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Gomer Pyle, USMC
Format	Sitcom
Created by	Aaron Ruben
Starring	Jim Nabors Frank Sutton Ronnie Schell
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	150
Production
Running time	25 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	CBS
Original run	September 25, 1964 – May 2, 1969
External links
IMDb profile

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. is an American situation comedy that originally aired on CBS from September 25, 1964 to May 2, 1969.

The series was a spinoff of The Andy Griffith Show, where the premise was introduced in an episode which aired on May 19, 1964. The show featured Jim Nabors reprising his role as the bumbling but lovable Gomer Pyle, who had left the town of Mayberry and joined the U.S. Marine Corps (Gomer's cousin, Goober Pyle, replaced him back home at Wally's filling station). The series mostly revolved around Pyle's misadventures in the Marines, usually ending with his good-naturedness winning over adversity, especially his hard-nosed Drill Instructor, Gunnery Sergeant Vince Carter (played by Frank Sutton).

Ronnie Schell played Gomer's best friend Private Duke Slater, who later returns to the series as a corporal (after starring in "Good Morning World" for a year). Other semi-regular characters were Sergeant Hacker, Bunny Wilson (Carter's girlfriend) and Lu Ann Poovie (Gomer's girlfriend). Some of the actors who played Gomer's fellow marines included Larry Hovis (Hogan's Heroes), Joe E. Tata (Beverly Hills, 90210), William Christopher (M*A*S*H), Ted Bessell (That Girl) and Jack Larson (Superman).

To preserve ratings, CBS sought to sidestep the growing Vietnam War/conflict and retain the lightheartedness of the series. Due to Gomer's humility, he never sought promotion beyond the rank of Private First Class. Gomer, therefore, mostly remained at his California base. While Aunt Bee Taylor, Grandpa Pyle and cousin Goober visited Gomer at his barracks, Gomer only returned to Mayberry once during the series run but the Taylors and Goober were away on a trip. Gomer was given the opportunity to sing in some episodes, as he had done in Mayberry, thus showcasing Nabors' rich baritone voice. The talent seemed at odds with the slow-witted, country boy persona. Producer Sheldon Leonard would later say, "Gomer and Crazy Googenheimer were America's favorite savants". Jim Nabors believes that Gomer was embraced because he was uncomplicated and innocent.

After 37 years as a private, on August 9, 2001 Gomer Pyle was finally "promoted" to Lance Corporal with Commandant Gen. James L. Jones pinning the insignia on Jim Nabors at a ceremony at Camp Smith. [1]

Contents 1 Cast 2 Notable guest stars 3 DVD Releases 4 Criticism 5 Nielsen Ratings 6 Trivia 7 External links

• Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle
• Frank Sutton as Sergeant Vincent Carter
• Ronnie Schell as Private/Corporal Gilbert "Duke" Slater
• Allan Melvin as Staff Sergeant Charles Hacker
• Forrest Compton as Lieutenant Colonel Edward Gray
• Ted Bessell as Private Francis Lombardi
• Roy Stuart as Corporal Charles Boyle
• William Christopher as Private Lester Hummel
• Elizabeth MacRae as LouAnn Poovie
• Barbara Stuart as Bunny Wilson

The program featured guest-starring roles and/or cameo appearances by:

• Little Feat guitarist Lowell George appeared in the episode "Lost, the Colonel's Daughter" (Season 3, Episode 26) with his group (in 1967) The Factory [2]
• Miss USA 1958, Arlene Howell plays "Flora" in an unusually memorable 1966 episode ("Segeant Carter Dates a Pyle" Season 2 Episode 20 (Episode 50)), in which Gomer paired her off with a dumbfounded Sergeant Carter (Frank Sutton)^[1].

CBS Home Entertainment has released the first three seasons of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time.

DVD Name	Ep #	Release Date	Additional Information
The First Season	30	December 12, 2006	All 30 Season One episodes, Digitally Remastered Audio introductions by Jim Nabors on all 30 episodes Pilot episode: Gomer Pyle, USMC from The Andy Griffith Show Option to view pilot with sales presentation Audio commentary by Jim Nabors on pilot episode and Gomer Overcomes the Obstacle Course Audio commentary by Ronnie Schell on Gomer and the Dragon Lady Clip from The Lucy Show: Lucy Gets Caught in the Draft Clip of Jim Nabors on The David Frost Show Clip of The Jim Nabors Hour
The Second Season	30	June 26, 2007	All 30 Season Two episodes, Digitally Remastered Some music has been changed for this version Some episodes may be edited from their original broadcast No bonus features
The Third Season	30	December 11, 2007	All 30 Season Three episodes, Digitally Remastered Some music has been changed for this version Some episodes may be edited from their original broadcast No bonus features
The Fourth Season	30	TBA
The Final Season	30	TBA

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. has often been criticized for repeated plot lifting directly from its parent show, The Andy Griffith Show. Below are just a few examples which illustrate the obvious similarities found in script details of both shows.

Show	Episode	Original Airdate	Plot
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.	"To Save A Life"	January 31, 1969	Sgt. Carter saves Gomer's life. Gomer becomes an annoyance with his constant devotion to repay his debt to Sgt. Carter. Later, Gomer passes out from gas fumes while fixing a heater and Sgt. Carter rescues him again. But when Gomer wakes up, Sgt. Carter lies and tells Gomer how he saved the Sergeant's life and that they are now even.
The Andy Griffith Show	"Andy Saves Gomer"	March 16, 1964	Andy Taylor saves Gomer's life. Gomer becomes an annoyance with his constant devotion to repay his debt to Andy. Later, Gomer passes out from gas fumes while fixing a heater and Andy rescues him again. But when Gomer wakes up, Andy lies and tells Gomer how he saved Andy's life and that they are now even.
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.	"Marry Me, Marry Me"	November 16, 1966	Gomer goes on one date and discovers that he accidentally got engaged to the young woman. Gomer is then threatened with a Breach of Contract lawsuit and Sgt. Carter helps him out of the sticky situation.
The Andy Griffith Show	"Barney on the Rebound"	October 30, 1961	Barney Fife goes on one date and discovers that he accidentally got engaged to the young woman. Barney is then threatened with a Breach of Contract lawsuit and Sheriff Taylor helps him out of the sticky situation.
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.	"Goodbye Dolly"	February 23, 1968	Gomer accepts the responsibility of taking care of an old, retired, white horse named Dolly, finding the task harder than he anticipated.
The Andy Griffith Show	"Goodbye Dolly"	March 3, 1967	Opie Taylor accepts the responsibility of taking care of an old, retired, white horse named Dolly, finding the task harder than he anticipated.

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. stayed on the Top 10 of the Nielsen Ratings for each of its five seasons.

Season	Ranking
1964-65	#3
1965-66	#2
1966-67	#10
1967-68	#3
1968-69	#2

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• On The Simpsons, in the episode "Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes", Homer flashes back to watching Gomer Pyle as he mourns the loss of his couch. In "Bart Gets an Elephant", Homer is cleaning out the basement, finds an old TV Guide, and imagines Pyle and Carter repeating their respective catch phrases "Shazam!" and "PYLE!".

• The term "Gomer Pyle" is used by Marine Corps Drill Instructors as a personal epithet for recruits that are perceived as "goldbricking" (being lazy), or not responding/adjusting to training properly. This usage is shown in the Stanley Kubrick film Full Metal Jacket. It was also briefly a nickname for the X-Men character Cannonball (who was a rookie from the country at the time).

• US pilots flying missions over Vietnam often called Soviet MiG-19 and MiG-21 pilots "Gomers" due to their large goggles.

• "Gomer" is a Biblical name, the name of a grandson of Noah [Genesis 10:2], as well as the name of the wife of Hosea [Hosea 1:3].

• Andy Griffith, Frances Bavier, Ron Howard and George Lindsey made guest appearances on the spin-off series playing the same characters from The Andy Griffith Show. Denver Pyle played Briscoe Darling in six episodes of The Andy Griffith Show and played tomato farmer Titus Purcell in the Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C episode "The Price of Tomatoes" (Season 4, Episode 25 - Original Air Date: 1 March 1968). And Allan Melvin, who played a wide variety of characters in eight different episodes of The Andy Griffith Show was a regular on Gomer Pyle, playing Sergeant Carter's arch rival, Sergeant Hacker.

• Hosts on Air America Radio The Majority Report Janeane Garofalo and Sam Seder often play clips of Gomer saying his favorite phrase, which Gomer said when Sgt. Carter got caught in an embarrassing situation, Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!, in Nabors' inimitable Southern accent.

• An extract from the episode "Gomer Says 'Hey' to the President" (Season 4, Episode 7 - Original Air Date: 20 October 1967), including the catchphrase Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!, is used on the background/intro track on the Pink Floyd song "Nobody Home" from the concept album The Wall.

• Jim Nabors guested in the role of Gomer Pyle at the end of an episode of The Lucy Show, "Lucy Gets Caught Up in the Draft", aired on 14 November 1966 - Lucy Carmichael had been drafted into the Marines, proven to be unable to handle the training, and discharged with the help of Mr. Mooney; her sergeant told her, "After you, I couldn't get a bigger knucklehead", whereupon Gomer showed up, newly transferred from Sgt. Carter's unit.

• Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. at the Internet Movie Database
• Jim Nabors official site. Click on link at top for promotion information.