Episode: “High Man on the Totem Pole” (1967)
REVIEWED BY MARK A. LARSON
Editor & Publisher
“Ooga booga, booga ooga ooga.”
Translation: That’s “Gilligan’s Island” nativespeak for “In real life, I’m a Los Angeles Dodger. I just play a headhunter on TV.”
Two Dodgers – Jim Lefebvre and Al Ferrara – appear in this episode of the classic sitcom as native headhunters who come to the island.
Most of the 98 half-hour episodes of the series can be summed up as: Gilligan messes up and gets into trouble. But this time, he’s more a victim of circumstances.
Gilligan discovers a totem pole with his likeness at the top. The Professor identifies the pole as belonging to the Kupaki – “the most ferocious tribe of headhunters in the South Pacific.”
Due to the resemblance, Gilligan immediately assumes he has headhunter blood in him. To spare the other castaways from the possible deep-rooted impulses he might have, Gilligan decides to go live on the other side of the island. The Skipper, Professor, Mr. and Mrs. Howell, Ginger and Mary Ann all try to dissuade him from leaving.
Standing behind Mr. & Mrs. Howell on far left and far right are Jim Lefebvre and Al Ferrara (see below).
Meanwhile, three Kupaki natives (the third one is played by a non-ballplayer) arrive on the island. The Kupaki plan to capture the castaways and have them for lunch. However, the Professor comes up with an idea for Gilligan to dress up as a native and impersonate the fellow at the top of the totem pole, whom the Kupaki identify as one of their gods.
Between 1963-71, outfielder Al Ferrara played parts of eight seasons with the Dodgers, Padres and Reds.
The two players made World Series appearances for the Dodgers. Lefebvre was in both the 1965 and 1966 Fall Classic, while Ferrara saw action in ’66.
Lefebvre and Ferrara weren’t the only athletes to portray natives on Gilligan’s Island during the series’ three-year run. Then Los Angeles Rams’ quarterback Roman Gabriel also appeared in an episode.
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NOTE: To find out if this show is available in your area, use a search engine and type in: “Where to watch GILLIGAN’S ISLAND” … In general, know that some television programs are currently only available on DVD, so check your local library … Others may not be available at all at this time.
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