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Polar Blair's Den Menu PageGomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
(1964-1969)
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About This Show
Cast
Great Characters
Photos
Seasons
Get all 5 seasons of "Gomer Pyle, USMC" in the complete series boxed set shown above.
Cast:
Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle
Frank Sutton as Sergeant Vincent Carter
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964-1969): This is certainly one of the most successful spinoff series in TV history. The character of Gomer Pyle, always played by Jim Nabors, first appeared in the third season of "The Andy Griffith Show". It was a surprise to everyone concerned, especially Mr. Nabors, when his character became so popular that a spinoff series was quickly developed by the end of the fourth season. But why the Marine setting? It was the most farfetched concept the producers could come up with for the character of Gomer Pyle, while still keeping things within the realm of reality.
Gomer Pyle was an eternal bumbler, naive, and incredibly trusting. Although he did "smarten up" throughout the series, he never did get over the goofy qualities that constantly drove his Sergeant to distraction. Jim Nabors is a great personality himself, and the character of Gomer Pyle will always be attached to him. He could never have been successfully recast. You just couldn't have "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." without him. The same can also be said for Frank Sutton, his Sergeant Carter. Gomer is a great, likable character, but the show would be dull if they didn't have a badger-like character like Sgt. Carter. By the same token, Carter would become hard to take if he didn't have Gomer around for levity. The two characters work well together. Frank Sutton is another actor who would have been hard to recast, for his Vincent Carter is not a "one way" character. On the outside, he's rough and tough, but he does have a sensitive side. What makes Carter funny as a character is that he is always at battle with himself. Gomer unintentionally plants the seed of "goodness" within his brain, but it's ultimately Carter who convinces himself on the right thing to do.
Seasons:
The Black-and-White Season:
Season 1 (1964-1965)
The Color Seasons:
Season 2 (1965-1966)
Season 3 (1966-1967)
Season 4 (1967-1968)
Season 5 (1968-1969)
Photos:
Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle
Frank Sutton as Sergeant Vincent Carter
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964-1969): This is certainly one of the most successful spinoff series in TV history. The character of Gomer Pyle, always played by Jim Nabors, first appeared in the third season of "The Andy Griffith Show". It was a surprise to everyone concerned, especially Mr. Nabors, when his character became so popular that a spinoff series was quickly developed by the end of the fourth season. But why the Marine setting? It was the most farfetched concept the producers could come up with for the character of Gomer Pyle, while still keeping things within the realm of reality.
Gomer Pyle was an eternal bumbler, naive, and incredibly trusting. Although he did "smarten up" throughout the series, he never did get over the goofy qualities that constantly drove his Sergeant to distraction. Jim Nabors is a great personality himself, and the character of Gomer Pyle will always be attached to him. He could never have been successfully recast. You just couldn't have "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." without him. The same can also be said for Frank Sutton, his Sergeant Carter. Gomer is a great, likable character, but the show would be dull if they didn't have a badger-like character like Sgt. Carter. By the same token, Carter would become hard to take if he didn't have Gomer around for levity. The two characters work well together. Frank Sutton is another actor who would have been hard to recast, for his Vincent Carter is not a "one way" character. On the outside, he's rough and tough, but he does have a sensitive side. What makes Carter funny as a character is that he is always at battle with himself. Gomer unintentionally plants the seed of "goodness" within his brain, but it's ultimately Carter who convinces himself on the right thing to do.
Seasons:
The Black-and-White Season:
Season 1 (1964-1965)
The Color Seasons:
Season 2 (1965-1966)
Season 3 (1966-1967)
Season 4 (1967-1968)
Season 5 (1968-1969)
Photos: