Unfortunately, We're All Stranded With Him

TV producer Mike Fleiss reports that thousands of would-be stars turned up to audition for his new reality version of Gilligan's Island. In the TV section of today's Times (yes, my eyes occasionally stray from the op-ed page), Fleiss is quoted as saying ("with a laugh," of course), "It's alarming how many American men identify with Gilligan. It explains the presidential election a lot."

Then again, the true genius of George W. Bush lies in his ability to convince millions of people that he is their "good buddy" Gilligan, when in fact he is Thurston Howell III . . .