Name: The Mosquitoes
Classification:
supporting characters
group
based on a real group
Publisher(s): 
First Appearance: Gilligan's Island - Season 2, Episode 12 (9 Dec. 1965): "Don't Bug the Mosquitoes"
Creators: Brad Radnitz, Steve Binder
Number of Appearances: 1
Type of Organization/Group: musical group
Race: white
Note: popular rock band seeking R&R on the Island
The Mosquitoes were an extremely popular rock band who sought some R&R (rest and relaxation) away from their rabid fans. In order to find some peace and quiet, they went all the way to a deserted tropical island - the very island inhabited by Gilligan and his fellow castaways!
It is worth noting that the fictional band "The Mosquitoes" were played by real-life rock band The Wellingtons. It was actually the Wellingtons who sang "The Ballad of Gilligan's Island" which is the theme song heard during each episode's opening credits segment during the show's first season. (The song was re-recorded by a different group for seasons 2, 3 and 4).
The Mosquitoes were a loose, light-hearted parody of the Beatles, who were immensely popular at the time. The Mosquitoes are not necessarily intended to be a spot-on copy of the actual Beatles, but the parody the nature of the band as well as the fan obsession with the Beatles. Note how the names of the Mosquitoes, with three unusual goofy names and one common name (Bingo, Bango, Bongo and Irving) are an inversion of the names of the Beatles, with three common names (John, Paul, George) and one unusual, arguably goofy name ("Ringo"). "Bingo" (of the Mosquitoes) intentionally rhymes with "Ringo" (of the Beatles). "Bango" and "Bongo" are derived from "Bingo."
The actual Wellingtons group had only three members (George Patterson, Kirby Johnson and Ed Wade), so in order to portray the Mosquitoes as a 4-man band (like the Beatles), a fourth actor was cast in addition to the regular band members.
Number of group members listed below: 5
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[popular rock band seeking R&R on the Island] | |
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Gilligan's Island - Season 2, Episode 12 (9 Dec. 1965): "Don't Bug the Mosquitoes"
Suggested links for further research about this character:
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0588072/
- http://gilligan.wikia.com/wiki/Don't_Bug_the_Mosquitoes
