Gilligan's Island (1964-67), the tale of seven nitwits who set out from Honolulu for a “three hour tour” and end up stranded on a desert island, has become iconic for its ineptness and naiveté. They pull endless supplies from nowhere, build anything they need (except a boat) from bamboo and coconuts, hear endless radio news stories about their situation, and get a steady stream of visitors who promise rescue, but betray them or forget the island's location. Even Santa Claus dropped by to offer holiday cheer.
But actually, it was no more inept or naive than other 1960s sitcoms. The Beverly Hillbillies lived as multi-millionaires in Beverly Hills for many years, yet continued to wear hillbilly outfits, eat possum stew, and refer to the swimming pool as a "cement pond."
In case Gilligan's Island and its endless reruns came before your time, the seven castaways are, according to the theme song:
Gilligan, a "mighty sailing man" (in red), and the Skipper, "brave and sure" (in blue). Color tv was brand new, so they used bright primary colors.
They became partners during the War, presumably the Korean War, and now ran an island tour service out of Honolulu.
Five passengers sign on for the "fateful trip" that was supposed to last for three hours, "lunch provided."
3-4. Mr. and Mrs. Howell, "the millionaire and his wife," who for some reason brought suitcases full of money on the tour.
5. Ginger (the redhead), a glamorous Marilyn Monroe-style "movie star," who has a huge number of acting credit in very bad movies.
"And the rest," until the rest complained and got a mention in the theme song.
6. "Mary Anne," a wholesome Kansas farmgirl.
7. "The Professor," who has a B.A. from USC, a B.S. from UCLA, an M.A. from SMU, and a Ph. D from TCU, and is an expert on the languages and cultures of the "savage" natives of the area, yet works as a high school science teacher.
Straight Boomer boys had endless debates about which they would prefer to date, Ginger or Mary Anne. But there was a lot for gay boys to like:
1. Beefcake First mate Gillian (Bob Denver, below) was slim, smooth, and occasionally shirtless.
Lithe, hard bodied Denny Miller, a 1959 Tarzan (top photo, appeared twice, as a "jungle man" and as as a surfer who rode a wild wave all the way in from Honolulu.

In February 1965, Kurt Russell appeared as a jungle boy, wearing only a loincloth (he counts as beefcake when you're five years old)
Even the Professor
took off his shirt a couple of times.
2. Utter lack of heterosexual interest.
There was lots of heterosexism, of course. When the Professor wonders why headhunters would abduct only the girls, Gilligan quips “Because they’re boys!”
When Mrs. Howell becomes the recipient of anonymous love letters, she and her husband interrogate Gilligan, the Skipper, and the Professor. They all claim innocence. "But that's impossible!" she exclaims. "We've asked everyone on the island!" Ginger and Mary Anne are omitted.
More after the break