My problems with Gomer Pyle USMC. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 07-31-2022, 07:30 AM

Gomer just was not military material. He was physically fit (and probably saw the obstacle course like on Full Metal Jacket like a playground), and also how to shoot a weapon, however he was just too "nice" for the Marines. Too childish, and he spoke all the time out of turn. He would have ended up like Full Metal Jacket Pyle, except our Pyle is physically fit who can shoot a weapon. There is a lot of psychological breaking down and building up in Boot Camp.

I couldnt imagine Gomer in Vietnam in a combat zone. Maybe he would surprise you but he is so innocent he wouldnt get why others would shoot at him or blow him up. Seriously, can you ever see Gomer in combat? In my rewritting of Gomer's story, he would have been on a USO tour with Bob Hope and Carol Burnett singing and doing comedy numbers.

Calling Carter "Sargent" or even "Sarge". Carter was a Gunnery Sargeant, in informal military speak, he would be called a "Gunny". Gunny Carter. Hacker is a staff sargeant. There is like four of five Sargeant/NCO grades abd the only one where someone would be "sargeant" is someone with three chevrons up with no "rockers" below.

Gomer wouldnt have been in one duty station with the same DI for five years, plus Gomer and Gomer (and the military would have found a suitable and honorable place for him) would be at least a Sargent (E-4) in five years.

I think military shows are just unrealistic because members of the military move to one duty station to another almost yearly and the soldier (or Marine, Airman, etc.) would have different bosses and different surroundings. What was Pyle's MOS? What were the service training him to do? In the show its cleaning the barracks, cleaning the outside, painting stuff, in one episode cooking. They put Pyle in a lot of different situations but it was ended after one episode.

This comes from someone who was never in the military but did do ROTC (Navy) for a time.

PaperClips · 07-31-2022, 02:27 PM

You understand it was a ridiculous sit-com. Gomer wasn't going to Vietnam anytime soon. It was just a stupid sit-com - you are taking it way too seriously.

SarahBellum · 07-31-2022, 11:16 PM

^ Right. Gomer Pyle, Hogan's Heroes, McHale's Navy were all unrealistic. They were only meant to be funny.

GentlemanJim · 07-31-2022, 11:44 PM

Seems like everyone I've ever known who re-upped at least once in the military, has a story about some misfit who ran against the grain.

I believe that shows like Gomer Pyle and McHale are just a convenient vehicle to package such stories for consumption in living rooms across America

GentlemanJim · 07-31-2022, 11:53 PM

I also believe that most people realize that they do dumb stuff themselves, but TV shows like Gomer Pyle USMC offer the opportunity to externalize such stupidity in sort of a "the dog did it" kinda way.

We're really laughing at ourselves when Gomer does dumb stuff. And if Gomer (alternatively) was "hitler youth" serious in the way he approached things, we couldn't identify with him as easily....so the "big dummy" angle is a gimmick to endear the character.

Hazel Anyday · 08-01-2022, 09:23 PM

He was a big big dummy (as Fred Sanford would say). Gomer should have spent his entire hitch in the brig. He was constantly talking back to the sergeant never obeyed orders till he discussed them thoroughly as if they were up for debate. And when he finally did obey he went ahead and fouled up what he was supposed to be doing by once again disobeying orders. He was not just really stupid he was insubordinate. Yep a nice 4 year hitch in the brig might have taught him to keep his idiot mouth shut.

07-31-2022, 07:30 AM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	My problems with Gomer Pyle USMC. Gomer just was not military material. He was physically fit (and probably saw the obstacle course like on Full Metal Jacket like a playground), and also how to shoot a weapon, however he was just too "nice" for the Marines. Too childish, and he spoke all the time out of turn. He would have ended up like Full Metal Jacket Pyle, except our Pyle is physically fit who can shoot a weapon. There is a lot of psychological breaking down and building up in Boot Camp. I couldnt imagine Gomer in Vietnam in a combat zone. Maybe he would surprise you but he is so innocent he wouldnt get why others would shoot at him or blow him up. Seriously, can you ever see Gomer in combat? In my rewritting of Gomer's story, he would have been on a USO tour with Bob Hope and Carol Burnett singing and doing comedy numbers. Calling Carter "Sargent" or even "Sarge". Carter was a Gunnery Sargeant, in informal military speak, he would be called a "Gunny". Gunny Carter. Hacker is a staff sargeant. There is like four of five Sargeant/NCO grades abd the only one where someone would be "sargeant" is someone with three chevrons up with no "rockers" below. Gomer wouldnt have been in one duty station with the same DI for five years, plus Gomer and Gomer (and the military would have found a suitable and honorable place for him) would be at least a Sargent (E-4) in five years. I think military shows are just unrealistic because members of the military move to one duty station to another almost yearly and the soldier (or Marine, Airman, etc.) would have different bosses and different surroundings. What was Pyle's MOS? What were the service training him to do? In the show its cleaning the barracks, cleaning the outside, painting stuff, in one episode cooking. They put Pyle in a lot of different situations but it was ended after one episode. This comes from someone who was never in the military but did do ROTC (Navy) for a time.

07-31-2022, 11:44 PM	#4
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	Seems like everyone I've ever known who re-upped at least once in the military, has a story about some misfit who ran against the grain. I believe that shows like Gomer Pyle and McHale are just a convenient vehicle to package such stories for consumption in living rooms across America
	__________________ On my word as a gentleman!

08-01-2022, 09:23 PM	#6
Hazel Anyday Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 12, 2002 Posts: 2,131	Out Out Out, nope Gomer just continued to blab He was a big big dummy (as Fred Sanford would say). Gomer should have spent his entire hitch in the brig. He was constantly talking back to the sergeant never obeyed orders till he discussed them thoroughly as if they were up for debate. And when he finally did obey he went ahead and fouled up what he was supposed to be doing by once again disobeying orders. He was not just really stupid he was insubordinate. Yep a nice 4 year hitch in the brig might have taught him to keep his idiot mouth shut.
	__________________ Haaazeelll!!

07-31-2022, 02:27 PM	#2
PaperClips Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 09, 2021 Posts: 316	You understand it was a ridiculous sit-com. Gomer wasn't going to Vietnam anytime soon. It was just a stupid sit-com - you are taking it way too seriously.

07-31-2022, 11:16 PM	#3
SarahBellum Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 3,873	^ Right. Gomer Pyle, Hogan's Heroes, McHale's Navy were all unrealistic. They were only meant to be funny.

07-31-2022, 11:53 PM	#5
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	I also believe that most people realize that they do dumb stuff themselves, but TV shows like Gomer Pyle USMC offer the opportunity to externalize such stupidity in sort of a "the dog did it" kinda way. We're really laughing at ourselves when Gomer does dumb stuff. And if Gomer (alternatively) was "hitler youth" serious in the way he approached things, we couldn't identify with him as easily....so the "big dummy" angle is a gimmick to endear the character.