"F Troop" was a slapstick TV comedy set in the 19th century. The show revolved around two soldiers at an army post who connive with the local Indian tribe - and bamboozle their soft-hearted commander.

Ken Berry played Captain Parmenter, a nice but clumsy guy who'd sneezed during a battle in the Civil War, startling his horse into a charge that accidentally led to a military victory. The opening credits sang his story, culminating with his assignment at "Fort Courage" (the most harmless post in the west). Parmenter soon catches the eye of "Wrangler Jane," the marriage-minded manager of the local store. But he's got his hands full watching for schemes by two of his soldiers.

Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch played Sergeant O'Rourke and Corporal Agarn, who have an ongoing business relationship with the Hekawi Indians - selling their tomahawks as souvenirs to tourists! O'Rourke's shrewdness helped the fort when there was real danger, and made him the obvious leader of the pair. One running gag had him complimenting Agarn by saying "You're not as dum as everyone says you are." The camera would then cut to the opening of another scene later in the day, when Agarn would suddenly recognize the insult and reply "Who says I'm dum?"

They made a great comedy team, since the easy-going manner of the 6'4" Tucker offered a nice contrast to his excited and frantic sidekick. Ironically, in real life, Forrest Tucker himself had joined the U.S. cavalary as a younger teenager in the 1930s - by lying about his age! (And he also played the part of con artist Harold Hill in 2,000 performances of "The Music Man"...) Tucker's charisma made the show fun, with a likeable manner that contrasted his gruff voice, which suggested he'd be an especially tricky business partner.

But slapstick also formed a lot of the show's humor. Clumsy Captain Parmenter would regularly trip when entering his office, and when running gag involved the same stock footage of the fort's cannon mis-firing (causing a look-out to leap from the fort's collapsing tower - again and again!) The Hekawi Indians were sometimes pressed into service to stage fake Indian attacks on the fort - leading to the inevitable arrows-through-the-hat gag. The show used an artificial laugh track, and it only lasted for two seasons. But it then entered rerun heaven, attracting new fans for years to come who were attracted to its unpretentious humor.

Learn more about this author, Moe Zilla.
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