The Incredible Act of Loyalty That Cost Jim Nabors His Show

When you hear the name Jim Nabors, it’s hard not to think about goofy Gomer Pyle, who was first seen on The Andy Griffith Show and later his own spinoff show, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. In both shows, Gomer wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he was honest, hardworking, and fiercely loyal. In real life, Jim exhibited the same traits — even when his loyalty to friend and costar Frank Sutton led to his TV show being cancelled.

However, before I get into all that, let’s talk about Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. It was a huge hit for the CBS network, running for five seasons in all. But by the beginning of the fifth season, Jim was getting the itch to do something a little different.

In addition to being an accomplished comedic actor, Jim Nabors was also an extremely talented singer, and he felt like the next thing to do was a musical variety show. As you might guess, the network executives weren’t all that pleased; in fact, they were frustrated that Jim would want to give up a program like Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., that was still doing very well in the ratings, for an untested, unproven musical variety show.

To that end, Jim enlisted the support of his pal and Gomer Pyle costar Frank Sutton, who said that he felt like he’d played Sarge long enough and he was excited to try something different with Jim. Yep, that’s right: Jim had promised him a recurring role on his new TV show. So, with Frank’s support, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. came to an end.

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A few months later, The Jim Nabors Hour premiered on CBS. Frank, whose strength was comedy, not music, provided support in the comedic sketches in between the musical numbers. To Jim and Frank, it seemed like a formula that just couldn’t fail, and for a while at least, they were right. Everyone was happy, especially the two friends, who got a chance to do more than they ever could have if they’d continued playing Gomer and Sarge.

However, over time, the executives at CBS became frustrated that the ratings for the show, while good, weren’t “Gomer Pyle good.” Because of that, before you could say “Shazam,” they started to request that Jim incorporate more music and less comedy — or to be even more specific, less Frank Sutton.

For whatever reason, there was a feeling that Frank was out of place on the show, and that bringing in more guest stars to not only sing and dance but perform in sketches with Jim would boost ratings.

As time went on, the executives became even more forceful, actually requesting that Frank be fired from the show. Jim, remembering the support that his friend had given him, politely declined their request. So, the network canceled the show, despite the fact that it still had solid ratings. The executives at CBS had had enough — not just of Jim Nabors and his fierce loyalty towards Frank, but any of the shows on their network that had ties to rural America.

Television historians called this moment in time the “rural purge.” In an effort to appear more sophisticated and hip, CBS axed many of their hit shows that involved rural or country themes: Mayberry R.F.D., Petticoat Junction, The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, and of course, The Jim Nabors Hour. If you’d like to learn more about this controversial and historic event, Woman’s World magazine recently interviewed TV Historian Sara K. Eskridge, who talked at length about CBS’s dramatic decision.

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On June 28th, 1974, Frank Sutton died of an apparent heart attack while preparing to go on stage in Shreveport, Louisiana at the Beverly Dinner Playhouse. Ever the family man, his wife Toby and his daughter Amanda were with him while he was rehearsing. Sadly, his son Joseph was away at college when the tragedy occurred.

Frank passed away while doing the thing that he loved most: acting. In his New York Times obituary, he is quoted as saying “The first time I walked out on stage I had this warm feeling, I knew right then I wanted to be an actor.”

It’s a fact: Frank had his vices—among them, smoking and nonstop coffee drinking. It seems those vices, along with the stress of making it in the entertainment world, finally caught up with him. From everything that I can tell, Frank was a good man, a loving husband and father, and a loyal friend. Rest in peace, Sarge. Rest in peace

The Saddest Scene Ever on ‘Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.’

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Classic Comedy Duos

March 2021

Chuckle at television & films funniest comic duos.

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