What, To You, Is Ken Berry's Signature Sitcom Series? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Adamantium · 10-22-2014, 10:50 AM

"F Troop" (1965-1967, 65 episodes) as Captain Wilton Parmenter
"Mayberry R.F.D." (1968-1971, 78 episodes) as Sam Jones
"Mama's Family" (1983-1984, 1986-1990, 130 episodes) as Vinton Harper

In "F Troop", Berry got to be one of three main stars (Tucker & Storch being the other two). Plus that show displayed Berry's physical humor but only lasted two seasons. In "Mayberry R.F.D." he got to be the star. However, he was the straight man and much of the humor came from the other characters or his subtle reactions to the other characters. "Mama's Family", lasted the longest of the three shows but Berry was a supporting player in a top notch cast. Though that series was an ensemble and he still had a chance to shine and is (I'm sure) a fan favorite character.

So which of these do you feel is Ken Berry's signature sitcom series? Which is he most famous for and which is he best in?

Adamantium · 10-22-2014, 10:55 AM

I chose "Mama's Family." Not only was he really good in that show but it seems to be the one of those three that's been in reruns the most and so newer audiences can get into the series.

All three shows are good. "F Troop" is one of my favorites and certainly a show for Ken to be proud of but I give the slight edge to "Mama's Family." As for "Mayberry R.F.D.", it feels like it's just a continuation of the color seasons to "The Andy Griffith Show" but without Andy Griffith (and Ron Howard) and to my knowledge doesn't get rerun very much at all.

Bonniegirl · 10-22-2014, 01:29 PM

I voted for Mama's family too. Glad it got most of the votes!

Marvo301 · 10-22-2014, 02:07 PM

I voted for F-Troop! I think we got to see more of his talents on F-Troop than on the other shows. In F-Troop he was one of the lead characters. On the other shows he was part of a larger ensemble cast (although he was technically the lead in Mayberry RFD).

Patty Duke · 10-22-2014, 02:37 PM

I love Mayberry R.F.D. and Mama's Family but I voted for Mama's Family because that show is just so darn funny.

MrCleveland · 10-22-2014, 03:35 PM

I said "F Troop". He started his career basically on this show.

Adamantium · 10-22-2014, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I voted for F-Troop! I think we got to see more of his talents on F-Troop than on the other shows. In F-Troop he was one of the lead characters. On the other shows he was part of a larger ensemble cast (although he was technically the lead in Mayberry RFD).

I love "F Troop" and admit for a moment I almost chose that show. As for "Mayberry R.F.D." as I mentioned earlier, he was the star of that show but because he played the straight man, he wasn't given a lot of the comedy. In "F Troop" and "Mama's Family" he got to be funny and show off his physical humor talents.

tlc38tlc38 · 10-22-2014, 04:59 PM

Mama's Family: my all-time favorite sitcom.

comedyfreak · 10-23-2014, 04:08 AM

I voted Mama's Family it's his longest airing series. I do like all three though.

Yong Fang · 10-23-2014, 04:59 AM

One thing people tend to overlook about Ken Berry was that he was an amazing dancer. Watch some You Tube videos sometime. He is just amazing to watch. He was as good or even better than Astaire and Kelly. He just gets lost in the shuffle. So was Buddy Ebsen (who was screwed out of his role as the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz because he got sick from the metallic paint.....but getting off the subject)

I have not seen the show in many years, but F Troop was funny as a kid in reruns. Slapstick, old school, 1960's silly comedy at its best.

Mayberry RFD was to me a bad continuation of the color Andy Griffith Show, with none of the characters that made the older Griffith show the classic it was. No offense to Jack Dodson, George Lindsey or the dude who played Emmett, but it just was not good.

Mama's Family was Ok, but it lacked the tension when Carol Burnett would be on, which was sort of the point of the show, Mama and Eunice getting into it. Berry played Vern who was more or less a weak willed loser guy who lived in the basement married to a floozy.

Ken Berry...BADASS dance man. Ho Hum sitcom actor.

DJM77 · 10-23-2014, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

Mama's Family was Ok, but it lacked the tension when Carol Burnett would be on, which was sort of the point of the show, Mama and Eunice getting into it. Berry played Vern who was more or less a weak willed loser guy who lived in the basement married to a floozy.

His name was Vinton.

Marvo301 · 10-23-2014, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

One thing people tend to overlook about Ken Berry was that he was an amazing dancer. Watch some You Tube videos sometime. He is just amazing to watch. He was as good or even better than Astaire and Kelly. He just gets lost in the shuffle. So was Buddy Ebsen (who was screwed out of his role as the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz because he got sick from the metallic paint.....but getting off the subject)

I have not seen the show in many years, but F Troop was funny as a kid in reruns. Slapstick, old school, 1960's silly comedy at its best.

Mayberry RFD was to me a bad continuation of the color Andy Griffith Show, with none of the characters that made the older Griffith show the classic it was. No offense to Jack Dodson, George Lindsey or the dude who played Emmett, but it just was not good.

Mama's Family was Ok, but it lacked the tension when Carol Burnett would be on, which was sort of the point of the show, Mama and Eunice getting into it. Berry played Vern who was more or less a weak willed loser guy who lived in the basement married to a floozy.

Ken Berry...BADASS dance man. Ho Hum sitcom actor.

You're right Ken is a great dancer. a skill he often put on display during his many guest appearances on "The Carol Burnett Show". He also did a dance routine in his guest appearance on "Small Wonder".

Adamantium · 10-23-2014, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

You're right Ken is a great dancer. a skill he often put on display during his many guest appearances on "The Carol Burnett Show". He also did a dance routine in his guest appearance on "Small Wonder".

There's also an episode of "The Lucy Show" in which he did a dance number.

Yong Fang · 10-26-2014, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

You're right Ken is a great dancer. a skill he often put on display during his many guest appearances on "The Carol Burnett Show". He also did a dance routine in his guest appearance on "Small Wonder".

I mentioned this before, and I saw this on YouTube and now I cannot find it....

Ken Berry was on Carol Burnett Show and he did some cheesy, variety show dance number (not that Berry was cheesy, the decade was). Anyhoo, he moved his whole body and slid down the stage by pivoting one of his feet. I saw this video several years ago, tried to do it in socks on a smooth wood floor. Fail.

I saw another thing he did back in the early black and white 1960's, on another show where he, wearing a tuxedo suit, was nearly doing gymnastics on the stage, with me wondering has anyone broken bones doing this? Pretty hardcore. Yup, Ken Berry and hardcore in the same sentence.

Bonniegirl · 10-26-2014, 06:56 PM

How about his one appearance on the Brady Bunch. It was supposed to be a pilot episode of a show called Kelly's kids, that never was picked up. He and his wife adopt 3 little boys, one of them was Bobby (Mike Lookinland's ) real life brother Todd.

I'm mentioning this because they showed this ep on the Brady Brunch on METV today.

10-22-2014, 10:50 AM	#1
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,840	What, To You, Is Ken Berry's Signature Sitcom Series? "F Troop" (1965-1967, 65 episodes) as Captain Wilton Parmenter "Mayberry R.F.D." (1968-1971, 78 episodes) as Sam Jones "Mama's Family" (1983-1984, 1986-1990, 130 episodes) as Vinton Harper In "F Troop", Berry got to be one of three main stars (Tucker & Storch being the other two). Plus that show displayed Berry's physical humor but only lasted two seasons. In "Mayberry R.F.D." he got to be the star. However, he was the straight man and much of the humor came from the other characters or his subtle reactions to the other characters. "Mama's Family", lasted the longest of the three shows but Berry was a supporting player in a top notch cast. Though that series was an ensemble and he still had a chance to shine and is (I'm sure) a fan favorite character. So which of these do you feel is Ken Berry's signature sitcom series? Which is he most famous for and which is he best in?

10-22-2014, 02:07 PM	#4
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,465	I voted for F-Troop! I think we got to see more of his talents on F-Troop than on the other shows. In F-Troop he was one of the lead characters. On the other shows he was part of a larger ensemble cast (although he was technically the lead in Mayberry RFD).
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

10-22-2014, 02:37 PM	#5
Patty Duke Good night, John Boy Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 09, 2013 Location: The Land of Milk and Honey Posts: 788	I love Mayberry R.F.D. and Mama's Family but I voted for Mama's Family because that show is just so darn funny.
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10-22-2014, 03:35 PM	#6
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,241	I said "F Troop". He started his career basically on this show.
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10-22-2014, 04:59 PM	#8
tlc38tlc38 Member Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Posts: 19,369	Mama's Family: my all-time favorite sitcom.
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View Poll Results: What Is Ken Berry's Signature Sitcom Series?
F Troop	10	50.00%
Mayberry R.F.D.	0	0%
Mama's Family	10	50.00%
Voters: 20. You may not vote on this poll

10-22-2014, 10:55 AM	#2
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,840	I chose "Mama's Family." Not only was he really good in that show but it seems to be the one of those three that's been in reruns the most and so newer audiences can get into the series. All three shows are good. "F Troop" is one of my favorites and certainly a show for Ken to be proud of but I give the slight edge to "Mama's Family." As for "Mayberry R.F.D.", it feels like it's just a continuation of the color seasons to "The Andy Griffith Show" but without Andy Griffith (and Ron Howard) and to my knowledge doesn't get rerun very much at all.

10-22-2014, 01:29 PM	#3
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 66,383	I voted for Mama's family too. Glad it got most of the votes!

10-23-2014, 04:08 AM	#9
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Star Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	I voted Mama's Family it's his longest airing series. I do like all three though.
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10-23-2014, 04:59 AM	#10
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	One thing people tend to overlook about Ken Berry was that he was an amazing dancer. Watch some You Tube videos sometime. He is just amazing to watch. He was as good or even better than Astaire and Kelly. He just gets lost in the shuffle. So was Buddy Ebsen (who was screwed out of his role as the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz because he got sick from the metallic paint.....but getting off the subject) I have not seen the show in many years, but F Troop was funny as a kid in reruns. Slapstick, old school, 1960's silly comedy at its best. Mayberry RFD was to me a bad continuation of the color Andy Griffith Show, with none of the characters that made the older Griffith show the classic it was. No offense to Jack Dodson, George Lindsey or the dude who played Emmett, but it just was not good. Mama's Family was Ok, but it lacked the tension when Carol Burnett would be on, which was sort of the point of the show, Mama and Eunice getting into it. Berry played Vern who was more or less a weak willed loser guy who lived in the basement married to a floozy. Ken Berry...BADASS dance man. Ho Hum sitcom actor.
	Last edited by Yong Fang; 10-23-2014 at 05:16 AM.

10-26-2014, 06:56 PM	#15
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 66,383	How about his one appearance on the Brady Bunch. It was supposed to be a pilot episode of a show called Kelly's kids, that never was picked up. He and his wife adopt 3 little boys, one of them was Bobby (Mike Lookinland's ) real life brother Todd. I'm mentioning this because they showed this ep on the Brady Brunch on METV today.