This is such I fun episode, I think. Tell me, does this one get much play on the tv stations, or is it rarely seen? Do they show that scene with the mock wedding between Gilligan and Maryann or do they cut that part out? I had never seen that part until I watched the dvds.

MAG fans: How do you explain Gilligan's reaction to the idea of even mock-marrying and kissing Maryann? This scene confused me when I first saw it! Many MAGs feel that Gilligan is into Maryann, so...what gives????

I love the scene on the raft--it's just great!! I especially like when they cut to Maryann and the Professor on shore and we see what they see. From their point of view, it is even more funny!

Doesn't Lovey look nice in her white outfit?

Why do you think they made those particular best man/maid of honor choices? Why Gilligan and Ginger? What do you think? Maryann, at 20, gets to be the flower girl! Couldn't they come up with a role for the poor Professor?

How could Gilligan possibly think he was going to be "trapped" into marrying Mrs. Howell?

Wow! The Skipper once proposed to a woman on first sight! Sounds very romantic. Doesn't sound too sailor-like to me from the stereotypes! Come to think of it, he was smitten by Erika also. In "Rescue," they paint him as having a list of girlfriends. What do you think the Skipper is like in this area--playboy or monogamist? Hmmm....

Why do you think Lovey chose the Professor for her date? She always seemed to find the Skipper kind of attractive, I had thought.

Wow! I couldn't believe the size of those pieces of pie they had cut for them for dessert! She must have given them the entire pie.

Why did the Skipper choose Maryann to rehearse the wedding when Ginger was an actress? Remember in "The Matchmaker," he asked Ginger, not Maryann, to play Mrs. Howell.

Was Gilligan's PDA comment accurate for that time? Was it really impolite for single people to hold hands in public? They were last in civilization in 1964, remember? We have to call on those who were of age in this part of the 60's or those who just know the history here.

MAG fans: How do you explain Gilligan's reaction to the idea of even mock-marrying and kissing Maryann? This scene confused me when I first saw it! Many MAGs feel that Gilligan is into Maryann, so...what gives????

Yes, I'd like to hear some opinions on this one, too! It is certainly a huge departure from his interest in Mary Ann from "The Matchmaker," though Gilligan did become more and more relationship-shy and romance-"phobic" as the series went on. Why I don't know - it might have been part of the general move away from the romance seen in S1. Personally, I see Gilligan's reluctance - even rudeness - in this scene as overkill. Gilligan might also be nervous about re-enacting a romantic scene in front of others, since he is very inexperienced. (The same argument is sometimes used for the Professor's reluctance in the kiss scene from "Castaway Pictures Presents.")

Why do you think they made those particular best man/maid of honor choices? Why Gilligan and Ginger? What do you think? Maryann, at 20, gets to be the flower girl! Couldn't they come up with a role for the poor Professor?

Yeah, I always felt sorry for poor Proffy, left out of the wedding party! I guess he was sort of like an usher or groomsman. Mr. Howell probably is closer to Gilligan than the Professor, hence the best man choice - though the Professor would have been a much safer choice to hold the ring! Mary Ann is the younger of the women and so is the best choice for flower girl, so Ginger gets maid of honor on default.

How could Gilligan possibly think he was going to be "trapped" into marrying Mrs. Howell?

He probably didn't really think so. He was just very jumpy about the whole marriage situation and blurted that out.

Wow! The Skipper once proposed to a woman on first sight! Sounds very romantic. Doesn't sound too sailor-like to me from the stereotypes! Come to think of it, he was smitten by Erika also. In "Rescue," they paint him as having a list of girlfriends. What do you think the Skipper is like in this area--playboy or monogamist? Hmmm....

In "Gilligan's Island: The Musical" there is also a reference to him having had many girlfriends in his past. My theory is that the Skipper had a lot of casual, no-strings-attached relationships - the whole "girl in every port" thing - back in his younger days. However, I think they were always relationships in which the woman had that same expectation of the relationship, and wasn't looking for a commitment. He would break off a relationship if he thought it was becoming serious, because I don't see him as the kind of man who would want to hurt a woman who loved him. All of this would be because he wanted to be free and didn't want to settle down yet.

I think that as he got older, he started to think about settling down, marrying a nice woman and maybe having a family. For some reason that didn't happen and then... the island. I think that the Skipper we knew in the series would absolutely be faithful and monogamous once he found that special woman for him! Personally, I think he and Erika Tiffany Smith are a fun couple that actually could work out.

Why do you think Lovey chose the Professor for her date? She always seemed to find the Skipper kind of attractive, I had thought.

Yes, and the Skipper would have been a better choice in that he is more romantically adept than the Professor (though that is not saying a whole lot, is it?) (: Maybe it's for reasons of plot logistics and relationship parallels on the part of the writer - we then have two couples that are actually supposed to be reversed. You notice how when the "headhunter" runs in, the couples work themselves out swiftly. (: Pretty sweet, really.

Why did the Skipper choose Maryann to rehearse the wedding when Ginger was an actress? Remember in "The Matchmaker," he asked Ginger, not Maryann, to play Mrs. Howell.

Maybe he figured Gilligan would be more comfortable "playing opposite" Mary Ann than Ginger? Or maybe Mary Ann volunteered? (:

Personally, I see Gilligan's reluctance - even rudeness - in this scene as overkill.

I agree, regarding both the mock-wedding and Gilligan's exclamation on the raft about being tricked into marriage. His silliness gets rather embarrassing. Can we put it down to fearing weddings/being trapped because of the incident with the rotund native girl?

Gilligan tells the Skipper he doesn't want to marry because women order men around. Who could he be thinking of? He sounds very fond of his mother. Maybe his sister is very bossy.


Yeah, I always felt sorry for poor Proffy, left out of the wedding party! I guess he was sort of like an usher or groomsman. Mr. Howell probably is closer to Gilligan than the Professor, hence the best man choice - though the Professor would have been a much safer choice to hold the ring! Mary Ann is the younger of the women and so is the best choice for flower girl, so Ginger gets maid of honor on default.

I would have thought Mrs. Howell was personally closer to Mary Ann, espsecially since she was occasionally jealous of Mr. Howell's attentions towards Ginger. I felt this was an odd choice.


My theory is that the Skipper had a lot of casual, no-strings-attached relationships - the whole "girl in every port" thing - back in his younger days.

I agree. I think the "proposal" story was just meant as a joke, even though Gilligan took it seriously.


Yes, and the Skipper would have been a better choice in that he is more romantically adept than the Professor (though that is not saying a whole lot, is it?) (: Maybe it's for reasons of plot logistics and relationship parallels on the part of the writer - we then have two couples that are actually supposed to be reversed. You notice how when the "headhunter" runs in, the couples work themselves out swiftly. (: Pretty sweet, really.

The Skipper certainly was the first man Mr. Howell pretended to suspect in "Lovey's Secret Admirer," and even accused him of having a girl in every port. But could he have pulled off the charm and sophistication the Professor did during this playact? Maybe Lovey gave the Professor a few lessons, but he certainly does a wonderful job acting as a romantic date. He orders in French, says, "What is to your taste, my dear?", and completely outshines Mr. Howell as a charming companion. And yes, he is gallant in the headhunter scene, isn't he? Especially when you think that neither he nor Ginger knew (I assume, since Gilligan and Mary Ann didn't know either), that the headhunter was really the Skipper!

By the way, Gilligan must have improved his server skills since "The Matchmaker." The only flub he makes is spilling some coffee, and Mrs. Howell doesn't seem a bit angry at him.

I always thought it was hilarious how PUMPED Mary Ann was to fake-marry Gilligan in this episode. She's totally into it.

And, yes, he was overly rude and even out-of-character to be so freaked out. He was pretty calm in The Matchmaker and didn't seem bothered at all - just naive and generally misinformed, haha - while making Duke jealous.

I think by that time all their characters had shifted so much romance-wise from Season 1 that it was just par for the course for the writers to assume he'd go nuts and act like a 10 year old. There's such a dramatic shift between S1 and the latter two years in terms of romancey shippy stuff, like littlesoprano said, and I for one find it unfortunate and a lot less fun. :D

I personally think that The Skipper dated several women in a search for the right partner.

I always imagened that the professer and ginger would end up together and then it would be marryann and. Gilligan. Anyone agre? ;) :: :kiss: :grineyes: :blush: :heart: :eyes: :love: :winkgrin :biglove: :nod: :luvu: :smooch: :: :: :thumbsup: offtopic: :wink2:

I always imagened that the professer and ginger would end up together and then it would be marryann and. Gilligan. Anyone agre? ;) :: :kiss: :grineyes: :blush: :heart: :eyes: :love: :winkgrin :biglove: :nod: :luvu: :smooch: :: :


Yeah, I agree. I always thought the Professor and Ginger made such a beautiful couple, and always imagined they would end up together and have little Professors and little Gingers! :lol:

I always imagened that the professer and ginger would end up together and then it would be marryann and. Gilligan. Anyone agre? ;) :: :kiss: :grineyes: :blush: :heart: :eyes: :love: :winkgrin :biglove: :nod: :luvu: :smooch: :: :: :thumbsup: offtopic: :wink2:

I so agree with that. It was very apparent in the first season that that's what they were building towards until everything was stopped in it's tracks after The Matchmaker.