Legendary insult comic Don Rickles stars as the viciously vile U. S. Navy CPO (Chief Petty Officer) Otto Sharkey. His greatest weapon is his tongue, wielding a barrage of insults overseeing Company 144- an ethnically-diverse group of seamen recruits at a San Diego naval base. Behind his harsh demeanor, Sharkey genuinely cares for his men and often goes to great lengths to help them. The sitcom ran for 37 episodes over two seasons on NBC from 1976-78.
Reviewing the show after recently watching every episode of the series, my paramount thought is that America has presently become so sensitive that the comedic style of Don Rickles could never air right now. Each episode is packed with ethnic slurs and remarks that many would find offensive. Yet, the comical racist remarks are met with comical situations where he's shown he's wrong. If people can relearn to think for themselves, I think they would find a lot more enjoyment. Not to say that solves all problems, but to enjoy lightheartedly poking fun in a show that makes everyone laugh together and realize we're not as different as we're being told.
As for the show itself, I feel it most often was a Don Rickles free-for-all that they tried to wrap a plot around. In some episodes this was more obvious. There were offerings that blended the comedy and plot nicely, however, and some standouts for me, personally, are "Sunday in Tijuana", "Sharkey Flies Over the Cuckoos Nest", and "Natalie's Ultimatum".
Don Rickles' Sharkey is an oft-agitated leader with no filter, plenty of harsh insults, but underneath is a genuine care for his men. By contrast, his close friend and colleague Chief Robinson (Harrison Page) was a suave, level-headed problem solver. I think being a minority in that role was important to balance the ethnic jabs. The subordinate, beyond goofy Pruitt (Peter Isacksen) straddled a line between obnoxious and comical. The ethnically-diverse recruits really only offered a presence to be insulted and to give situations for Sharkey to act upon. The little used Captain Quilan (Elizabeth Allen) really only factored into the first episode of the series. I found her character rather weak and forgettable. By contrast, the gruff Captain Buckner (Richard X. Slattery) gave a feared source of conflict for Sharkey and changed the direction of the series somewhat from Season One's often weak plots built around insults.
Still, I found many episodes left the impression as not being as funny as it wants you to think it is, and lacking genuine rising action and plot depth. The plot conflicts that arise at times gradually lose focus as the episodes go along. Some episodes were definitely good, while others felt forced to get in Rickles' insults. Thicken your skin, sit back, and be treated to the naval academy of insult comedy!
