# Gilligan + ? = Mr. Howell **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 23, 2001, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058 "2001-10-23T11:49:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bluecrayola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@bluecrayola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecrayola)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/1 "2001-10-23T11:49:09Z")
You do the math… ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/2 "2001-10-23T12:15:57Z")
Okay. I’m assuming you want us to solve for _?_ and show our work. Gilligan + ? = Mr. Howell Gilligan + ? - Gilligan = Mr. Howell - Gilligan ? = Mr. Howell - Gilligan How’d I do? ---
**Author:** ![bluecrayola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@bluecrayola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecrayola)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/3 "2001-10-23T13:04:49Z")
Basically, what TV character would you add to the equation so Gilligan is on par with Mr. Howell. There ya go… ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/4 "2001-10-23T15:24:16Z")
On par how? As rich as Mr. Howell? As old as Mr. Howell? As happily married as Mr. Howell? Your OP didn’t make any sense and you haven’t given us much help with your second post either. ---
**Author:** ![bluecrayola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@bluecrayola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecrayola)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/5 "2001-10-23T15:41:17Z")
You’re looking at it too closely. Look at the big picture. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/6 "2001-10-23T15:43:22Z")
You know, that stuff’ll kill you if you smoke enough of it. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/7 "2001-10-23T15:52:12Z")
Their all stereotypes. To try and equate one character with another or assume that one character is “better” than another is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/8 "2001-10-23T15:55:31Z")
Of course there are some shows that do have annoying characters you wish they would get rid of.🙂 [sub]Wesley…Urkel…Jar Jar Binks, ect. [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/9 "2001-10-23T15:58:55Z")
OK, I’ll play: Gilligan + George Burns = Mr. Howell ??? ---
**Author:** ![pezwookiee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@pezwookiee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezwookiee)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/10 "2001-10-23T16:24:56Z")
Gilligan + (Montgomery Burns/George Burns) x Mr. Magoo - Maynard Krebs = Mr. Howell ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/11 "2001-10-23T17:22:09Z")
Gilligan + The Imperious Leader Of The Cylon Empire = Mr. Howell In addition, Gilligan X Broccoli = Howard Cosell’s Hair Gell **and** , Gilligan/Joe Isuzu = Yanni It all makes as much sense as the OP. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/12 "2001-10-23T17:25:38Z")
? is obviously Rush Limbaugh. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/13 "2001-10-23T17:41:32Z")
Gilligan + **42** = Mr. Howell is my best guess. I assume we can’t use negative numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/14 "2001-10-23T17:46:55Z")
The closest I can come is Gilligan + Ginger = Restraining Order, but math has never been my strong suit. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/15 "2001-10-23T18:16:26Z")
Actually, I think the original post was talking about the ineffable. It really was more of a religious statement. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/16 "2001-10-23T20:28:35Z")
this is the strangest shit i’ve read in a long time. i have always wondered why the professor wasn’t getting busy with ginger and mary anne. as for the original question, i don’t see any answers, personally… ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/17 "2001-10-23T21:18:50Z")
Gilligan +The Skipper=Mr.Howell I have discovered a truly wonderful proof of this proposition, but the margin is too small to contain it. ---
**Author:** ![BPBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@BPBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BPBob)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/18 "2001-10-24T18:56:54Z")
Hmmm… (Gilligan + Skipper)/Ginger = Monkeyshines Monkeyshines/Gin = Mr. Howell Another possibility might be Gilligan X George Jetson[sup]2[/sup] + Mr Spaceley but that offends Occam’s Razor How about Gilligan + 3 coconuts + fermented melon balls =Mai Tai MaiTai + briefcase of money = Mr Howell or maybe Gilligan + (Batman/catwoman) = Mr. Howell hmmm… no, Batman over Catwoman equals the Hayes Commission… Well, those are my best estimates! You’ll get my bill in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/19 "2001-10-24T20:21:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by furryman \* > \*\*Their all stereotypes. To try and equate one character with another or assume that one character is “better” than another is ridiculous. \*\* What makes Gilligan a stereotype? ---
**Author:** ![inertia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@inertia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inertia)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058/20 "2001-10-24T22:04:47Z")
Actually, the characters of the Gilligan’s Island series represent the seven deadly sins. Mr. Howell = Greed The Skipper = Gluttony Gilligan = Sloth Ginger = Vanity Maryann = Adultery Professor = Wrath (yeah, it’s a stretch) Mrs. Howell = dumbassedness (what’s the seventh sin?) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilligan-mr-howell/89058.md?page=2)