of that, and not allowed him to always have so much control over their lives.

They had no reason to get upset for always allowing him get them into unfortunate situations.

Have other viewers have felt this way too?

I *NEVER* felt like the screw ups were Gilligan's fault. I didn't understand why everyone always got upset at Gilligan. True, he had some kind of mental or hyper condition that made him do the wild and crazy things that he did, but the rest of the castaways should have been more expectant of that, and not allowed him to always have so much control over their lives.

They had no reason to get upset for always allowing him get them into unfortunate situations.

Have other viewers have felt this way too?

Oh absolutely. To me the Skipper was the dumb one for hiring Gilligan in the first place. I wish there was some kind of explanation for it (e.g. Gilligan's dad was his best friend) or something. Actually I don't think Gilligan was stupid, I see him as more mischevious or "cheeky" who said stupid things on purpose to make the Skipper mad. Because lets face it, the Skipper is extremely funny when he's mad! :D A couple of my favorite scenes are "Diogenes, Won't You Please Go Home" - when the Skipper is looking for Gilligan's diary and Gilligans whispers "the key is on the top shelf" knowing perfectly well the Skipper is snooping, and Skipper falls for it and then realizes Gilligan tricked him- "That wasn't funny" (I disagree with THAT!) :D

Also in Mine Hero when Ginger tries to take Gilligan's necklace but then he says "I also got what you stole" pulling out the necklace just as she's leaving. HAHA There's a bunch of stuff like this. Gilligan was extra super cool.

There was a reason that the Skipper hired Gilligan. When they were both in the Navy a charge/explosive of some kind detonated on the deck of their ship and Gilligan saved the Skipper's life.

I agree totally that Gilligan was pretty smart. Bob said on numerous occasions that he would do things from time to time to show that Gilligan was not an idiot. GingerGilligan gave some good examples. Another one I remember was in "Three to Get Ready" where he pretends to throw the cat's eye/eye of the idol into the jungle and says "I hope the next person who finds it has better luck than I did." Of course, it's still in his hand while the others rush to search for it.

Gilligan is the smartest castaway,he knew the best way to get out of there since the day one but,he prefers to play dump and he screws up every rescue's attempt so,he can stay on the island with all the people he really cares about;)

There was a reason that the Skipper hired Gilligan. When they were both in the Navy a charge/explosive of some kind detonated on the deck of their ship and Gilligan saved the Skipper's life.

"No, you just prolonged it so you would give me more trouble!"

Yeah, really grateful. :rolleyes:

I agree totally that Gilligan was pretty smart. Bob said on numerous occasions that he would do things from time to time to show that Gilligan was not an idiot. GingerGilligan gave some good examples. Another one I remember was in "Three to Get Ready" where he pretends to throw the cat's eye/eye of the idol into the jungle and says "I hope the next person who finds it has better luck than I did." Of course, it's still in his hand while the others rush to search for it.

I know Bob said that, but I'm confused. I was under the impression that actors perform what is in the script (and what the directors say) and couldn't change anything? IIRC Sherwood said (while narrating "The Little Dictator" on the Season 2 dvd) that he did not let the cast go "willy nilly" with ad-libs (except Jim Backus might mumble some things which they kept in if they were clean). So I guess my point is that the writers on GI did things to show that Gilligan was not an idiot either. ;)