The Postman Cometh

"The Postman Cometh" is the 18th episode of the Second Season. It aired January 20, 1966.

Synopsis
Since she's been on the island, Mary Ann has been sending messages in bottles to her boyfriend, Horace Higgenbottom, back in Kansas, but the Skipper and Gilligan hear over the radio that Horace has since married and they struggle to tell her the news. In passing, the Professor nonchalantly tells Mary Ann to be careful with the poisonous mushrooms on the island. In turn, the men try to romance her by acting as various actors. The Skipper is John Wayne, the Professor is Cary Grant and Gilligan is Charles Boyer. Instead, she runs terrified into the night. On her return, she over hears them saying they have to be nice to her, and she rationalizes she might have eaten poisonous mushrooms. that night, she dreams she's on her favorite radio program, Old Doctor Young, with Ginger and Mrs. Howell as nurses and the men as the doctor versions of the actors they were impersonating. Mr. Howell is also present as Dr. Zorba, but they're too distracted to listen or help her. When Mary Ann wakes, she learns Horace is married and is not fazed by the news. She had only used his name to make the others think she had someone in her life.

Trivia

 * This episode runs contrary to Rescue from Gilligan Island where Mary Ann returns home to discover her old boyfriend Herbert is still waiting to marry her.
 * No one seems to recall that Mrs. Howell in a previous episode tried to fix up Mary Ann and Gilligan.
 * In the dream, Mrs. Howell plays Nurse Blabbermouth.