Birds Gotta Fly, Fish Gotta Talk

Birds Gotta Fly, Fish Gotta Talk is the Twelfth Episode of the First Season. It aired December 19, 1964.

Synopsis
It's Christmas, and the castaways celebrate the holiday decorating a palm tree. Gilligan makes a holiday wish that he wishes they could be rescued. At that moment on the radio, they hear news that a Navy Destroyer has spotted a group of castaways believed to be them. Gilligan and the Skipper make a signal fire to make it easier for them to be found and start reminiscing back to their first day on the island. In the meanwhile, everyone praises Gilligan for his good cheer and wait for the rescue ship. In turn, they share their memories of that first day, The girls kiss Gilligan in gratitude for his Christmas wish of being rescued. However, after waiting a while, they check for more news and learned the Navy had rescued other castaways that had been stranded for eleven years on a different island. On Christmas Eve, everyone is disappointed and tired, but the Skipper shows up as Santa and reminds them of everything for which they should be thankful before departing. At that moment, the real Skipper returns from gathering wood in the opposite direction. Filled once more with good cheer, everyone starts wishing each other a Merry Christmas as sounds of Santa's sleigh bells ring over the island.

Credits
Main Cast
 * Bob Denver as Gilligan
 * Alan Hale Jr. as The Skipper
 * Jim Backus as Mr. Howell
 * Natalie Schafer as Mrs. Howell
 * Tina Louise as Ginger
 * Dawn Wells as Mary Ann
 * Russell Johnson as The Professor

Guest Cast
 * John Gabriel as The Professor (in reused footage)

Trivia

 * This episode used extensive footage from the unaired pilot, Marooned (Unaired Pilot) with shots featuring the Professor, Bunny, and the original Ginger re-filmed with Russell Johnson, Tina Louise and Dawn Wells. The original cast members can still be seen in the background when Gilligan and the Skipper wake up on The Minnow.
 * Once again Gilligan fouls up a rescue when he accidently hooks the transmitter into the sea; and then when it is found again-he dumbly drops a load of firewood on it!
 * This was the only holiday episode in the series.