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Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C is a half hour long situation comedy that aired on CBS and premiered on September 25, 1964. The series was a spin-off of The Andy Griffith Show, and the pilot episode was aired as the season finale of the fourth season of its parent series on May 18, 1964. Cast included: Jim Nabors, Frank Sutton, Ronnie Shell, William Christopher Roy Stuart, Ted Bessell ,Barbara Stuart and Elizabeth MacRae. Gomer( a gas-station attendant from Mayberry, joins the Marines. Gomer's naivete immediately exasperates his drill instructor, Gunnery Sergeant Carter . Originally situated in Camp Wilson in North Carolina, the setting was moved to the fictional Camp Henderson in California. Like other comedies of the 1960s, the show avoided political commentary (especially concerning the Vietnam War) and focused instead on the predicaments that ensued from Gomer's unintentional breaking of the rules or sticking his foot in his mouth. Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. was a hit, never placing lower than tenth in the Nielsen ratings, and ended its run as the second-highest-rated series in the United States. It was Nabors decision to end the series after five seasons, wanting to do a variety show where he could do comedy and sing. After 150 episodes the final first run episode aired on May 2, 1969 .