In Defense of Goober - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Duster76 · 08-11-2021, 11:48 PM

There was a thread from a few years back that received some recent responses
titled, "Which regular character should have been a one-off", Goober received a few comments, I wanted to at least partially defend the character. Goober first appears in the episode "Fun Girls", and in that episode he is actually funny, a real live wire. He was kind of a thinking man's Ernest T Bass, I believe they could have done some interesting things with that version of Goober. Instead he was changed into a hapless dullard, giving the audience little bang for the buck. It was a real shame.

vitoscotti · 08-12-2021, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duster76

There was a thread from a few years back that received some recent responses
titled, "Which regular character should have been a one-off", Goober received a few comments, I wanted to at least partially defend the character. Goober first appears in the episode "Fun Girls", and in that episode he is actually funny, a real live wire. He was kind of a thinking man's Ernest T Bass, I believe they could have done some interesting things with that version of Goober. Instead he was changed into a hapless dullard, giving the audience little bang for the buck. It was a real shame.

Goober was a wonderful, funny character. He wasnt a thinking man's anything.

GentlemanJim · 08-12-2021, 01:01 AM

According to Gomer, Goober installed an automobile engine in a row boat. Pretty cleaver for a rube.

Samme · 08-12-2021, 01:27 AM

Goober worked as a character. He was funny. George did a good job.

icecream · 08-12-2021, 01:49 AM

I don't mind Goober. But he doesn't have the appeal of his cousin Gomer.

stevea · 08-12-2021, 07:01 AM

He had a lot of funny episodes. Re-assembling Gilly's car in the courthouse, and Fun Girls as mentioned. Getting dating advice and courting Miss Lydia (great episode!)

Plus several color episodes. Growing a beard and turning into a philosopher. Falling for the talking dog bit. Blackballing Howard from the lodge. Etc.

vitoscotti · 08-12-2021, 09:31 AM

Judy, Judy, Judy.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=blQrIySidOA

Isn't it "Lydia" Goober dated, not Lillian. "We ate all the candy, there's nothing left to do." Thats an intelligent man? Look at her.

Goober & Barney observing the master.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2EnpcdwBbGk

Goober is one of the greatest sitcom characters on one of the greatest sitcoms. He's in many, many classic episodes. I really love most every tags episode he was in (b&w and color). Tags fans appreciate him. But, he should of got more respect for his brilliant portrayal of Goober.

I've seen posts that people dont like Goober, Floyd, Andy Helen, Gomer, etc. Unbelievable.

stevea · 08-12-2021, 09:41 AM

Yep, Lydia Crosswaith, or however you spell it. Oops!

stevea · 08-12-2021, 09:54 AM

That Lydia and Goober episode is one of the funniest of the whole series. Spying on Andy and Helen, and that scene where she shoots down every plan--hilarious! "I get carsick." "Sit by the window!"

GentlemanJim · 08-12-2021, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vitoscotti

I've seen posts that people dont like Goober, Floyd, Andy Helen, Gomer, etc. Unbelievable.

So, you like Helen? (lol) I think it's relative. People see Goober as a disappointing replacement for Gomer (which I agree with, but that doesn't mean that I dislike Goober).
Same thing With Warren vs Barney, or Emmett vs Floyd. Just something about "A" being gone, and the apparent perception that "B" is the substitute we are expected to be content with.

SarahBellum · 08-12-2021, 11:00 AM

Gomer was a naive country bumpkin and a rather lovable character IMO. Goober was apparently mechanically inclined, but an annoying doofus otherwise. Case in point - the scene at Helen's window where he and Barney were watching Andy and Helen on the couch.

stevea · 08-12-2021, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vitoscotti

I've seen posts that people dont like Goober, Floyd, Andy Helen, Gomer, etc. Unbelievable.

I have to admit most of the time I can't stand the way Helen is written. Nothing to do with disliking Aneta Corsaut. I think they overplayed the jealousy card with her character and just made her flat out unlikable in too many episodes.

vitoscotti · 08-12-2021, 01:06 PM

I always looked at Helen as having a bit of a hot temper. Andy Griffith would then play off Helen's tantrums with his comedy magic. And that made her character interesting. Remember her tantrums set up some great "fun girl" scenes. She drove Andy into Mavis Neff's (hottie Elaine Joyce) clutches (Helen, the Authoress). I will say she could tone it down a notch when she's pissed. But I think she's a great character. She got teed off easy. But, she had a sweet, caring, loving side also. Overall she put up with a lot of Mayberry's knuckeheads in a civil manner. She really filled out those expensive outfits on a teacher's salary in the color episodes also.

stevea · 08-12-2021, 02:00 PM

Lap wrinkles...bubbly-wubbly. Andy got Helen good in that episode. She was so steamed about Andy and Mavis she ran out of the diner with her publisher/date. And, Mavis was great casting!

Warren was mentioned above. He actually had one of the best season 6 episodes, where his sleepwalking turned him amorous--with Helen. Hilarious!

His Huh? stuff got old quick, but really not a bad addition to the show.

vitoscotti · 08-12-2021, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

Lap wrinkles...bubbly-wubbly. Andy got Helen good in that episode. She was so steamed about Andy and Mavis she ran out of the diner with her publisher/date. And, Mavis was great casting!

Warren was mentioned above. He actually had one of the best season 6 episodes, where his sleepwalking turned him amorous--with Helen. Hilarious!

His Huh? stuff got old quick, but really not a bad addition to the show.

When I was able to record video on Amazon PV I recorded all the best Warren huh, huh huhs compilation. I pull it out occasionally for laughs. I'm a huge Warren fan. Every Warren episode is a 10* for me.

08-11-2021, 11:48 PM	#1
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,644	In Defense of Goober There was a thread from a few years back that received some recent responses titled, "Which regular character should have been a one-off", Goober received a few comments, I wanted to at least partially defend the character. Goober first appears in the episode "Fun Girls", and in that episode he is actually funny, a real live wire. He was kind of a thinking man's Ernest T Bass, I believe they could have done some interesting things with that version of Goober. Instead he was changed into a hapless dullard, giving the audience little bang for the buck. It was a real shame.

08-12-2021, 01:01 AM	#3
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	According to Gomer, Goober installed an automobile engine in a row boat. Pretty cleaver for a rube.
	__________________ On my word as a gentleman!

08-12-2021, 01:49 AM	#5
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,691	I don't mind Goober. But he doesn't have the appeal of his cousin Gomer.
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

08-12-2021, 07:01 AM	#6
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,491	He had a lot of funny episodes. Re-assembling Gilly's car in the courthouse, and Fun Girls as mentioned. Getting dating advice and courting Miss Lydia (great episode!) Plus several color episodes. Growing a beard and turning into a philosopher. Falling for the talking dog bit. Blackballing Howard from the lodge. Etc.
	Last edited by stevea; 08-12-2021 at 09:40 AM.

08-12-2021, 11:00 AM	#11
SarahBellum Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 3,873	Gomer was a naive country bumpkin and a rather lovable character IMO. Goober was apparently mechanically inclined, but an annoying doofus otherwise. Case in point - the scene at Helen's window where he and Barney were watching Andy and Helen on the couch.
	Last edited by SarahBellum; 08-12-2021 at 11:58 AM.

08-12-2021, 01:27 AM	#4
Samme Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 676	Goober worked as a character. He was funny. George did a good job.

08-12-2021, 09:31 AM	#7
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,075	Judy, Judy, Judy. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=blQrIySidOA Isn't it "Lydia" Goober dated, not Lillian. "We ate all the candy, there's nothing left to do." Thats an intelligent man? Look at her. Goober & Barney observing the master. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2EnpcdwBbGk Goober is one of the greatest sitcom characters on one of the greatest sitcoms. He's in many, many classic episodes. I really love most every tags episode he was in (b&w and color). Tags fans appreciate him. But, he should of got more respect for his brilliant portrayal of Goober. I've seen posts that people dont like Goober, Floyd, Andy Helen, Gomer, etc. Unbelievable.

08-12-2021, 09:41 AM	#8
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,491	Yep, Lydia Crosswaith, or however you spell it. Oops!

08-12-2021, 09:54 AM	#9
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,491	That Lydia and Goober episode is one of the funniest of the whole series. Spying on Andy and Helen, and that scene where she shoots down every plan--hilarious! "I get carsick." "Sit by the window!"

08-12-2021, 01:06 PM	#13
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,075	I always looked at Helen as having a bit of a hot temper. Andy Griffith would then play off Helen's tantrums with his comedy magic. And that made her character interesting. Remember her tantrums set up some great "fun girl" scenes. She drove Andy into Mavis Neff's (hottie Elaine Joyce) clutches (Helen, the Authoress). I will say she could tone it down a notch when she's pissed. But I think she's a great character. She got teed off easy. But, she had a sweet, caring, loving side also. Overall she put up with a lot of Mayberry's knuckeheads in a civil manner. She really filled out those expensive outfits on a teacher's salary in the color episodes also.

08-12-2021, 02:00 PM	#14
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,491	Lap wrinkles...bubbly-wubbly. Andy got Helen good in that episode. She was so steamed about Andy and Mavis she ran out of the diner with her publisher/date. And, Mavis was great casting! Warren was mentioned above. He actually had one of the best season 6 episodes, where his sleepwalking turned him amorous--with Helen. Hilarious! His Huh? stuff got old quick, but really not a bad addition to the show.