Rickles was one of the funniest comedians ever. Find his standup. Find his every appearance on Tonight Show when Carson was still the host.
The series tried to channel his humor but failed. When he sounds off on recruits, it's funny. But the plot's are the typical sitcom idiocy, dull and unoriginal. And none of the other actors can hold up against Rickles, not even be decent straight men.
The quality of TV, especially comedy, was so low back then pre cable and pre streaming that people were willing to sit though mediocrity for the gems that were Rickles's comedy. No one would sit through that today.
The series tried to channel his humor but failed. When he sounds off on recruits, it's funny. But the plot's are the typical sitcom idiocy, dull and unoriginal. And none of the other actors can hold up against Rickles, not even be decent straight men.
The quality of TV, especially comedy, was so low back then pre cable and pre streaming that people were willing to sit though mediocrity for the gems that were Rickles's comedy. No one would sit through that today.