Oh, Gilligan's Island - that wonderful show! But it planted little bombs in my head that go off all of the time when I watch other shows.
For example, if I'm watching a show with doctors, I remember the soap opera dream that Gilligan had with young Doctor Young and old Doctor Young. You'd be surprised how often medical shows have a Doctor Young in them.
If I'm watching any version of Hamlet, I'm remembering the castaways' production of Hamlet, staged to make Harold Hecuba jealous: "Hamlet, Hamlet! Do be a man, let rotten enough alone!"
But the most insidious is the murder mystery episode. As each castaway reveals that they had a motive to murder Randolph Blake (he embezzled from Mr. Howell, stole authorship of a scientific paper from the Professor, cheated on Ginger and bankrupted Mary Ann's parents), Gilligan shouts out, "He did it! He did it!" or "She did it! She did it!"
And that's what pops into my head every time I watch a murder mystery. First suspect: 'He did it! He did it!' Second suspect: 'She did it! She did it!' Familiar character actor as a guest star? 'He did it! He did it!'
Oh, Gilligan's Island - you will always be with me. And don't get me started on The Brady Bunch ...
