| The Andy Griffith Show first aired on CBS in 1960. For | | | | screenwriters under the watchful eyes of the show's |
| those of you too young | | | | Midas touch creator Aaron Ruben |
| to remember, this classic situation comedy was | | | | and highly successful producer Sheldon |
| packed full with characters not | | | | Leonard.Gomer Pyle was a constant pain in the side |
| unlike those found in any small town in the U.S. The | | | | of Sergeant Carter (played by |
| lead character, Sheriff Andy Taylor, | | | | Frank Sutton). He would often misunderstand the |
| played by Andy Griffith, was a widower bringing up | | | | instructions that Carter gave |
| his son with the help of Aunt | | | | him and generally botch even the simplest of tasks. |
| Bee. Although he was Sheriff, Mayberry NC was | | | | He would more often than not |
| already crime-free. This allowed | | | | get himself and his sergeant into all kinds of scrapes |
| Andy plenty of time to deal with the various situations | | | | and sometimes would |
| that arose - and | | | | (often unwittingly) save the day.Sergeant Carter's |
| Mayberry's many odd-ball characters.One of the | | | | attempts to knock the bumbling Gomer into shape |
| characters, introduced three years into the show's long | | | | constantly |
| run, | | | | back-fired to the point where the sergeant himself |
| was dim-witted gas pump attendant, Gomer Pyle. Like | | | | was at his wits end. Despite |
| many of the show's | | | | this constant battle, Carter obviously developed a |
| characters, he had his own quirky ways and his own | | | | sneaky regard for Gomer and |
| catchphrases like "Shazam!". | | | | this only added to the depth of the comedy.Gomer |
| Gomer, played by actor and, to this day, highly | | | | Pyle U.S.M.C. is a classic comedy from 60's television. |
| accomplished singer Jim Nabors, was so popular | | | | Some say that |
| he was given his own show, Gomer Pyle USMC. This | | | | this remains the best situation comedy to come out of |
| was a time when the tv spin-off was a very rare | | | | that decade. Many |
| thing.As the life of a gas pump attendant may | | | | spin-offs do not live up to the promise of the original |
| produce limited story lines, it was | | | | host show. In this case |
| decided that Gomer Pyle would enlist in the marines. | | | | it certainly matched the wonderfully gentle but wacky |
| The contrast between | | | | Andy Griffith Show from |
| Gomer's limited abilities and the drill sergeant, Vince | | | | which it emerged.As with most of the work produced |
| Carter's abruptness and | | | | by Sheldon Leonard, the show had a long |
| impatience was the backdrop to the many funny lines | | | | stay as a top-rated show and ended its run in 1969. |
| penned by various | | | | |