Why Couldn't Ken Berry Ever Really Make It As A TV Star??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 08-30-2010, 12:50 AM

That is not to say he didn't have success. Most actors would kill to have his resume, but Ken Berry never really hit it BIG! Despite several promising projects, he never really had that true hit series. Thoughts?

TV Knowledge Fan · 08-30-2010, 01:19 AM

...known as "timing". Consider Ken's first series- he was cast as the bellboy of "Bartley House" in the final season of "THE ANN SOTHERN SHOW" (1960-'61); he could have stayed as a supporting player for at least two more seasons, but General Foods [the sponsor] and CBS [the network that carried it] cancelled it in the spring of 1961. Then, he got his "big break" on "F TROOP" in 1965....that could have lasted at least FIVE years! But Warner Bros. pulled the show out from under him after two years, because they decided it was "too expensive" to continue. He got another chance on 'MAYBERRY RFD" the following season...but that ended when CBS weeded out its slate of "rural comedies" in 1971. He starred in a 1972 ABC summer replacement variety series, "THE KEN BERRY 'WOW' SHOW" (from the producers of "THE SONNY & CHER COMEDY HOUR")..,but the network decided not to renew it for the coming season. FINALLY, he got a co-starring role in "MAMA'S FAMILY" in the '80s...but instead of being "screwed" by NBC when they cancelled it after a season and a half- lo and behold, it became a first-run syndicated series for several years.....what does it all prove? "Timing is everything".

treky · 08-31-2010, 12:25 AM

Oh, so THAT'S why "F-TROOP" was cannceled. I've always wondered why. Shame it wasn't renewed; I could see it easily lasting for at least 5 seasons.

TV Guy · 10-08-2017, 07:14 PM

Warner made a HUGE mistake with F Troop. If they had done a couple of additional seasons in color, that show would have had a syndication run similar to Hogan's Heroes or I Dream of Jeannie. They missed out on tens of millions of dollars in pure profit, at least.

Fontaine · 10-08-2017, 07:50 PM

Ken did kind of luck out with F Troop. Tucker and Storch were the show's stars, but Berry was the standout.

PhoenixAcres · 10-08-2017, 08:23 PM

Ken Berry did alright if you think about it. Starring roles on three (reasonably) successful TV series is not a bad record at all.

F Troop really deserved more seasons. It was a funny show and was just fun to watch.

Mayberry'sBadBoy · 10-10-2017, 03:03 PM

I'd be a bit reluctant to consider Mayberry R.F.D one of Ken's successes given how obvious it was that he was out of his element as Andy's replacement. It's worth nothing that the third season's ratings (The one Andy didn't guest star in) fell like the proverbial elevator with a broken cable.

Willbo · 10-10-2017, 05:54 PM

I believe it was still #15. Not bad at all.

Samme · 10-16-2017, 09:46 PM

He was a good supporting player but wasn't strong enough to be the lead.

stevea · 10-19-2017, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mayberry'sBadBoy

I'd be a bit reluctant to consider Mayberry R.F.D one of Ken's successes given how obvious it was that he was out of his element as Andy's replacement. It's worth nothing that the third season's ratings (The one Andy didn't guest star in) fell like the proverbial elevator with a broken cable.

I agree, the casting didn't make much sense. But, top billing in a three-season show (MRFD) and a co-starring role in Mama's Family (where I think he really excelled) are nothing to ignore. Most character actors don't achieve that.

TV Guy · 11-01-2017, 08:44 PM

Agreed, and don’t forget the Ken Berry “WOW” Show.

Samme · 11-02-2017, 03:38 PM

He had a good career. His variety show was a dud and he did much better guesting on the Burnett show. She was a better lead. Forrest Tucker was really the star of F Troop, not Ken. Mama's Family was the best fit for Ken and he was excellent. It's a funny performance. He was interesting in that he could be natural in one role, do broad comedy in another, and do physical comedy in F Troop. He reminds me of Andy Griffith in doing different types of roles well. But Andy had a stronger presence and could carry a show. Ken couldn't do that as well, but he was well liked and hired for many roles for a long time. It was always good to see him.

Babalu · 11-02-2017, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fontaine

Ken did kind of luck out with F Troop. Tucker and Storch were the show's stars, but Berry was the standout.

No, Wrangler Jane was the standout.

ILuvCarolBurnett · 11-12-2017, 12:26 PM

There was nothing exciting or interesting about Berry. The only reason the guy worked is that Lucille Ball basically discovered him and Carol Burnett took a liking to him. In Hollywood, it isn't what you know but who you know....

D-Dey · 12-09-2018, 09:29 PM

I was always under the impression that everybody thought of him as too much of a wholesome goody-two-shoes from a bygone era.

08-30-2010, 12:50 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Why Couldn't Ken Berry Ever Really Make It As A TV Star??? That is not to say he didn't have success. Most actors would kill to have his resume, but Ken Berry never really hit it BIG! Despite several promising projects, he never really had that true hit series. Thoughts? Attached Images
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

08-30-2010, 01:19 AM	#2
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Probably because of an unfortunate happenstance in the business... ...known as "timing". Consider Ken's first series- he was cast as the bellboy of "Bartley House" in the final season of "THE ANN SOTHERN SHOW" (1960-'61); he could have stayed as a supporting player for at least two more seasons, but General Foods [the sponsor] and CBS [the network that carried it] cancelled it in the spring of 1961. Then, he got his "big break" on "F TROOP" in 1965....that could have lasted at least FIVE years! But Warner Bros. pulled the show out from under him after two years, because they decided it was "too expensive" to continue. He got another chance on 'MAYBERRY RFD" the following season...but that ended when CBS weeded out its slate of "rural comedies" in 1971. He starred in a 1972 ABC summer replacement variety series, "THE KEN BERRY 'WOW' SHOW" (from the producers of "THE SONNY & CHER COMEDY HOUR")..,but the network decided not to renew it for the coming season. FINALLY, he got a co-starring role in "MAMA'S FAMILY" in the '80s...but instead of being "screwed" by NBC when they cancelled it after a season and a half- lo and behold, it became a first-run syndicated series for several years.....what does it all prove? "Timing is everything".

08-31-2010, 12:25 AM	#3
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	Oh, so THAT'S why "F-TROOP" was cannceled. I've always wondered why. Shame it wasn't renewed; I could see it easily lasting for at least 5 seasons.
	__________________ 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."

10-08-2017, 07:14 PM	#4
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Warner made a HUGE mistake with F Troop. If they had done a couple of additional seasons in color, that show would have had a syndication run similar to Hogan's Heroes or I Dream of Jeannie. They missed out on tens of millions of dollars in pure profit, at least.

10-08-2017, 07:50 PM	#5
Fontaine Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 16, 2013 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 160	Ken did kind of luck out with F Troop. Tucker and Storch were the show's stars, but Berry was the standout.

10-08-2017, 08:23 PM	#6
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,824	Ken Berry did alright if you think about it. Starring roles on three (reasonably) successful TV series is not a bad record at all. F Troop really deserved more seasons. It was a funny show and was just fun to watch.

10-10-2017, 03:03 PM	#7
Mayberry'sBadBoy Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 27, 2014 Location: Shriversport, Ohio Posts: 188	I'd be a bit reluctant to consider Mayberry R.F.D one of Ken's successes given how obvious it was that he was out of his element as Andy's replacement. It's worth nothing that the third season's ratings (The one Andy didn't guest star in) fell like the proverbial elevator with a broken cable.

10-10-2017, 05:54 PM	#8
Willbo Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2012 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 859	I believe it was still #15. Not bad at all.

10-16-2017, 09:46 PM	#9
Samme Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 676	He was a good supporting player but wasn't strong enough to be the lead.

11-01-2017, 08:44 PM	#11
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Agreed, and don’t forget the Ken Berry “WOW” Show.

11-02-2017, 03:38 PM	#12
Samme Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 676	He had a good career. His variety show was a dud and he did much better guesting on the Burnett show. She was a better lead. Forrest Tucker was really the star of F Troop, not Ken. Mama's Family was the best fit for Ken and he was excellent. It's a funny performance. He was interesting in that he could be natural in one role, do broad comedy in another, and do physical comedy in F Troop. He reminds me of Andy Griffith in doing different types of roles well. But Andy had a stronger presence and could carry a show. Ken couldn't do that as well, but he was well liked and hired for many roles for a long time. It was always good to see him.

11-12-2017, 12:26 PM	#14
ILuvCarolBurnett Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 20, 2014 Location: Beverly Hills CA Posts: 312	There was nothing exciting or interesting about Berry. The only reason the guy worked is that Lucille Ball basically discovered him and Carol Burnett took a liking to him. In Hollywood, it isn't what you know but who you know....

12-09-2018, 09:29 PM	#15
D-Dey Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 11, 2000 Location: Long Island, New York, USA Posts: 5,510	I was always under the impression that everybody thought of him as too much of a wholesome goody-two-shoes from a bygone era.
	__________________ Funny song parodies here: http://www.amiright.com/parody/60s/thebeatles11.shtml http://www.amiright.com/parody/2000s...nstoner0.shtml http://www.amiright.com/parody/2000s/weezer56.shtml http://www.amiright.com/parody/2000s/thedonnas4.shtml Petition the United States Postal Service for a stamp honoring Minoru Yamasaki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoru_Yamasaki http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/lea...-committee.htm