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George Lindsey: ''I just went completely nuts'' watching this episode of The Andy Griffith Show
Goober went a little goofy!
We love a freak-out!
Every once in a while, something happens that just demands a physical reaction. Even the most level-headed among us have to vent frustration somewhere. We've got to give care to expressing our emotions regularly in a healthy way, lest they erupt in some inappropriate way. But occasionally, there comes a situation in which we're totally justified in having an absolute meltdown.
George Lindsey, by all accounts a kind and gentle man, admitted to one big temper tantrum while watching The Andy Griffith Show. However, understanding the context gives us insight into how he may very well have been entitled to a proper outburst. While these kinds of frenzied reactions are typically unbefitting of a young actor, Lindsey was valid in his feelings in this case.
In his memoir, Goober in a Nutshell, George Lindsey wrote about visiting the Andy Griffith Show set before being cast. He hoped to be noticed by either the show's star or its producers. His determination paid off, as he caught the eye and ear of Andy Griffith, who let Lindsey read some lines for a new character on the beloved sitcom.
By that point, The Andy Griffith Show was a proven success. It was a ratings smash and a critical darling, as well. So, Lindsey was thrilled at the prospect of being brought on board. However, he soon discovered that a nightclub act stood in his way, as Andy Griffith and the show's producers saw Jim Nabors performing one night. While Lindsey may have been good for this new part, Nabors was perfect, and so the creatives cast Gomer Pyle accordingly.
“They brought Jim on as Gomer in an episode called “Man in a Hurry,” Lindsey wrote. “It was a small part, but his performance and the entire episode really worked.
“When I was sitting in my living room after watching that first episode featuring Gomer, I jumped up from my chair in an absolute rage and kicked the tube out of the television set while screaming, ‘That’s my part, that’s my part, that’s my part!’ I just went completely nuts. I was so upset about not getting that role. This was the perfect part for me.”
Luckily, Lindsey only expressed those feelings in private. He didn't burn any bridges, so when it came time to cast Gomer's cousin, Lindsey was at the top of the list of potential actors!
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6 Comments
I like George Lindsey but I have never understood how people fly into a rage like that
and destroy their own property, it's like mommy and daddy forgot to correct such
behavior with an 8 year old.
