Was Gale Gordon a one-trick pony - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 05-12-2019, 02:36 AM

What I mean is that while it wasn't like Gordon wasn't at all funny, he was the type of performer who was really limited in how he was or could be funny.

To put things into perspective, Gale Gordon was a radio actor originally. His type of broad, blustery humor was an archetype of those early radio shows and they carried over to TV sitcoms for awhile. But it's arguable while his style of acting blended in with the early radio and '50s TV shows, he unfortunately stayed the same while styles changed. And since he still was active into the 1980s (heck, Gordon's shtick was already decidedly old hat by the 1970s), it really stood out.

In fairness, Gordon was often cast as the straight man the funny people played off of. He wasn't really supposed to be funny in the same way someone like Lucille Ball was.

TV Guy · 06-29-2019, 10:11 PM

Gale Gordon could be very funny when he gave controlled performances (as in “Dennis the Menace” or his early days on “The Lucy Show”). In those episodes, he came across as likable and put-upon. Later on, he overplayed the anger of his characters, and was just downright annoying.

TSMIV · 06-29-2019, 11:50 PM

He was a no trick pony as far as I'm concerned. I never liked him in any role.

MrMattyMatt · 08-14-2020, 10:13 PM

If anything his transatlantic accent drives me nuts.

OH Nuts! · 08-20-2020, 03:43 PM

He was a very good straight man to Lucy. Independent of Lucy, he could be wryly funny. He got typecast for playing along Lucy for so long. But at least to me, he’s no one trick pony. Lucy’s shows were highly successful and they had a great rapport, so I don’t hold this against him.

scrapple · 10-13-2020, 08:51 PM

Gordon was best taken in small doses. Okay on Our Miss Brooks, okay in the early Lucy show, poor by comparison to Joseph Kearns on Dennis the Menace.
Can you picture him as Fred Mertz?

PracTz · 11-02-2020, 01:51 PM

It worked best when his characters were shown to start out slightly miffed, then a little annoyed before getting downright frustrated THEN exploding into a tantrum. (Perhaps best demonstrated when he played Ozzie's boss in the 'Here Comes the Nelson's pilot movie) .

He did a fairly good job during his 'I Love Lucy' and the sole 'Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour '(in which he played a judge that got real snowball into his face by Lucy to demonstrate a point via pantomime) appearances.

Alas, for most of the 'The Lucy Show' and all but the final season of 'Here's Lucy' (when they had to make Uncle Harry be less mean to the wheelchair-bound Lucy Carter), they made the mistake of having his character just explode into hysteric tantrums straight away with no build up or even real motivation!

biffbronson · 11-11-2020, 07:59 AM

Yes, his character really did have a very short fuse on The Lucy Show. As a secretary, it was a comparable situation for Lucy Carmichael as it was with Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies. Both women stuck with bosses who were far less-than-ideal.

In interviews with Lucy on shows like Dick Cavett, Lucy called Gordon a doll or teddy bear, and it was very obvious she thought the world of him.

stevea · 11-11-2020, 09:29 AM

I agree with comment 2. He did a good job as Mr. Wilson, although the writing was inconsistent as to whether he liked or tolerated Dennis. His reactions and his "male scream" were really funny.

As to Lucy, I liked his early Mr. Mooney. Once the move to California occurred, those offices scenes became old and trite.

80s Dude · 12-02-2020, 07:17 PM

Gale Gordon was in 3 of the 4 Lucy series. He almost made it to the 4th, I Love Lucy, when he was the originally cast as Fred Mertz. However he was in a movie at the time and couldn't do it.

stevea · 12-02-2020, 09:05 PM

^He then went on to star in another Desilu series, Our Miss Brooks. On that he was a school principal, trading barbs with Eve Arden's teacher character.

TheLittleFaerie · 01-04-2021, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

I agree with comment 2. He did a good job as Mr. Wilson, although the writing was inconsistent as to whether he liked or tolerated Dennis. His reactions and his "male scream" were really funny.

As to Lucy, I liked his early Mr. Mooney. Once the move to California occurred, those offices scenes became old and trite.

In all fairness though, I think Mr Mooney was a saint compared to Mr. Drysdale. Mooney's anger was usually fueled by Lucy's schemes, whereas Mr. Drysdale was down right abusive to Jane Hathaway and really treated her in ways that were illegal.

Steve Carras · 06-08-2021, 10:15 PM

["He then went on to star in another Desilu show, OUR MISS BROOKS]

Reviving his OT radio character. He did a number of different characters before.

TMC · 11-25-2022, 06:25 AM

Here's a little bit of Lucy and Mr. Mooney cutting a rug together on The Lucy Show.

You rarely saw that side of his character -- it was always explosive temper, instead.

TMC · 08-01-2023, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrapple

Gordon was best taken in small doses. Okay on Our Miss Brooks, okay in the early Lucy show, poor by comparison to Joseph Kearns on Dennis the Menace.
Can you picture him as Fred Mertz?

The most common sentiment that I've heard about Gale Gordon on Dennis the Menace is that he played the role in the most predictable way, forever exasperated and irritated by Dennis. Joseph Kearns was also exasperated by Dennis, but he also conveyed that, despite everything, his Mr. Wilson was actually rather fond of Dennis.

05-12-2019, 02:36 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,928	Was Gale Gordon a one-trick pony What I mean is that while it wasn't like Gordon wasn't at all funny, he was the type of performer who was really limited in how he was or could be funny. To put things into perspective, Gale Gordon was a radio actor originally. His type of broad, blustery humor was an archetype of those early radio shows and they carried over to TV sitcoms for awhile. But it's arguable while his style of acting blended in with the early radio and '50s TV shows, he unfortunately stayed the same while styles changed. And since he still was active into the 1980s (heck, Gordon's shtick was already decidedly old hat by the 1970s), it really stood out. In fairness, Gordon was often cast as the straight man the funny people played off of. He wasn't really supposed to be funny in the same way someone like Lucille Ball was.

06-08-2021, 10:15 PM	#13
Steve Carras Sandra Bullock RULES! Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 30, 2002 Location: Riverside County, CA Posts: 807	["He then went on to star in another Desilu show, OUR MISS BROOKS] Reviving his OT radio character. He did a number of different characters before.
	__________________ "And that's showbiz......kid" -Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger, Chicago, 2002)

06-29-2019, 10:11 PM	#2
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Gale Gordon could be very funny when he gave controlled performances (as in “Dennis the Menace” or his early days on “The Lucy Show”). In those episodes, he came across as likable and put-upon. Later on, he overplayed the anger of his characters, and was just downright annoying.

06-29-2019, 11:50 PM	#3
TSMIV Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 29, 2018 Location: Arkansas Posts: 695	He was a no trick pony as far as I'm concerned. I never liked him in any role.

08-14-2020, 10:13 PM	#4
MrMattyMatt Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 21, 2020 Location: Florida Posts: 34	If anything his transatlantic accent drives me nuts.

08-20-2020, 03:43 PM	#5
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	He was a very good straight man to Lucy. Independent of Lucy, he could be wryly funny. He got typecast for playing along Lucy for so long. But at least to me, he’s no one trick pony. Lucy’s shows were highly successful and they had a great rapport, so I don’t hold this against him.

10-13-2020, 08:51 PM	#6
scrapple Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 03, 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 259	Gordon was best taken in small doses. Okay on Our Miss Brooks, okay in the early Lucy show, poor by comparison to Joseph Kearns on Dennis the Menace. Can you picture him as Fred Mertz?

11-02-2020, 01:51 PM	#7
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	It worked best when his characters were shown to start out slightly miffed, then a little annoyed before getting downright frustrated THEN exploding into a tantrum. (Perhaps best demonstrated when he played Ozzie's boss in the 'Here Comes the Nelson's pilot movie) . He did a fairly good job during his 'I Love Lucy' and the sole 'Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour '(in which he played a judge that got real snowball into his face by Lucy to demonstrate a point via pantomime) appearances. Alas, for most of the 'The Lucy Show' and all but the final season of 'Here's Lucy' (when they had to make Uncle Harry be less mean to the wheelchair-bound Lucy Carter), they made the mistake of having his character just explode into hysteric tantrums straight away with no build up or even real motivation!

11-11-2020, 07:59 AM	#8
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,324	Yes, his character really did have a very short fuse on The Lucy Show. As a secretary, it was a comparable situation for Lucy Carmichael as it was with Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies. Both women stuck with bosses who were far less-than-ideal. In interviews with Lucy on shows like Dick Cavett, Lucy called Gordon a doll or teddy bear, and it was very obvious she thought the world of him.

11-11-2020, 09:29 AM	#9
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,361	I agree with comment 2. He did a good job as Mr. Wilson, although the writing was inconsistent as to whether he liked or tolerated Dennis. His reactions and his "male scream" were really funny. As to Lucy, I liked his early Mr. Mooney. Once the move to California occurred, those offices scenes became old and trite.

12-02-2020, 07:17 PM	#10
80s Dude Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 24, 2019 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,811	Gale Gordon was in 3 of the 4 Lucy series. He almost made it to the 4th, I Love Lucy, when he was the originally cast as Fred Mertz. However he was in a movie at the time and couldn't do it.

12-02-2020, 09:05 PM	#11
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,361	^He then went on to star in another Desilu series, Our Miss Brooks. On that he was a school principal, trading barbs with Eve Arden's teacher character.

11-25-2022, 06:25 AM	#14
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,928	Here's a little bit of Lucy and Mr. Mooney cutting a rug together on The Lucy Show. You rarely saw that side of his character -- it was always explosive temper, instead.