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'Gilligan's Island' Celebrates 50 Years

The cast of "Gilligan's Island" on stage at the 2nd Annual TV Land Awards held at The Hollywood Palladium, March 7, 2004 in Hollywood, California. The program celebrates its 50th anniversary.  (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
The cast of "Gilligan's Island" on stage at the 2nd Annual TV Land Awards held at The Hollywood Palladium, March 7, 2004 in Hollywood, California. The program celebrates its 50th anniversary. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

“The mate was a mighty sailin’ man, the Skipper brave and sure, five passengers set sail that day, for a three hour tour, a three hour tour.” Does that ring a bell?

That is the theme song to “Gilligans’ Island,” which celebrates 50 years today. The show was about a two-man crew and five passengers on a charter boat that was shipwrecked on a Pacific Island.

Fifty years after the show first aired, it is still airing on cable channels in the U.S. and countries around the world with a cult following.

Eric Deggans, NPR’s TV critic talks to Here & Now’s Robin Young and Jeremy Hobson about the legacy of the show.

Guest

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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