Big Man on a Little Stick

Big Man on a Little Stick is the 21st episode of the First season. It aired February 20, 1965.

Synopsis
While fishing at the lagoon, Gilligan and Skipper witness a surfer ride up and collapse on the beach. With the help of the Professor, they revive him and discover he is Duke Williams from Waimea Beach, Hawaii. Professor deduces he rode a tsunami wave for five days to get there. Thinking he's stuck on a deserted island with only men, Duke vows to build himself up and surf back home. Gilligan encourages this, but after he and Duke leave, the Professor explains to Skipper this is impossible. Back at the boy's hut, the Skipper unsuccessfully tries to convince Duke he's stuck on the island. However, it's not until the girls voyeuristically swoon over the surf stud flexing his muscles that Duke decides he wants to stay. Meanwhile, Gilligan carries the news to the Howells who mistakenly think a regal Duke has arrived and dispatch the flustered first mate to invite him for cocktails. Down at the beach Duke fascinates the swimsuit clad girls with his stories and physique when Gilligan runs up, smashes into Duke and collapses on the ground. After Duke lifts him and smugly flexes his bicep inches from Gilligan's face the skinny sailor decides to build his own barbells and develop his body. When the Skipper spots Gilligan lifting coconut shell dumbells, he urges him to try a heavier bamboo-and-boulder weight. Down at the beach, Duke performs a feat of strength lifting the girls from his shoulders when he hears the helpless cries of Gilligan who has trapped himself beneath the bar. Duke frees Gilligan then demonstrates the lift as the girls watch enraptured. After Gilligan fails again, Duke and the girls head back to the beach leaving Gilligan alone. That night, Duke meets the Howells for cocktails. They tab him as a royal impostor. He considers them loony and leaves quickly. He reconvenes with the girls and is doing pushups on the communal table when the Professor arrives with news that reverse tsunami is heading toward Hawaii in 36 hours. Gilligan is thrilled, but Duke dismisses the idea and leads the girls off for a moonlight stroll. The next day, Duke makes a move on Ginger while she is in the jungle picking flowers. When the Herculean Hearthrob won't take no for an answer, the starlet runs off and warns Mary Ann. The Kansas Cutie, however, disdains the advice, goes off looking for Duke and returns moments later also frightened. Ginger suggests they seek the counsel of Mrs. Howell in how to dissuade Duke. After some contemplation, Lovey and Thurston concoct a plan to make Duke jealous by pairing the girls with the Professor (Ginger) and Gilligan (Mary Ann). That night as Skipper waxes the surfboard, Duke appears. Skipper lets him know that the girls have returned to their "old beaus" and when Duke spots the pairs on dates in the jungle, he agrees to leave the island the next day. The following morning, Professor gives Duke provisions and he shoves off for Hawaii. Watching from a tree Gilligan sees Duke catch the wave and head off. Five days later, though, the men are disappointed as they hear that Duke has landed in Hawaii but hit his head on a rock and suffered amnesia!

Trivia

 * Denny Scott Miller later appeared as Tongo the Ape Man in the episode, Our Vines Have Tender Apes

Quotes

 * Duke (flexing): "I'm nothing but skin and bones..."
 * Ginger: "...but what skin!"
 * Mary Ann: "...and what bones!"


 * Duke (to Skipper on seeing the girls): 'Man, you guys ain't lost,,,yer hiding!"