Home Sweet Hut

Lots of vintage LAUREL AND HARDY in this second episode, a continuation of the season premier, establishing all the characters. Best example finds the Skipper and Gilligan swinging back and forth in skimpy hammocks, CRASHING, knocking heads -- and let's do it all over again? Toss in bits from the THREE STOOGES.

The theme is privacy... Should the castaways all live in one gigantic hut or build separate huts? That's the question. Beware! An approaching monsoon storm requires immediate action. It seems logical --since there's both men and women present -- they build their own huts, setting up a makeshift outdoor woodshop.

This scene is what will begin an endless cycle of questions over the next three seasons. WHERE did the Skipper and Gilligan get all the tools? WHERE did all the clothes come from? Where does anything come from? Simply amazing. However, the castaways get the job done and construct some really, really cool huts. You have to give the production folks a ton of credit, not only for the huts, but for the cozy furniture.

Mr. Howell comes off with the best lines, and introduces his cuddly teddy bear. Jim Backus is unforgettable, the perfect over the top character that Gilligan and the Skipper needed to play off. Howell was likely modeled after the drunk millionaire (which Backus portrayed) in ITS A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD, the year before. Catch that movie and be the judge.

Also, safe to say Mary Ann (and/or Dawn Wells) may have started a fad with Daisy Duke short shorts, much like Elly May did with jeans in the BEVERLY HILLBILLIES. The series had the best wardrobe changes, everything from fur bikinis to suits and gowns, same said for the Beverly Hillbillies, who may have inspired this show when it came to campy threads.

Another glimpse of the famous man-made lake on the Studio City lot (a work of art), where the castaways are stranded in the middle of the lagoon, all huddled together in the Skipper's and Gilligan's hut following the storm.

Richard Donner directed, who had just finished several episodes for the TWILIGHT ZONE. Donner would head the SUPERMAN and LETHAL WEAPON movie series years later.

Get ready to rock and roll with these guys. A sitcom that's addictive, and gaining new fans all the time.

SEASON 1 EPISODE 2 official CBS dvd box set No. 1. First season collectors edition. Always thanks to METV and CATCHY TV for bringing Gilligan back to life.