The Brady Bunch: Eenie, Meenie, Mommy, Daddy

The Brady Bunch: Eenie, Meenie, Mommy, Daddy
ABC
October 10, 1969
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Every time we must ask ourselves, if they can put on a special performance for the Bradys, why not invite some of the other kids' family members?  (Especially when the elf is Chris Partridge.)  Still, it's nice to see the family rally round Cindy, and young Miss Olsen does well with the unfair dilemma.  Mike & Carol innuendo: Mike is pretending to be a frog and starts chasing Carol, telling her he's doing what frogs do best, presumably jumping.  John Rich again directed.

Gilligan's Island: All About Eva

Gilligan's Island: All About Eva
CBS
December 12, 1966
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This time the lookalike doesn't look like the castaway when we first see her.  Eva Grubb not only wears drab clothes but she wears glasses and has black hair in a bun.  Ever since I was a kid, I've never understood how the women decide to give Eva red hair.  It would've made more sense if it was red to begin with, or a color close to red, like dark auburn.  Still, it's interesting to see Tina Louise in a dual role.  Shipping is complicated here by Eva's presence, since when the Professor tells Eva she's beautiful, he's really complimenting Ginger.  And when Gilligan tries to resist Eva kissing him, how much of this has to do with his feelings about Ginger?  Note that the Professor and Mary Ann dance at the party twice, but Eva only dances with Mrs. Howell!  And I'm going to assume that Eva either reformed at sea or didn't make it back, since we don't hear anything further about her taking over Ginger's Hollywood career.

Gilligan's Island: Gilligan vs. Gilligan

Not on the level of Duck Soup, but cute.

Gilligan's Island: Gilligan vs. Gilligan
CBS
September 19, 1966
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This time there is an explanation of the look-alike.  It's not very plausible of course, but it is an explanation.  I do wonder what, if anything, the cosmonauts told the Russian authorities about their visit to the island.  In any case, Gilligan's look-alike's commanders have gone to the trouble of filming him (or maybe they had an agent at the Cannes Film Festival) and they've given the spy temporary plastic surgery.  Yet they have no idea what "mission" the castaways are on.  Sort of shipping note, when the look-alike comes on far too strong with Ginger, she is shocked at Gilligan behaving this way, especially the part about him thinking she's madly in love with him.

Gidget: Independence Gidget Style

Gidget: Independence Gidget Style
ABC
March 17, 1966
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This episode has some biographical details, not necessarily consistent with the rest of the series.  Gidget, who's been 15 1/2 since at least the beginning of the school year, claims to have a May 7th birthday.  Russ's birthday takes place during the episode, whenever it's set.  He refers to Anne reading her sister's diary, as if this has happened recently.  And John and Anne have been married for three years.  The episode is also notable for its Playboy Club satire, here the Kit Kat Club.  The family, Anne in particular of course, suspect that Gidget is working there.  Along with a Lolita reference, that makes this one of the more suggestive episodes in the series.

Rick Sorensen makes his fourth appearance on the show, here as a Boy Surfer.  And Bob Beach is back as Toby.

Gidget: Gidget's Career

Gidget and the Goreys

Gidget: Gidget's Career
ABC
January 20, 1966
Sitcom
DVD
B

This is both a sweet look at Gidget's friendship with Larue and a gentle satire of then-current rock trends.  (The Rolling Stones and Sonny & Cher among others get shout-outs.)  The thing of Gidget being the untalented girl playing the tambourine is funny in light of how often this would be a motif in rock & roll cartoons later in the decade and on into the '70s, e.g. The Archies.

Jimmy Hawkins, who plays Paul, was Tommy Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life, and he was making Elvis movies around this time.  Sandy Kenyon, who plays Rick Farmer, would be on a few That Girl episodes.  And, yes, Joanna Lee proves she can write as well for Gidget as for Gilligan.

Gilligan's Island: Beauty Is as Beauty Does

Gilligan's Island: Beauty Is as Beauty Does
CBS
September 23, 1965
Sitcom
DVD
B

When there's a beauty contest for Miss Castaway, Mr. Howell of course backs his wife, and the Skipper his crush Ginger, so that leaves the Professor with Mary Ann, whom he says is not only beautiful but warm and sweet.  Gilligan votes for a simian native, although she's not exactly a castaway, is she?  Besides the further data on the shipping graph, this episode has a scene of non-explicit nudity with Mary Ann losing her swimsuit.  Ginger sings "Let Me Entertain You" for the talent portion (although we see her rehearsing a love scene that Gilligan walks into), and if I recall correctly, she'll sing it again on a later episode.

Gilligan's Island: My Fair Gilligan

Gilligan's Island: My Fair Gilligan
CBS
June 5, 1965
Sitcom
DVD
B-

A couple biographical notes on this episode where the Howells adopt Gilligan after he saves Mrs. Howell's life.  (No one notices that he indirectly causes the accident by shaking a boulder loose.)  The Howells clearly state that they don't have a son.  (I'll assume they don't have a daughter.)  When the final reunion movie was made, this was conveniently forgotten.  Also, it seems like "Gilligan" is in fact a first name, since Mr. Howell treats it as such, calling him Gilligan Thurston Howell IV, and then G. Thurston Howell IV.  Perhaps Gilligan is too polite to correct him though.  Ginger flirts with Gilligan the new heir (in real life and in his dream), but both girls kiss him on the cheek when he's back to his old identity.

Gilligan's Island: The Matchmaker

Gilligan's Island: The Matchmaker
CBS
March 20, 1965
Sitcom
DVD
B

In this episode written by a woman*, everyone on the island (except a reluctant Mr. Howell) is a matchmaker.  The fun begins when Mrs. Howell sees Gilligan carry Mary Ann into the clearing.  (She's hurt her foot in his trap.)  So, remembering that the captain of a ship can marry people, Lovey tries to match the youngsters, leading to

1. Mary Ann and Ginger thinking that Gilligan has a crush on Mary Ann
2. Gilligan thinking Ginger has a crush on him
3. The Skipper and the Professor teasing Gilligan about Mary Ann
4. Gilligan and Mary Ann awkwardly admitting they find each other sweet
5. Mr. and Mrs. Howell arguing over his wedding proposal 20 years ago
6. The other castaways quarreling about the quarrel
7. The other castaways recreating the night of the proposal, including Ginger singing a sexy version of "Alouette"
8. Mrs. Howell deciding to matchmake the Professor and Ginger

Note, Mary Ann sees the Skipper as too old for her and thinks she has nothing in common with the Professor, but she has no argument against Gilligan.


*Joanna Lee not only wrote quite a bit for television, but she was Tanna in Plan 9 from Outer Space.