The strange parental complaint Sherwood Schwartz received about Gilligan's Island

Fun trivia: When Gilligan's Island was at the height of its popularity sometime in 1965, show creator Sherwood Schwartz was visited by one US Coast Guard Commander, Doyle. Apparently the commander received many (joking) telegrams from his officers asking why a more concerted effort had not been made to find and rescue Gilligan and his comrades who had gone missing. This story was confirmed in a 1967 interview with the Sioux City Journal, conveniently overwritten by MeTV.

“Gilligan's Island,” as television history buffs may know, was a huge success in its first two seasons, garnering as much attention from viewers as it did from critics. Many felt that “Gilligan's Island” was too fluffy and frivolous, with no discernible edge. The series took place in a colorful cartoon world where there was no death, no pain, no real threats. The seven stranded on Gilligan's Island never faced starvation, lack of resources, or madness. Everyone got along pretty welland their clothes were always clean. The physical and moral purity of “Gilligan's Island” may have robbed it of any sense of real drama or danger, but it was the most appealing detail to viewers. The worst situation the Apostates faced was boredom, and if you're looking for more of the same, we have many recommendations.

In this interview, Schwartz also revealed that “Gilligan's Island” was of particular interest to children. He received a lot of fan mail from younger viewers saying they loved the show. Parents didn't mind because there was nothing completely objectionable about the series; it was a bloodless, sexless spectacle easily consumed by first graders. However, he revealed that he received one angry letter from the father of a young Gilligan's Island fan who, much to his father's surprise, liked the show somewhat. also a lot. Indeed, he complained that his daughter refused to respond to her name and instead wanted to be called Gilligan's Island.

Schwartz's usual reaction from children and parents was mild and gentle, and usually quite positive. He said:

“(Kids) don't have anything special to say about the show, just that they like it. (…) However, parents also write. They're happy that kids like it, because they say there's no sex or violence.”

But the angriest letter was from the father of the girl who wanted to be called Gilligan's Island. No, she didn't want to be called Gilligan. Not Mary Ann, the Captain, the Professor, or Ginger. She wanted it to be called Gilligan's Island. Of course it's a sign. If that little girl was 9 years old in 1965, she would be 70 now. I wonder where she is and if she still likes the Schwartz show. Unfortunately, Schwartz does not know how this saga played out. However, if there is a person who legally changed their name to “Gilligan's Island”, I would guess that it is the same person.

Schwartz intentionally kept the Seven Outcasts simple, knowing that it's easier to pick favorites among cartoon characters. It's also easier to write for larger-than-life people, and it's definitely easier for little kids to pick their favorites. As Schwartz put it:

“It's true that my characters are broad, but I have six types whose patterns of social behavior make them respond to types regardless of where they are. (…) The captain is a physical brute, then there's the rich man and his wife. glamor girl, intellectual and country girl is innocent of course.

Schwartz himself admitted that “Gilligan's Island” was not a work of genius; he even admitted in 1965 that Gilligan was certainly not “the greatest thing since the wheel”. But he could certainly be proud of the overwhelming success of the show. Once the studio wanted to fire himbut now it's 2025 and we're still talking about his show. He must have done something right.