I am new to this board, but I have always wondered where the creators came up with this name for Gomer's girlfriend. Does anyone know? My married name is similar, and I am curious. Thanks for any info.
shareIMHO, it was probably supposed to have a 'Southern' sound. Although I grew up in the South and never heard a name like that.
YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT ABOUT THE SOUTH, BUT YOU NEVER SEE SOUTHERNERS HEADING NORTH WHEN THEY RETIRE.
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I don't know about Poovie, but Lou Ann --
Louisinana
I have heard that it was because of Nabors alleged homosexuality. In British slang, if one is "poovy" they are gay. Thus, Gomer's girlfriend is a gay man. The sly humor of the writers.
shareWhere did you hear that? Got a link?
Lou Ann was definitely not a man.
<<<have heard that it was because of Nabors alleged homosexuality. In British slang, if one is "poovy" they are gay. Thus, Gomer's girlfriend is a gay man. The sly humor of the writers.
<<<Where did you hear that? Got a link?
I thought it was "poof", but maybe I misheard poov as poof.
I first heard it in the 1970's on the British tv show "Man About the House".
Although I have the dvds of the first two seasons and rewatched them a couple of times.
I think the other poster or his friend misheard poof as poov.
I think it's "poof" that means "gay" in British slang, not poov.
MrPie,
As you've so correctly stated, Jim's gayness is alleged, for not once that I know of has Jim outed himself. NOT that it would make a you know what to me, it's just that he's not done so. Also, and this is MOST important to this thread, back in the day, actors and actresses didn't out themselves, for to have done so would've meant the COMPLETE and TOTAL end of that career. Not saying that your friend is wrong about the word poovy, however, if the writers knew something which the rest of us didn't, they damn well kept it to themselves, yes indeed, out of love and respect for Jim.
Actually from my OWN knowledge, "poovy" DOES mean gay. I'm sure it was meant as an INSIDE joke, and they were not trying to OUT him. That would be inappropriate.
You are correct that back then actors did not out themselves. However, people within the industry often knew, and still know today, and simply keep it quiet. Just because the actor has not publicly outed himself does not mean that no one knows about it.
I remember back in the 60s hearing rumors that Jim Nabors was "married" to Rock Hudson. No joke. And this was while Gomer was on TV.
shareI remember that joke. They used to say that if Rock Hudson 'married' Gomer Pyle his name would be Rock Pyle. And I used to think "Rock Hudson is normal. Maybe Jim Nabors is poofy" or whatever the word is. Turns out that later on it came out that Rock Hudson was a homosexual, but it's never come out one way or another with Jim Nabors. Kind of ironic.
share<<<
Turns out that later on it came out that Rock Hudson was a homosexual, but it's never come out one way or another with Jim Nabors. Kind of ironic.
It did today. It was on the news on tv when I saw it. I was absolutely shocked as I did not know it and would never have guessed it.
More ridiculous internet rumors.....
shareJim Nabors finally came out as gay and married his long time partner.
G-o-l-l-y. Sur-prise, sur-prise, sur-prise. Not really.
All I can say is, I live in the South and I actually know some real people named Poovey, including my daughter's former first grade teacher.
shareHello:
You may have the answer to your question already, but just in case, here it is. Some of the writers on Gomer Pyle USMC were British, and they were having a little private joke on Jim Nabors when they named his girlfriend Louann Poovey. You see, in their country a Poovey was a male who dated transvestites, and a Poovey could also be a man dressed as a woman. You may have noticed that Louann's southern dialect and charecter was in some cases, overly feminine. In 2011, if someone where to point her out and say that she is a transvestite or shemale, one would possibly believe it. Louann almost acted like a gay male. Some of the writers, directors and a few Producers thought that Jim Nabors was gay, so they wrote the character of Louaan Poovey to be overly feminine, delicate. They felt that she had to be more feminine and easy going, to counteract Gomers laid back character. Gomer Pyle was depicted as so sweet in his nature, his girlfriend would have had to be kinder and gentler. So, a couple of writers chose the name Poovey, and none of the cast ever got the joke. Google the term Poovey, sometimes spelled Poovie, Poovee. Peace
Malik Jubal [email protected]
Unless you can document your information or provide some link it constitutes hearsay or worse. A "poove" is a male homosexual (from a British word) but to suggest the writers came up with her name from this is silly.
shareTruman-11 mentioned people in the south actually having the name Poovey, so it was probably just a name they picked and changed the spelling.
shareA "poofter" or "poof" is English slang for an effeminate or homosexual man.
That's a great name. Ms. Poovie.
share