"The Friendly Physician" was the third episode for Vito Scotti, previously the Japanese sailor in both "So Sorry, My Island Now" and "Diogenes, Won't You Please Go Home?" coupled with the sole appearance of veteran bad guy Mike Mazurki. Scotti plays the stereotypical mad scientist, Dr. Boris Balinkoff, almost Dracula-like in his appearance, arriving by boat on the island to rescue the castaways. All seven are transported to the doctor's island castle, represented by stock footage used in many TV episodes like THE MONKEES, in which Scotti played another crazed medico in "The Case of the Missing Monkey." Here they meet hulking manservant Igor (Mazurki), described as being 'gentle as a little baby' (Gilligan: "a baby what?"). Finding a dog that meows and a cat that barks reveals the nature of Balinkoff's experiments in animal transference, with the castaways new subjects in switching personalities. It's brief but very funny to hear the Skipper's voice bellowing out of Mrs. Howell, but Mike Mazurki's turn as Ginger is a prancing delight, certainly one of his most unlikely roles. It's not exactly a rescue but it is the only episode where the castaways actually leave their little island, with the good doctor making one return appearance in the next season's "Ring Around Gilligan" (Igor reduced to a little monkey).
Review of The Friendly Physician
