How come Jethro was never drafted? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Mouserjan0222 · 04-09-2008, 01:40 AM

I think my post title says it all. Ok he was big, stupid, and a good shot. Perfect cannon fodder. I assume it never came up because it wasnt' that "deeeep" of a show. (how come gomer pyle never went to war??) Gomer, Jethro, and Forest what a combo.

anyone?

newbie first post.....

tv star collector · 04-09-2008, 08:16 AM

I can just imagine Gomer Pyle, Jethro Bodine and Forrest Gump in Sgt. Carter's
platoon. He would have begged for a transfer to ... anywhere else!

Maynard · 04-09-2008, 10:41 AM

Sgt. Carter would have gone over to the VC.

Mouserjan0222 · 04-09-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maynard

Sgt. Carter would have gone over to the VC.

I heard on some Gomer Pyle biography deal. that they did not want it to be that kind of show. They even mentioned that had it been real Gomer would have gone to Vietnam. As a kid I never paid any attention but as an adult I'm like wait a min why???????

tv star collector · 04-09-2008, 12:57 PM

I'm reminded of what Phil Silvers said regarding his classic sitcom of the 1950s
(You'll Never Get Rich, a.k.a. The Phil Silvers Show and still later
under the syndicated title Sergeant Bilko).

He told The New York Times: "The Pentagon loved the show, and enlistments trebled. These young guys thought that's what army life was
really like. I feel guilty about that, about the waste. A show like Bilko
could never go now [in 1972]. Things are too serious; there would not be a great deal of enlistment. We're in a war we shouldn't be in, and it's a little
vicious. Calley and those black market guys and those guys on pot ... it's much more vicious now. Now it isn't funny."
[Quoted in TV's Top Comedians, by David Dachs (1973)]

James28 · 04-10-2008, 03:00 AM

Apparently the Army never needed Jethro. He did enlist in the Jethro in the reserve episode, but was never called to active duty in the years to follow.

Maynard · 04-10-2008, 10:17 AM

Mr. Drysdale probably pulled a few strings with the draft board as well.

Ohio8 · 04-10-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tv star collector

I can just imagine Gomer Pyle, Jethro Bodine and Forrest Gump in Sgt. Carter's
platoon. He would have begged for a transfer to ... anywhere else!

treky · 04-11-2008, 02:31 AM

he was never drafted for the same reasons that there were never any blacks in Mayberry and Gomer Pyle never went to war-even though we were embroiled in one at the time.

Maynard · 04-11-2008, 11:43 AM

Urban myth alert. There were blacks in Mayberry.

treky · 04-12-2008, 01:54 AM

then how come they never showed any??? (at least in the black and white episodes)

Maynard · 04-12-2008, 10:46 AM

You see them in the background fairly regularly. One instance I can think of is "Citizen's Arrest" where a black woman is standing right behind Andy as he's trying to break up the Barney-Gomer argument.

And also, Opie's football coach was black.

Mouserjan0222 · 04-14-2008, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim856796

Apparently the Army never needed Jethro. He did enlist in the Jethro in the reserve episode, but was never called to active duty in the years to follow.

If I recall, if you were in school you could get out of it. Since Jethro barely finished the 6th grade maybe by saying he was still in school he got out of it?? Works for me

ethelmaepotter · 05-14-2008, 12:35 PM

Quite simply, they didn't want to write the character of Jethro out of the show.

dav4463 · 09-06-2008, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maynard

You see them in the background fairly regularly. One instance I can think of is "Citizen's Arrest" where a black woman is standing right behind Andy as he's trying to break up the Barney-Gomer argument.

And also, Opie's football coach was black.

There is also a black lady in the episode where Barney thought the new deputy was trying to steal his job. She is there when Barney's car horn gets stuck.

04-09-2008, 01:40 AM	#1
Mouserjan0222 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 09, 2008 Location: Lost Island Posts: 22	How come Jethro was never drafted? I think my post title says it all. Ok he was big, stupid, and a good shot. Perfect cannon fodder. I assume it never came up because it wasnt' that "deeeep" of a show. (how come gomer pyle never went to war??) Gomer, Jethro, and Forest what a combo. anyone? newbie first post.....

04-11-2008, 02:31 AM	#9
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	he was never drafted for the same reasons that there were never any blacks in Mayberry and Gomer Pyle never went to war-even though we were embroiled in one at the time.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

04-09-2008, 08:16 AM	#2
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	I can just imagine Gomer Pyle, Jethro Bodine and Forrest Gump in Sgt. Carter's platoon. He would have begged for a transfer to ... anywhere else!

04-09-2008, 10:41 AM	#3
Maynard Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 02, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 72	Sgt. Carter would have gone over to the VC.

04-09-2008, 12:57 PM	#5
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	I'm reminded of what Phil Silvers said regarding his classic sitcom of the 1950s (You'll Never Get Rich, a.k.a. The Phil Silvers Show and still later under the syndicated title Sergeant Bilko). He told The New York Times: "The Pentagon loved the show, and enlistments trebled. These young guys thought that's what army life was really like. I feel guilty about that, about the waste. A show like Bilko could never go now [in 1972]. Things are too serious; there would not be a great deal of enlistment. We're in a war we shouldn't be in, and it's a little vicious. Calley and those black market guys and those guys on pot ... it's much more vicious now. Now it isn't funny." [Quoted in TV's Top Comedians, by David Dachs (1973)]

04-10-2008, 03:00 AM	#6
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,981	Apparently the Army never needed Jethro. He did enlist in the Jethro in the reserve episode, but was never called to active duty in the years to follow.

04-10-2008, 10:17 AM	#7
Maynard Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 02, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 72	Mr. Drysdale probably pulled a few strings with the draft board as well.

04-11-2008, 11:43 AM	#10
Maynard Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 02, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 72	Urban myth alert. There were blacks in Mayberry.

04-12-2008, 01:54 AM	#11
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	then how come they never showed any??? (at least in the black and white episodes)

04-12-2008, 10:46 AM	#12
Maynard Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 02, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 72	You see them in the background fairly regularly. One instance I can think of is "Citizen's Arrest" where a black woman is standing right behind Andy as he's trying to break up the Barney-Gomer argument. And also, Opie's football coach was black.

05-14-2008, 12:35 PM	#14
ethelmaepotter Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 03, 2005 Posts: 243	Quite simply, they didn't want to write the character of Jethro out of the show.