There was a time in American television when you could turn on the TV and find some truly outlandish sitcoms, and there was no period that was as good for these zany comedies than the 1960s. This was the decade that produced such gems as Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie.
It was also the decade that produced the comedy Gilligan’s Island, about a tour group that is stranded on a tropic island when their ship is blown off course by a storm. Somehow, the writers managed to stretch this storyline out for several seasons. Here are the ten best episodes of Gilligan’s Island, according to IMDb.
Ghost-a-Go-Go (1966)- 7.7
One of the things that you quickly learn while watching Gilligan’s Island is that literally anything can happen. Somehow, the island is something of a mystical space, both larger and smaller than one would believe possible given what we learn about it. Apparently, as this episode reveals, it is also haunted, as the gang soon finds themselves haunted by a spectral apparition. By this time in the show, it had begun to find its footing in terms of writing and the cast’s chemistry, and even now it is impossible not to laugh at this episode.
Hi-Fi Gilligan (1965)- 7.8
Sitcoms excel at many things, and one of those is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in terms of the human body. In this episode, Gilligan (always prone to getting into all sorts of trouble) finds himself equipped with a mouth that now brings in radio signals. Needless to say, Gilligan doesn’t quite know what to do with this new ability, but it does end up proving very helpful when a giant storm comes barreling toward the island, endangering the lives of the entire group. Leave it to Gilligan to save everyone.
The Invasion (1966)-7.9
There’s something particularly endearing about the way that sitcoms like Gilligan’s Island feature actors who are able to do the most with material that might seem cliched or ridiculous to some. In this episode, Gilligan dreams that he is actually a spy, which necessarily means that all of the other castaways become new characters. It might seem a little bit silly according to our contemporary standards of sitcom humor, but it’s truly one of the most hilarious episodes of the series, a reminder of just how talented all of the actors were.
Seer Gilligan (1966)-7.9
In this episode, Gilligan gains the ability to read minds as a result of eating sunflower seeds. Needless to say, numerous hijinks ensue as the other castaways attempt to procure that power for themselves. The premise, of course, is more than a little ridiculous, but that’s part of the fun of the episode. What’s more, beneath the humor there is the fascinating idea that learning to read other people’s thoughts is definitely not an unalloyed good, as there are some things that it is better to hide from other people.
And Then There Were None (1966)-7.9
There are some storylines that just seem to crop up in any given sitcom, and the plot in which each member of the cast begins to disappear one by one is a go-to. In this episode, it starts Gilligan thinking that he might be some sort of Mr. Hyde, responsible for the disappearances of his friend.
In addition to this reference to a very famous book, references to other films and novels abound, ranging from the title (a reference to an Agatha Christie book), as well as the Victorian writer Oscar Wilde.
Up at Bat (1966)- 8.0
The dream sequence is a staple of sitcom humor, a means by which the writers can explore different ideas that aren’t possible in the everyday world of the show’s universe. This is especially important in a show like Gilligan’s Island. In this instance, Gilligan becomes convinced that he’s a vampire after he gets bitten by a bat. He then has a dream where he is a vampire living in a castle in the style of Dracula. It’s a hilarious episode, made all the better by the fact that there are even references to the camp classic series Batman.
The Friendly Physician (1966)- 8.1
This is a very singular episode indeed, in large part because it marks a moment when the castaways are actually able to escape from their island. In this instance, it’s because a sinister mad scientist named Dr. Boris Balinkoff (played by Vito Scotti, always good for a campy performance) invites the castaways to his own island. Hijinks ensue, needless to say, and the episode ultimately ends with the company back on their own island. It might not be the best place to be, but it definitely beats being experimented on by a mad scientist.
The Producer (1966)- 8.2
For being an island in the middle of nowhere, the castaways’ temporary home seems to be a bit of a magnet for every kind of person imaginable including, in this particularly hilarious and well-written episode, a Hollywood producer. Unfortunately, he isn’t that impressed by Ginger’s acting abilities, a fact that doesn’t go down at all well with the notoriously vain Ginger.
This leads to the group performing a production of Hamlet. Who knew that you could get a dose of high culture while watching a 1960s sitcom? It just goes to show, you never know what you’re going to get with Gilligan’s Island.
Pass the Vegetables, Please (1966)- 8.3
Nothing says “Cold War” like the threat of radioactivity. The threat of nuclear destruction was very much on the minds of most people in the 1960s, and it even finds its way into Gilligan’s Island. In this episode, the group find a crate of vegetable seeds, unaware that they are actually radioactive. While it might seem strange to see the fears of nuclear destruction in a sitcom, there’s actually no better way of contending with and dealing with an overwhelming fear like rendering it into comedy, which Gilligan’s Island does with its signature style.
Don't Bug the Mosquitoes (1965)- 8.3
Sometimes, a sitcom manages to perfectly capture the climate of its particular moment, and such is the case with this episode, which features a rock band that is also stranded on the island. Of course, the castaways see a perfect opportunity to get themselves off of the island. It doesn’t take too much imagination to see the Mosquitoes as a stand-in for The Beatles, who were already taking America by storm. It’s a truly splendid episode, made all the better by the top-notch performances given by all of the cast members.