The Secret of Gilligan's Island

This March '67 episode centers around an extended fantasy dream sequence with the castaways as prehistoric cave people. This recycles the sets, props, and dinosaur footage from Schwartz's other series, "It's About Time". This was either an attempt to cross-promote "Time" or simply save money by reusing stuff from an already doomed sitcom (that went off the air in April).

Either way, it's fun to see Ginger and Mary Ann in long dark wigs and animal-print outfits. Of course, Ginger looks pretty hot in her zebra-stripe fur and does one of her trademark seduction scenes. Mrs. Howell seems to be playing the feisty Imogene Coca role from "It's About Time".

"The Secret of Gilligan's Island" opens in a cave where the Professor identifies a prehistoric tablet of hieroglyphics created by long extinct cave people. There's some fun with a pot of acid meant to clean up the tablet, as Gilligan's attempts to sample the 'soup' are doomed to fail. More pieces are found until the Professor is close to deciphering the message contained by the entire grouping. Gilligan dreams all the castaways are cave people, Mr. Howell the fearsome but still henpecked chief who refuses to allow any of his people to escape to freedom on other side of hill. Ginger know how to persuade him, though he objects to being called Chiefy Weefy: "Chiefy Weefy Wifey get mad!" A stop motion dinosaur caps the sequence, and pretty much the whole episode.

Another secret cave exploration --which are always fun -- this time where a stone tablet, dating back to prehistoric times is discovered! The tablet, according to the professor, contains hieroglyphics, and when pieced together with other loose tablets, may show a way off the island. Now that's a first.

The catch, and yes, here comes another --unless it leads to an underground tunnel to Hawaii, how the heck are the casataways going to cross the Pacific Ocean? You need transportation. That all said, this should have been the final episode because it all makes sense, in a goofy way and that's the way it always is.

I agree, an obvious promo for producer Sherwood Schwartz's newest sitcom, ITS ABOUT TIME, a caveman takeoff on Gilligans Island. The show didn't last too long, but had its moments. Bruce Howard wrote this camp episode, who at the time was also writing for RED SKELTON and THE BEATLES cartoon series.

Accordingly, Gilligan has another imaginative dream sequence and the castaways become cave dwellers? Mr. Howell is crowned the chief whose word is LAW. Also looks like the production crew borrowed the plastic and cardboard "rock sets" from the new show. Award goes to the wardrobe department, particularly for designing Ginger and Mary Ann's sleek chic cave girl outfits. The long black wigs are cool too. A TV original.

Look closely, the fruit bowl is filled with plastic fruit, and it shows. The banana, either way, is questionable? Has seen better days.

Imaginative, outrageous fluff and stuff near the end of the series. SEASON 3 EPISODE 25 remastered CBS dvd box set. 5 dvds. Released 2005 and 2012 with beautifully restored color, also for tv.

Just thinking how the Professor says something like Oh no the tablet us how to get on the island not off it!

Well who ever wrote that didn't stope to think. If it shows ou how to get on the island who not reverse the process!

And as they say he could fix a radio but couldn't find a way to get off the island. GEEZ!