The television sit-com "Gilligan's Island" was actually a documentary. Filmed with an intricate series of hidden cameras, the "castaways" were monitored unknowingly by the United States' Department of Defence. The top-secret psychological profile -- Project Minnow -- was abruptly aborted when first-mate Gilligan tripped over a military extension cord. To recompense the "actors" for their trouble, the video archives were edited into 24-minute "episodes" and re-dubbed with a "laugh track." The ship's passengers remained quiet about the government cover-up, and subsequently became stars.