A little fun fact: When “Gilligan’s Island” was at the height of its popularity, in 1965, the creator of the series, Sherwood Schwartz, received a visit from a certain Commander Doyle of the United States Coast Guard. Evidently the commander was receiving numerous (joking) telegrams from his officers, asking why a more concerted effort had not been made to locate and rescue Gilligan and his fellow castaways. This story was confirmed in a 1967 interview with the Sioux City Journal, easily transcribed by MeTV.
“Gilligan’s Island,” as television history buffs may know, was wildly successful in its first two seasons, attracting as much public attention as it did critical scorn. Many considered “Gilligan’s Island” to be too fluffy and frivolous, lacking any discernible edge. The series took place in a colorful cartoon world where there was no death, pain, or real threats. The seven castaways stranded on Gilligan Island never faced starvation, lack of resources, or madness. Everyone got along well and their clothes were always clean. The physical and moral cleanliness of “Gilligan’s Island” may have robbed it of any sense of real drama or peril, but that was the most appealing detail for viewers. The worst situation the castaways faced was boredom, and if you’re looking for more, we have plenty of recommendations.
Schwartz also revealed in this interview that “Gilligan’s Island” was particularly interesting for children. He received a lot of fan mail from young viewers, saying they loved the series. This didn’t bother parents, because there was nothing totally objectionable about the show; it was a bloodless, sexless spectacle, easily consumed by first graders. He did, however, reveal that he received an angry letter from the father of a young “Gilligan’s Island” fan who, much to the father’s dismay, actually quite liked the show. Also a lot. Indeed, he complained that his daughter refused to respond to her own name and instead wanted to be called Gilligan’s Island.
Nine-year-old insists her dad calls her Gilligan’s Island
Schwartz’s usual reaction from children and parents was easy and gentle, and generally quite positive. He said:
“[Kids] have nothing particular to say about the series, just that they love it. […] But parents also write. They’re happy that their kids like it because they say there’s no sex or violence. »
But the angriest letter came from the father of the girl who wanted to be called Gilligan’s Island. No, she didn’t want to be called Gilligan. Nor Mary Ann, the Skipper, the Professor or Ginger. It wanted to be called Gilligan’s Island. This is surely a sign. If this little girl was 9 years old in 1965, she would be 70 today. I wonder where she is and if she still likes the Schwartz show. Unfortunately, Schwartz doesn’t know how this saga played out. If there is one person who legally changed their name to “Gilligan’s Island”, I would hazard a guess that it is the same person.
Schwartz deliberately invented The Seven Castaways to be simple, knowing that it is easier to determine favorites among cartoon characters. It’s also easier to write for larger-than-life people, and certainly easier for small children to pick their favorites. As Schwartz says:
“Sure, my characters are broad, but I have six guys whose social behavior patterns make them react to the guy no matter where they are. […] The Skipper is the physical brute, then there is the rich man and his wife, the glamor girl, the intellectual and the country girl. Gilligan, of course, is the innocent one. »
Schwartz himself admitted that “Gilligan’s Island” was not a work of genius; he even admitted in 1965 that Gilligan certainly wasn’t “the best thing since the wheel.” But he could certainly be proud of the show’s resounding success. The studio once wanted to fire him, but now it’s 2025 and we’re still talking about his show. He must have done something right.
