Gilligan's Island, created by Sherwood Schwartz, aired for three seasons between 1964 and 1967 on the CBS network. While the series was typically dismissed for its episodic inanity, author Walter Metz argues that this characteristic is precisely the source of the show's innovation as it produces a vibrant critique of dominant American values. In this analysis of Gilligan's Island, Metz reveals the inner workings of American television and society through an intensive look at the popular sitcom.