Despite critical barbs as sharp as a Maroobi spear, Gilligan's Island has proven unsinkable. Its first season was 1964's
top-rated show. The expository theme song is one of television's most quoted,
and its characters--the Skipper (Alan Hale Jr.), first mate Gilligan (Bob
Denver), the millionaire (Jim Backus) and his wife (Natalie Schaefer), a movie
star (Tina Louise), "and the rest" (Russell Johnson and Dawn Wells, as the
Professor and Mary Ann, wouldn't get their opening credit props until season
two)--are pop culture icons.
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