GOMER PYLE: USMC: GOMER OVERCOMES THE OBSTACLE COURSE {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The first in this comedy series, a spinoff of "The Andy Griffith Show," about the misadventures of guileless Southern Marine Corps Private Gomer Pyle. In this episode, Gomer is given his regulation "jarhead" haircut and then heads off to boot camp, where he immediately antagonizes his drill instructor, Sergeant Carter, with his lighthearted manner. Gomer then repeatedly fails to master the obstacle course, and Carter is furious to realize that the goofy new recruit may prevent him from having an honor platoon for the fourth year running. Unfazed, Gomer writes letters home describing the fun he is having at boot camp, and when Carter summons him and orders him to "shape up," Gomer declares that he has grown to like his humorless drill instructor in their "little bitty time" together so far.
Gomer decides to practice the obstacle course at night, though Carter, unaware of his hard work, is further outraged to learn the next morning that he has been excused from duty because of extreme exhaustion. Gomer continues working to master the course at night, and when Lieutenant Colonel Van Pelt catches him in the act, he sincerely explains that he is working hard to impress Carter and secure the honor platoon title. When Carter hears that Gomer is again in the sick bay, he storms over to Van Pelt to request that the seemingly lazy new private be tossed out, and he is stunned when his superior instead compliments him on inspiring his new recruit to work so hard. Chastened, Carter allows Gomer to continue sleeping, and when he catches him on the obstacle course on the third night, he urges him to go back to his bunk – though Gomer then accidentally knocks him into the pool. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: November 30, 1999 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:15
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:19633
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; U S Marine Corps
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1964-1969
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Sheldon Leonard … Executive Producer
- Aaron Ruben … Executive Producer, Director, Created by, Writer
- Edward H. Feldman … Producer
- Ronald Jacobs … Associate Producer
- Earle Hagen … Music by
- Jim Nabors … Cast, Pvt. Gomer Pyle
- Frank Sutton … Cast, Sgt. Vince Carter
- Ronnie Schell … Cast, Duke Slater
- Buck Young … Cast, Sergeant Whipple
- Peter Hansen … Cast, Lieutenant Colonel Van Pelt
- Mark Slade … Cast, Private Swanson
- Richard Tyler … Cast, Private Hemsley
- Jerry Dexter … Cast, Corporal Johnson
- Charles Myers … Cast, Recruit