While Gilligan's Island has gained a reputation among the pretentious as a more juvenile television series, we'd like to pose a question: What on earth is wrong with that? It seems like every time a television show gains the reputation that it is enjoyed by children, adults seem to convince themselves that somehow it has lost any sort of merit.

While some children may have a simpler and more innocent sense of humor than many adults do, a show like Gilligan's Island should be celebrated for the fact that it can entertain children and adults alike, not shamed.

It was a comparison that even the cast and crew of the series were aware of, and were seemingly proud of as well. According to an article with the Associated Press, Dawn Wells, who played girl-next-door turned castaway Mary Ann, actually made the sensible argument that in addition to entertaining children, the show was also able to teach them key life lessons while watching.

Wells remarked, "As silly as it seems to all of us, it has made a difference in a lot of children's lives."

She explained, "Gilligan is a buffoon that makes mistakes, and I cannot tell you how many kids come up and say, 'But you loved him anyway.'"

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Contrasting with many actors who might consider it an embarrassment to have a role in children's media, Wells was always sure to wear her character with pride.

In an interview with the Calgary Herald, Wells said of her character, "I'm very proud to say that I was Mary Ann." She acknowledged, "It's not all I am, it's not all I do. It was a wonderful experience, I have no negativity about it."

So if you're an adult who never gives more than a cursory glance toward kids' media, try to branch out your horizons next time and give it a shot. You might just learn a thing or two.

Watch Gilligan's Island on MeTV!

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