A typical "Gilligan's Island" episode for the most part, but for devoted fans of Dawn Wells, the outfit worn by "Mary Ann" provides a delightful showcase of her fabulous beauty. The late Dawn Wells was one of the best reasons to watch the series, and this episode allows her some quality screen time.
4 Reviews
The Sheriff and his limping Deputy
kevinolzak20 June 2016
"Gilligan Goes Gung-Ho" begins with a passionate three way love affair between the Professor, Ginger, and Mary Ann ending with the Professor being shot to death. This scenario leads the Professor to elect the Skipper to act as Sheriff, since Mr. Howell's karate pinky can't stand up to a defenseless neck. Guess who comes limping into the hut like Dennis Weaver's Chester to act as Deputy, even calling the Sheriff 'Mr. Dillon!' (GUNSMOKE would be the ruin of GILLIGAN'S ISLAND at season's end). Meanwhile the discovery of phosphorescent rocks to signal a search plane due to fly overhead looks like a surefire idea to get rescued, except that there's no one around to set it up with Gilligan arresting all six of his fellow castaways! Another unlikely scene has the Skipper and Professor duking it out to see who the king of the convicts will be (my money's on the former).
Gilligan has an arresting development.
Ralphkram21 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is an above average entry that borrows heavily from that other CBS series about a sheriff and his overzealous deputy. Unlike the last handful of episodes, this one is grounded somewhat in reality, a rarity for this fantasy-heavy third season. The simple concept gets nuttier and funnier as it goes along, as good comedy should; the characters get some nice bits, particularly Gilligan, and the ending is expected but reasonable.
In the melodramatic cold open, Gilligan believes he has witnessed the Professor's murder at the hands of Ginger. Their theatrics wouldn't convince a pussycat swallowtail, but no matter; there is enough circumstantial evidence for the Skipper to believe him. After it is revealed the Professor only has a bloody nose, he wonders what the castaways would do in the event of an actual crime.
His solution is to appoint an island sheriff. There isn't a deep bench of candidates; Mr. Howell has an ineffective karate pinky finger and Gilligan is dismissed out of hand. No matter; he becomes a deputy anyway when the Skip is given the job, and our co-leads learn everything they can about law and order.
The new sheriff gets the subplot rolling, too. He shows his deputy phosphorescent rocks he and the Professor found that can be used to spell out a rescue message for passing ships or planes. Purely by coincidence (ahem), a naval plane is conducting a sweep of their area. We cut back and forth between the castaways and the two pilots who looked pretty bored with their mission.
Our lead, though, takes to his duty with the dedication, by-the-book seriousness, and competence of Barney Fife. Mr. Howell is caught borrowing the Skip's binoculars without permission, which is treated as a capital offense, and is naturally thrown into prison. Sheriff Skip is conveniently too busy with the rocks to attend to sheriffing, so Gilligan is left in charge. Power and the quest for law and order immediately go to his head. He arrests everyone on the isle-including the sheriff-on various technicalities and throws them in jail.
All the usual prison clichés are run through as the castaways try to crash out. Gilligan has seen all the prison pictures they've seen and knows all the tricks. The cartoonish action and silly over-the-top acting help to make all the bits work.
Naturally, Gilligan demonstrates one of the picture's scenes and accidentally jails himself, just in time to see another sure fire way to get off the island go up the river.
COCONOTES:
So, all this time Ginger owned a prop gun with blanks? Did it come from the same place as the Skip's binoculars? Clearly, at this point the writers have given up on any kind of realistic continuity for the sake of a gag.
Gilligan references Gunsmoke, calling the Skip Marshal Dillon and limping into the hut like Festus.
The episode clearly borrows from the TAGS episode Andy Saves Barney's Morale, where Barney is left in charge of Mayberry and jails the entire town.
Gilligan's authoritarian demeanor reminds us of his turn as the Skip in Chain of Command.
Major plot hole: the men believe Gilligan being sheriff is preposterous, but they have no problem with his being a deputy and in charge of the island.
In the melodramatic cold open, Gilligan believes he has witnessed the Professor's murder at the hands of Ginger. Their theatrics wouldn't convince a pussycat swallowtail, but no matter; there is enough circumstantial evidence for the Skipper to believe him. After it is revealed the Professor only has a bloody nose, he wonders what the castaways would do in the event of an actual crime.
His solution is to appoint an island sheriff. There isn't a deep bench of candidates; Mr. Howell has an ineffective karate pinky finger and Gilligan is dismissed out of hand. No matter; he becomes a deputy anyway when the Skip is given the job, and our co-leads learn everything they can about law and order.
The new sheriff gets the subplot rolling, too. He shows his deputy phosphorescent rocks he and the Professor found that can be used to spell out a rescue message for passing ships or planes. Purely by coincidence (ahem), a naval plane is conducting a sweep of their area. We cut back and forth between the castaways and the two pilots who looked pretty bored with their mission.
Our lead, though, takes to his duty with the dedication, by-the-book seriousness, and competence of Barney Fife. Mr. Howell is caught borrowing the Skip's binoculars without permission, which is treated as a capital offense, and is naturally thrown into prison. Sheriff Skip is conveniently too busy with the rocks to attend to sheriffing, so Gilligan is left in charge. Power and the quest for law and order immediately go to his head. He arrests everyone on the isle-including the sheriff-on various technicalities and throws them in jail.
All the usual prison clichés are run through as the castaways try to crash out. Gilligan has seen all the prison pictures they've seen and knows all the tricks. The cartoonish action and silly over-the-top acting help to make all the bits work.
Naturally, Gilligan demonstrates one of the picture's scenes and accidentally jails himself, just in time to see another sure fire way to get off the island go up the river.
COCONOTES:
So, all this time Ginger owned a prop gun with blanks? Did it come from the same place as the Skip's binoculars? Clearly, at this point the writers have given up on any kind of realistic continuity for the sake of a gag.
Gilligan references Gunsmoke, calling the Skip Marshal Dillon and limping into the hut like Festus.
The episode clearly borrows from the TAGS episode Andy Saves Barney's Morale, where Barney is left in charge of Mayberry and jails the entire town.
Gilligan's authoritarian demeanor reminds us of his turn as the Skip in Chain of Command.
Major plot hole: the men believe Gilligan being sheriff is preposterous, but they have no problem with his being a deputy and in charge of the island.
THE POWER HAS GONE TO HIS HEAD!
tcchelsey29 October 2023
This was actually the only episode where the castaways could have legitimately gotten off the island, and it all goes haywire. OMG. There are also shades, and I agree with the last few reviewers, of ANDY GRIFFITH and GUNSMOKE?
Well written fluff by comedy master Bruce Howard, who did many fun scripts for RED SKELTON, later writing for GOOD TIMES and the DUKES OF HAZZARD.
After witnessing the professor playing a mock murder scene with Ginger and Maryann (the guys have to do something to keep their sanity!), Gilligan reports it to the Skipper... and when all the dust settles, it does make good sense to have some extra authority around the island, just in case.
The skipper deputizes Gilligan, making him into another overzealous Barney, minus Andy Griffith.
In the meanwhile, shining rocks are discovered that could actually attract aircraft overhead --who just happen to be flying nearby?? NATURALLY, everybody is needed to place the heavy rocks in a pattern to be seen in the first place, but what to do when deputy Gilligan starts throwing the gang in jail one by one! Thus, a truly constructive way to FINALLY leave the island goes down the drain!
Soooo sad.
This was the only episode directed by Robert Scheerer, who has some fun with the cast, especially when they're packed in their cave jail cell. Mrs. Howell is the most outraged, because after all, she's a Howell! Scheerer would later do many top episodes for LOVE BOAT.
Another family show that can't be missed, and we also get to see the famous blue shorts and top Maryann wears that would forever identify her character, also used for the Maryann doll series. You have to admit, a doll collection, especially Ginger and Maryann dolls, were a clever way to attract even more fans to the show in the 60s.
From SEASON 3 EPISODE 15 remastered color dvd box set.
Well written fluff by comedy master Bruce Howard, who did many fun scripts for RED SKELTON, later writing for GOOD TIMES and the DUKES OF HAZZARD.
After witnessing the professor playing a mock murder scene with Ginger and Maryann (the guys have to do something to keep their sanity!), Gilligan reports it to the Skipper... and when all the dust settles, it does make good sense to have some extra authority around the island, just in case.
The skipper deputizes Gilligan, making him into another overzealous Barney, minus Andy Griffith.
In the meanwhile, shining rocks are discovered that could actually attract aircraft overhead --who just happen to be flying nearby?? NATURALLY, everybody is needed to place the heavy rocks in a pattern to be seen in the first place, but what to do when deputy Gilligan starts throwing the gang in jail one by one! Thus, a truly constructive way to FINALLY leave the island goes down the drain!
Soooo sad.
This was the only episode directed by Robert Scheerer, who has some fun with the cast, especially when they're packed in their cave jail cell. Mrs. Howell is the most outraged, because after all, she's a Howell! Scheerer would later do many top episodes for LOVE BOAT.
Another family show that can't be missed, and we also get to see the famous blue shorts and top Maryann wears that would forever identify her character, also used for the Maryann doll series. You have to admit, a doll collection, especially Ginger and Maryann dolls, were a clever way to attract even more fans to the show in the 60s.
From SEASON 3 EPISODE 15 remastered color dvd box set.
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