Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.: The Complete First Season

Jim Nabors earned his stripes as Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show and was eventually promoted to his own spin-off series. Surprise, surprise, surprise (as the unabashedly enthusiastic Gomer might say): during its debut season, Gomer Pyle marched right past Mr. Griffith in the ratings to rank as television's number two show. We salute Frank Sutton as Sgt. Vince "I Can't Hear You" Carter, who is charged with transforming "good old happy Private Pyle" into a Marine. Nothing he does to make Gomer fear or hate him can wipe that goofy grin off Gomer's face. And nothing—not an obstacle course, a barracks bully, a wilderness survival test, or even being set up to kiss the local bar's dreaded "Dragon Lady"—makes Gomer lose his indefatigable spirit, can-do attitude, and boundless optimism. This five-disc set compiling all 30 episodes from the 1964-65 first season boasts some commanding extras, including new audio introductions for each episode by Nabors, the series' pilot episode as broadcast on The Andy Griffith Show, select commentaries by Nabors and costar Ronnie "Duke" Schell, a clip from The Lucy Show's "Lucy Gets Caught in the Draft" episode featuring Gomer, a sketch from The Jim Nabors Hour with Sutton, and an interview from The David Frost Show that captures the essence of Nabors' endearing “aw-shucks” personality. Recommended. (D. Liebenson)