Was Gomer Pyle, USMC the #1 show back in the late 60's? Was it true Jim Nabors left it to do a crummy variety show?

Yep. Gomer was actually ranked #2 in the country when he quit in 1969.. It was called The Jim Nabors Hour. I actually remember watching it with my family although my memory is foggy. It was one of my Mom's favorite shows. Frank Sutton and Ronnie Schell also went over to the variety show. It was ranked in the top 20 during the first season but ratings dropped during the second and CBS cancelled it with all the other rural tv shows in 1971.

Yep. Gomer was actually ranked #2 in the country when he quit in 1969.. It was called The Jim Nabors Hour. I actually remember watching it with my family although my memory is foggy. It was one of my Mom's favorite shows. Frank Sutton and Ronnie Schell also went over to the variety show. It was ranked in the top 20 during the first season but ratings dropped during the second and CBS cancelled it with all the other rural tv shows in 1971.


Oh wow! Ok, so the Jim Nabors Hour was part of the rural massacre in the 70's? I had no idea. Thanks as always Sonny!

Oh wow! Ok, so the Jim Nabors Hour was part of the rural massacre in the 70's? I had no idea. Thanks as always Sonny!
You're welcome. :)

Yep. Gomer was actually ranked #2 in the country when he quit in 1969.. It was called The Jim Nabors Hour. I actually remember watching it with my family although my memory is foggy. It was one of my Mom's favorite shows. Frank Sutton and Ronnie Schell also went over to the variety show. It was ranked in the top 20 during the first season but ratings dropped during the second and CBS cancelled it with all the other rural tv shows in 1971.
if I remember correctly, Barbara Stuart was also on it.

Jim didn't 'quit' "GOMER PYLE, U.S.M.C.": he merely wanted to it to end after five years, so he could become a variety show host, like his friend Carol Burnett. I'm sure he didn't want to be "stuck" in a successful sitcom like his close friend Andy Griffith had for eight years {or more}, and he KNEW he had more talent to display every week than just "being" Gomer. CBS agreed, and scheduled daily repeats of "GOMER PYLE" [at 4pm(et)] from the fall of '69 through 1972. The first season of "THE JIM NABORS HOUR" was an unqualified success, but season two was successfully challenged by NBC's scheduling of "THE FLIP WILSON SHOW", which suddenly became #1 in its time period, with CBS finally deciding they only needed one country-flavored variety hour for the fall of 1971- Glen Campbell's, which was the more successful of the two- and cancelled Jim's. Even though Nabors continued to appear as Carol Burnett's "good luck guest" at the start of every one of her seasons (through 1977), he really never did much of anything on TV after that.

:tv:

I am sure he wished he had stayed with GOMER PYLE. If it was No. 2 in its fifth season, the show would have enjoyed an eight or nine year run bringing greater residual profits for Nabors.

I am sure he wished he had stayed with GOMER PYLE. If it was No. 2 in its fifth season, the show would have enjoyed an eight or nine year run bringing greater residual profits for Nabors.
I think it only had 2 more years regardless because CBS canceled all of it's rural tv shows in the spring of 1971, no matter if they were still popular or not. Mayberry RFD and Hee Haw were both still in the top 20 when the ax swung.

I think it only had 2 more years regardless because CBS canceled all of it's rural tv shows in the spring of 1971, no matter if they were still popular or not. Mayberry RFD and Hee Haw were both still in the top 20 when the ax swung.

Hee Haw ( and Lawrence Welk ) did end up getting a second chance though by bypassing the networks in favor of going syndication which was a wise move for both shows as they continued to be on the air for many many years.

Several years ago I had the chance to meet George "Goober" Lindsay and I can remember he somewhat hinted that Mayberry RFD was looking at syndication at the time as well but of course, it didn't happen.

Following this topic (or maybe the original poster had read this article and got the question from this article), here is an excellent (IMO) article from TV Party about the later years of TAGS and its spinoffs, along with some nice clips from Andy's later shows and The Jim Nabors Hour:

http://www.tvparty.com/andy.html

Nabors continued to appear as Carol Burnett's "good luck guest" at the start of every one of her seasons (through 1977), he really never did much of anything on TV after that.

:tv:

I remember him doing a dramatic role in an episode of "The Rookies" but other than that I haven't seen him do much else.

Jim didn't 'quit' "GOMER PYLE, U.S.M.C.": he merely wanted to it to end after five years, so he could become a variety show host, like his friend Carol Burnett. I'm sure he didn't want to be "stuck" in a successful sitcom like his close friend Andy Griffith had for eight years {or more}, and he KNEW he had more talent to display every week than just "being" Gomer. CBS agreed, and scheduled daily repeats of "GOMER PYLE" [at 4pm(et)] from the fall of '69 through 1972. The first season of "THE JIM NABORS HOUR" was an unqualified success, but season two was successfully challenged by NBC's scheduling of "THE FLIP WILSON SHOW", which suddenly became #1 in its time period, with CBS finally deciding they only needed one country-flavored variety hour for the fall of 1971- Glen Campbell's, which was the more successful of the two- and cancelled Jim's. Even though Nabors continued to appear as Carol Burnett's "good luck guest" at the start of every one of her seasons (through 1977), he really never did much of anything on TV after that.

:tv:


Ronnie Schell told me in an interview that "The Jim Nabors Hour" actually had better ratings than "The Carol Burnett Show" and was the more higher rated of the two and CBS still cancelled it.

Saturday, September 5, 2015--6:31 pm CST
Yes, it was true. He wanted to do something else. Because he wanted to do more singing and dancing, he didn't get to do much of that on "Gomer Pyle, USMC". But Jim doesn't mind being type casted as Gomer.

Yeah it was kind of weird someone wanted to stop a show that was the 2nd ranked show in the country at the time it ended

I read once in TV Guide (this was about 2000 or 20001, at the time TV Land was showing reruns of GOMER)that once Jim Nabors was walking through an airport and he walked by a little girl who was with her mother. The girl pointed to him and said "LOOK MOM! An old Gomer Pyle!":lol: :lol: :lol:

Yep. Gomer was actually ranked #2 in the country when he quit in 1969.. It was called The Jim Nabors Hour. I actually remember watching it with my family although my memory is foggy. It was one of my Mom's favorite shows. Frank Sutton and Ronnie Schell also went over to the variety show. It was ranked in the top 20 during the first season but ratings dropped during the second and CBS cancelled it with all the other rural tv shows in 1971.

I have a dim memory of this development for Jim Nabors, also, but wonder what was on opposite his show, I have a feeling something that caught my attention more. I'm pretty sure that most of us were pretty burned out on "Gomer" by then, after five years of the limited stories his sitcom offered, and his singing style was way out of my taste range at the time (even now, honestly), as 1969 was a blockbuster year of musical talent, with The Beatles still leading the way.

Jim didn't 'quit' "GOMER PYLE, U.S.M.C.": he merely wanted to it to end after five years, so he could become a variety show host, like his friend Carol Burnett. I'm sure he didn't want to be "stuck" in a successful sitcom like his close friend Andy Griffith had for eight years {or more**, and he KNEW he had more talent to display every week than just "being" Gomer. CBS agreed, and scheduled daily repeats of "GOMER PYLE" [at 4pm(et)] from the fall of '69 through 1972. The first season of "THE JIM NABORS HOUR" was an unqualified success, but season two was successfully challenged by NBC's scheduling of "THE FLIP WILSON SHOW", which suddenly became #1 in its time period, with CBS finally deciding they only needed one country-flavored variety hour for the fall of 1971- Glen Campbell's, which was the more successful of the two- and cancelled Jim's. Even though Nabors continued to appear as Carol Burnett's "good luck guest" at the start of every one of her seasons (through 1977), he really never did much of anything on TV after that.

:tv:

That is true. I heard a radio interview with Jim Nabors several years ago and said he wanted to end "Gomer Pyle USMC" after five years because he felt it had ran its course despite the ratings. At first, CBS balked at the notion of ending a top-rated series, so I think Jim himself proposed a variety show as a way to continue on TV in some capacity to appease the network.

That is true. I heard a radio interview with Jim Nabors several years ago and said he wanted to end "Gomer Pyle USMC" after five years because he felt it had ran its course despite the ratings. At first, CBS balked at the notion of ending a top-rated series, so I think Jim himself proposed a variety show as a way to continue on TV in some capacity to appease the network.


Still was stupid to end a top 5 show

Still was stupid to end a top 5 show

Carl Reiner once said the average sitcom is good for about 100 - 130 episodes and after that, material just starts getting recycled. I tend to agree.

Carl Reiner once said the average sitcom is good for about 100 - 130 episodes and after that, material just starts getting recycled. I tend to agree.

That would mean the writers are not creative

That would mean the writers are not creative

So, how many sitcoms were still "great" after 170, 180, 200+ episodes?

So, how many sitcoms were still "great" after 170, 180, 200+ episodes?


Seinfeld
Married with children
Jeffersons
Three's Company
The Office
All in the Family

Some would argue many of those shows ran too long.

Yes it was true. He quit the show so he could pursue his career in singing. That's why he got his own variety show

I am sure he wished he had stayed with GOMER PYLE. If it was No. 2 in its fifth season, the show would have enjoyed an eight or nine year run bringing greater residual profits for Nabors.

I always found it interesting that "The Andy Griffith Show" was No. 1 in 1968 at the end of an eight-year run, and Gomer Pyle ended at No 2 in 1969 after a five-year run. Both shows had really run their course. (I could barely watch TAGS after Knotts left quite frankly). But Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. had run its course by 1969. I think Nabors made the right decision to leave it.

Was Gomer Pyle, USMC the #1 show back in the late 60's? Was it true Jim Nabors left it to do a crummy variety show?
[COLOR="Magenta"]Yes, it was true that Jim Nabors quit "Gomer Pyle,
USMC (1964-1969). He wanted to sing and dance more. He didn't do very much of those on "Gomer Pyle, USMC". You know that Jim Nabors passed away on Thursday, November 30, 2017 from Natural causes and a long illness. [B][I]He was 87. He passed away at his home in Hawaii..
James Thurston Nabors June 12,1930--November 30, 2017.

Terry Marvin (Dallas, Texas, USA)

I always found it interesting that "The Andy Griffith Show" was No. 1 in 1968 at the end of an eight-year run, and Gomer Pyle ended at No 2 in 1969 after a five-year run. Both shows had really run their course. (I could barely watch TAGS after Knotts left quite frankly). But Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. had run its course by 1969. I think Nabors made the right decision to leave it.
Saturday, January 13, 2018--12:12 pm CST

It'll be hard to watch "Gomer Pyle, USMC now, and play his records and CDS now that he's gone. Jim Nabors: June 12, 1930--November 30, 2017.

Terry Marvin (Dallas, Texas, USA)

The odd irony is that the variety show seemed to be suddenly torpedoed when unfounded gossip about him and Rock Hudson became widespread -but Mr. Nabors would wind up having a steady career making a comfortable living well into his 80's (and would legally wed his longtime male companion a few years before he died). Yet, I have to wonder if would he have had a career at all afterwards had that gossip exploded during the production of "Gomer Pyle".

I don't know who was managing Nabors career at the time, but whoever it was knew exactly what they were doing. There is an old saying in show business, "always leave your audience wanting more", Nabors picked the exact right moment to leave. He would never have any more leverage, and the move to an hour variety format allowed him to show off all his skills. The anti-war movement was at its peak in 1970, and here was a show about a marine as far away from the front as one could possibly be. On top of that CBS was just about to get the country purge started.

The odd irony is that the variety show seemed to be suddenly torpedoed when unfounded gossip about him and Rock Hudson became widespread -but Mr. Nabors would wind up having a steady career making a comfortable living well into his 80's (and would legally wed his longtime male companion a few years before he died). Yet, I have to wonder if would he have had a career at all afterwards had that gossip exploded during the production of "Gomer Pyle".

If it was "gossip" regarding his private life, how was it unfounded?

I may have liked it when I was ten years old but Gomer Pyle was a pretty dopey show and I'd much rather hear Jim Nabors sing with that incredible voice of his than hear "gollyyyy" 30 times an hour.

If it was "gossip" regarding his private life, how was it unfounded?


Because, as far as anyone who actually knew either them could tell, Mr. Nabors and Mr. Hudson barely were acquainted with each other yet someone playing a prank linked them as having had a secret commitment ceremony and THAT is what got the network suits to panic enough to drop his variety show!

I may have liked it when I was ten years old but Gomer Pyle was a pretty dopey show and I'd much rather hear Jim Nabors sing with that incredible voice of his than hear "gollyyyy" 30 times an hour.
It's always amazed me how he can say "GOOOLLY!" or "SHEZAM" or "SURPRISE SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!" in his Gomer voice then a few minutes later belt out "TO DREEEAM...THE IM-POSSIBLE DREAM!!!" in that deep, rich, baritone voice.






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Why did the television series Gomer Pyle get cancelled? (https://www.quora.com/Why-did-the-television-series-Gomer-Pyle-get-cancelled/answer/Jon-Mixon-1)

Question: Why did the television series Gomer Pyle (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125158/http://www.jumptheshark.com/g/gomerpyle.htm) get cancelled?

Let’s see:


Nabors wanted out - Pyle was going to need to be promoted, the series had forced him to get a girlfriend to lower the homoeroticism of Sgt. Carter always being on Pyle’s back (no pun intended) and sending Pyle to Vietnam was off limits. Nabors saw the writing on the wall, and decided to bail.
150 episodes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Gomer_Pyle_%E2%80%93_USMC_episodes) was more than enough for syndication - The average syndication package used to be 115–120 shows in total and Pyle had more than enough of them to send the program into syndication and start making some real money for the producers and Nabors.
Nabors wanted to do nightclub shows and concerts - He made more money on the road than he did on television and so that’s the direction he took. Ironically in the 1980s, when his nightclub and concert career was cooling down, Nabors went back to television, but wasn’t as successful during that go-around.
Nabors frequent trips to Hawaii and lack of a female partner made the gay rumors swirl around - While Nabors was never deeply closeted, he was discreet. Had he remained on television, it’s a virtual certainty that he would have been outed, so he decided to go back on the road where his sexuality would not be as much of an issue.

Why did the television series Gomer Pyle get cancelled? (https://www.quora.com/Why-did-the-television-series-Gomer-Pyle-get-cancelled/answer/Jon-Mixon-1)

This was written by the same guy who did that ridiculous hit piece on That Girl. He seems obsessed with the fact that Jim was Gay, two of his four bullets reference homosexuality. That might make some sense if it had anything whatsoever to do with the topic but it doesn't, so why bring it up. The writer makes a complete fool of himself with his final statement in bullet 4:

"Had he remained on television, it’s a virtual certainty that he would have been outed , so he decided to go back on the road where his sexuality would not be as much of an issue".

He did stay in television! He increased his presence on television, he went from a half hour series to an hour carrying his name in the title! The answer was right under Mixon's nose and he missed it completely.

1. Jim would be getting paid more

2. He was one of the owners

3. He could highlight his singing which would increase his record sales and potentially play other type of characters in sketches.

The show finished number 2 in the ratings in the final season, he would never have any more leverage in his career than this point, and he used that leverage to his benefit. What's so hard to understand, there is no mystery.

Jim Nabors said that the workload on The Jim Nabors Hour was much easier than working on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (https://www.metv.com/stories/jim-nabors-said-that-the-workload-on-the-jim-nabors-show-was-much-easier-than-working-on-gomer-pyle-usmc)

Working on The Jim Nabors Hour gave the actor an opportunity to show off his incredible voice.