This is a great Andy Griffith Show episode because it has, of course, a clever storyline and it elaborates on Gomer Pyle's character, who is hilariously played by Jim Nabors. Wally, who is played this time by Trevor Bardette instead of the regular Norman Leavitt, has had enough of Gomer's "innsufficiency on the job", and fires him. Gomer goes to Andy to ask to stay in one of the jail cells. Andy, being the good person, that he is, helps him out even more by letting him stay with Opie and Aunt Bea. What ensues is mayhem, and, not to give away the comedy of the episode, The Taylors will remember this house guest for a long time.
4 Reviews
I Wouldn't Be Able to Stand It
Hitchcoc9 December 2019
The character of Gomer Pyle is one of the most creative in television history. Jim Nabors made himself a franchise and later had his own sitcom. Here he is the intrepid worker at Wally's garage. Now things have changed because in an earlier episode he said he couldn't do anything other than pump gas. Here his gregarious behavior gets him fired and he lands on Andy's doorstep.
"When the toggle switch is in the on position she'll run on you".
vitoscotti6 May 2022
Terrific Gomer episode. He's in his own world oblivious to everything. That, and being a complete idiot make for great comedy. This episode was so good I didn't even miss Don Knotts. Gomer doesn't even realize how annoying he can be. We get a new Wally (Trevor Bardette) who fills in capably with a more sterner approach. Previously braindead Gomer had no car repair knowledge, not knowing a carburetor doesn't go on the outside of a car. Now magically he's a master mechanic. Very good epilogue with more Gomer being a pest.
Gomer Pyle ... in a world of his own
mloessel13 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
One of the charms of the Andy Griffith Show is a character like Gomer Pyle. The writers got very creative when they wrote this character to life. He's got a unique charm and seems to exist in a world of his own. He can spin a story and has some skill as a small town mechanic. You can't help but not like him because he's honest. He's all about doing good. Shazam!
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