american situation comedy originally aired cbs september series spin andy pilot episode aired season finale fourth season parent series ran seasons total episodes distributed paramount began releasing series dvd final season released november hit placing lower tenth nielsen ratings ended run second highest rated series united_states enjoyed continued popularity dvd releases series created produced filmed set california originally set north_carolina stars naive good gas station attendant town north_carolina plays high short fused plays friend played recurring role rival history writers andy credited creating character character based incompetent gas station attendant met named cool writer actor andy cast play performing nightclub horn discovered originally intended appear episode proved popular year given spin produced pilot episode filmed andy aired finale andy fourth season 1960s return mundane comedy viewers wishes television programming cultural fantasy rural oriented comedies gained popularity dominated nielsen ratings like comedies time deep avoided political commentary offered viewers distraction social changes 1960s despite military themed airing peak vietnam war discussed war instead focused innocent simplicity frustration later concern compounded popularity rural comedies 1960s popular played carter ascribed popularity concentration main characters plots built respective personalities program remained ratings run season cbs moved quit desired reach ladder left air hosted variety jim hour showcasing singing rich voice included comedy sketches featured stars told leave felt exciting noted character portrayed sketches turn similarly years finished broadcast run film metal jacket released nickname given private played boot camp drill instructor wrath gunnery sergeant played unable turn idiot perceived incompetence production produced creator producer partnership produced writers writers wrote episodes primary director seasons took role fifth season directors included charge casting directed cinematography theme song composed composed themes shows andy dick van girl filmed camp andy filmed preferred use multiple camera setup comedy programs single camera setup shooting conducted outdoors book goes explained armed forces offer levels cooperation filmmakers marines felt good branch image given total cooperation meaning allowed unlimited access military equipment actors credited episode actually appear episode played left season star good morning world returned fifth season promoted corporal graduating non commissioned officer training played corporal debut second season left fourth guest appearances series reprising respective roles andy denver roles andy appeared reprise original roles played episodes andy played farmer episode price tomatoes played antagonists andy played rival staff seasons carried character fellow cbs series cameo appearance episode list episodes list episodes premise premise similar inspired movie time based mac novel like shows character driven main characters accessible engaging supporting characters eccentric pilot episode gas station attendant joins marines immediately drill instructor sergeant carter referred pilot episode rest series mistakenly addressed sergeant originally situated camp wilson north_carolina setting moved fictional camp henderson california fish water piece like contemporary featured rural characters normal settings like comedies 1960s avoided political commentary especially concerning vietnam war focused instead ensued breaking rules sticking foot mouth themes explored honesty strong family values supposedly inherent small town life according author basic message far simpler corporate suburban lessons compromise role following said merely oldest basic sophisticated sort sweetness toughest modern types author noted represented uniquely american large powerful man physically simple honest nature child animal noted like stories characters nature taken advantage end happiness innocence book watching watching america media communications scholar said illustrated class differences supposedly diminished military training appeared military hierarchy characters played north_carolina good innocent private constantly drill instructor eventually love trust world lead platoon created stereotype rural american according time wears expression mouth like stepping field cow walking disaster area promoted private class run jim played given honorary promotion lance corporal corporal marines played gunnery sergeant kansas drill instructor later platoon sergeant constantly annoyed mistakes audience demand family oriented programming eventually revealed softer carter father figure best friend stated character created cloth actor played ear carter greatly changed season played girlfriend miss seasons appeared episodes role eddie appearances billed private played friend platoon mate left fourth season star short lived good morning world returned final season corporal platoon played corporal serves carter conscience sticks annoyed mistakes stuart debuted second season left fourth season replaced corporal final season played girlfriend debuts season singer nightclub leaves job urging return home north_carolina marry later episode season returns california reveals called wedding end episode reveals wants boyfriend dismay carter duke loses job nightclub finds job record shop ratings media wrote novel based series titled paperback published pyramid released recorded official soundtrack released columbia_records label dvd releases cbs dvd distributed paramount released seasons dvd region episodes restored digitally remastered clearance issues episodes feature cast members singing edited remove performances march cbs dvd released complete series dvd region region released seasons dvd australia
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.