Golll-eeeee! The '60s' favorite TV country bumpkin, Gomer Pyle, won the hearts of viewers on The Andy Griffith Show, and spun off in to his own wildly popular series, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.. As the eternally cheery and clueless Gomer, Jim Nabors gives a comic tour de force performance as a newbie Marine under the command of the short-tempered Sgt. Carter, played with demonic fervor by Frank Sutton. Are Pyle and Sgt. Carter bitter foes or comedic sidekicks? "Surprise, surprise, surprise"--the secret to their chemistry was that the actors and characters were both, inseparable and adorable in their signature ways. The scrapes Gomer gets into are fairly routine and never exactly threaten national security, but Nabors' guileless delivery makes viewers tune in for more; the belly laughs are real.
The Andy Griffith Show returns with its complete second season of 31 episodes more memorable than one of Aunt Bee's "kerosene cucumbers." Set in the small town of Mayberry, the television series (1960-1968) followed the hilarious antics of widower Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith), his son Opie (Ron Howard), and Deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts). It has achieved cult status as one of television's most beloved sitcoms for its stellar cast, pristine comedy, and nostalgic charm. Season two includes such classic episodes as "The Pickle Story," "The Manicurist," and "Barney and the Choir." The season's parade of guest stars includes Barbara Eden, Buddy Ebsen, Alan Hale Jr., Bill Bixby, and Sterling Holloway.
One of the most beloved television series all time, The Andy Griffith Show has held up remarkably well over the past 40 years, thanks to clever writing, memorable characters, and genuine heart. Already a popular comedian and storyteller when the show hit the air, Andy Griffith exuded likable charm as Andy Taylor, sheriff of the sleepy town of Mayberry, North Carolina. A widower, Andy lives with his young son, Opie (Ron "Ronny" Howard), and Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier), who moves in to help around the house in the premiere episode, "The New Housekeeper." Without much actual crime in Mayberry, Andy spends much of his time keeping overzealous deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts, who won five Emmys in this role) out of trouble (after shooting himself in the foot, Barney is forced to keep his only bullet in his shirt pocket). Other Mayberry residents appearing in Season 1 include Floyd Lawson (Howard McNear), the barber at whose shop Andy and Barney spend much of their time; Ellie Walker (Father Knows Best's Elinor Donahue), the clerk at the local drugstore; and Otis Campbell (Hal Smith), the town drunk who checks himself into jail every Friday night after tying one on. Season 1 is loaded with classic episodes: In "Mayberry Goes Hollywood," a movie crew turns the town upside down; Barney's policing gets a little out of hand in "Andy Saves Barney's Morale"; "Alcohol and Old Lace" finds the hunt for moonshiners ending with surprisingly dainty perpetrators; an escaped convict vows revenge against the lawman -- Barney -- who sent him away in "Barney Gets His Man"; and in the series' only Yuletide episode, "Christmas Story," Andy shows Scrooge-like department store owner Ben Weaver (Will Right) the true meaning of the holidays. As for Gomer Pyle, Howard Stringer, Thelma Lou, and Ernest T. Bass, they won't show up until subsequent seasons, but there is more than enough homespun humor in this first set to keep you smiling for some time.
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