Gilligan's Island Up at Bat (1964–1992) watch online HD

It was good to see this episode after last seeing it close to 30 years ago, as it brought back some nice memories. I'm a fan of vampires, even some cheesy ones like the one in this episode, but most of the story was done very well. Gilligan gets bitten by a bat in a cave, and he believes that it was a vampire bat, so naturally, he'll become a vampire; adding to the silliness, the Skipper believes it too. The lamest aspect is the fake bat flying around, as it's obviously a prop, but it probably could've been done a little better. Now that's out of the way, the rest of the episode was better and very funny. During the dream sequence, the banter between the Count(Bob Denver)and his wife(Tina Louise)was the best moment for me; one moment has him forgetting to turn into a bat before falling out a window, and another has him crashing into an alcove that he thought he had, moments before she calls him a "schnook". The castle setting and full moon shots were also pretty cool, plus, every cast member also had funny moments as well.

The third season opener, "Up at Bat" would become the all time favorite episode of GILLIGAN'S ISLAND, with one possible exception being "Don't Bug the Mosquitoes." In 1957 the television airwaves were exposed to the classic Universal monsters with the SHOCK! package from Screen Gems, millions of viewers able to see Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, and their famous creations in their living rooms, coupled with the rise of Forrest J. Ackerman's Famous Monsters of Filmland. No doubt kids were delighted to see Gilligan bitten on the neck by a bat, the Skipper convinced that this is enough to turn him into a vampire. The Professor may scoff, but that's before Gilligan walks in his sleep and attacks Mrs. Howell on the neck! The most famous dream sequence is the perfect capper, Gilligan as Lugosi accented host, Ginger his vampire bride, the Howells unwary travelers spending the night in the wrong Transylvanian castle (Belfrey Hall, the same set seen in "The Friendly Physician"), Mary Ann the toothless servant, the Professor and Skipper as Inspector Sherlock and Colonel Whatney, a kind of Holmes and Watson (adding a BATMAN-style fight sequence). It's done with knowing panache and affection, even a mention of Frankenstein, and has been the perfect babysitter for children ever since.

The third and final season of the series gets off to a fiendishly good start with a fun, above average entry. This one has it all: sturdy premise, excellent set design, a steady diet of horror-related jokes, and a top five dream sequence.

In the cold open, Gilligan rushes into an 'unexplored' cave to retrieve a wayward coconut and is attacked and bitten by a bat. He and the Skipper believe that since the bat went for his neck, it must be a vampire bat, and Gilligan will turn into a bloodsucker at some point.

The Professor does his best to talk Gilligan down, but the Skip's imagination goes into overdrive. He becomes so unnerved he puts a scarf around his neck so he can make it through the night. Our lead becomes obsessed with the idea of going Dracula; in a nice, dark scene which serves as his tipping point, he sleepwalks to the Howell's hut and sleep bites Mrs. Howell. Another effective gag occurs when he's sent to the girls to get his wound dressed. Glamorous Ginger has left a faulty mirror lying around her vanity, and, when Gilligan looks into it, he doesn't see his reflection, just like a vampire wouldn't.

A familiar trope is revisited when Gilligan goes to the other side of the island to live out his remaining days in seclusion. What he doesn't know is that the bat is captured by the Professor and identified as a harmless fruit bat. Fortunately, he can't deliver this news to Gilligan before our lead has his classic dream sequence.

The dream sequence pays tribute to the Universal Dracula series of the 1930's and 40's, borrowing the easily recognizable plot of travelers who have broken down stopping at an old European castle, staying the night, and becoming victims of the count. Gilligan is a pale, Bela-Lugosi type vampire who retains the sailor's natural klutziness; Ginger is his Vampira-like assistant; and the Howells are their well-to-do dinner guests. Hot on the vampire's trail are the semi-comic relief team of Sherlock and Watney, played dutifully by the Professor and the Skip. They are led into the castle by old hag Mary Ann, who has called on them to investigate the strange goings on at the castle.

Following that basic plot, the sequence proceeds predictably but is a great deal of fun. Most of the gags land, and a lot of zingers dealing with Gilligan's ineptitude and lack of intelligence are ably delivered by Ginger. The only twist is at the end, when the detectives pass on impaling the vampire, but instead engage in a silly fistfight.

Gilligan awakens back in the cave where the Skip sets him straight on his future in bloodsucking in a last gag that doesn't make anybody forget about Boris Karloff.

COCONOTES:

Love Gilligan's 'glazed' look during his sleepwalking routine.

Wondering why Ginger would keep a defective mirror in her hut.

"Fortunately, I happen to know a little something about bat anatomy."

Kudos to both the set and costume designers for their picture-perfect work in the dream sequence.