CPO Sharkey

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!

Don Rickles - insult comic, hockey puck - Chief Petty Officer?

In "C.P.O. Sharkey", Rickles has the Navy blues as the C.P.O. of the title trying to whip a bunch of raw recruits into nautical shape. To say he fails isn't as true that it was fun to watch him try.

Every week, Sharkey had to deal with obtuse recruits (including Landesberg!), dim-witted seamen (Isacksen), stern captains (Allen and Slattery, respectively), and a semi-understanding chief (Page) who tried without success to keep Sharkey out of trouble.

In the brief time this show was on the air, Sharkey ran the gamut of working with babies, inflatable dolls, submarines and Mexican jails, all the time rolling off his lines with that old Rickles finesse we all know and love.

It's been ages since I saw this show but I remember it like yesterday. It was crazy, goofy and constantly hilarious! Hey, Nick at Nite or TV Land: are you listening? BRING BACK THIS SHOW!!

Ten stars. At ease, Don.

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.

I really enjoyed this program when it came out in 1976. It always vaguely reminded of me of Welcome Back Kotter. You have the joker with the heart of gold in Sharkey;and his crew his made-up a stereotypical misfits that we can all identify with. Sadly, as the show progressed, the scripts became more and predictable. We knew exactly how each character was going to react towards CPO Sharkey's tirade. One can't also fail to notice that Don Rickles was a bit to old for the part. He was pretty overweight to be allowed to stay in the military. Having said all of this, i am enjoying the reruns that I'm seeing on television now.

I have only seen Don Rickles in two parts where he really got to let go and be Don Rickles. Those were CPO Sharkey and when he was the supply Sergent in Kelly's Heroes. Both parts must have been written for him since I never saw him in any other parts where he got to let it rip. I saw him in more than one part where he was supposed to be "nice" and it was not the same. It was often in those parts that he was defanged. My father was retired Navy as a CPO and he really like any show about the navy and this and McHale's Navy were two of his favorites. Too bad CPO Sharkey only had one or two seasons because with the right writing, directing, etc it could have gone on longer. I think most of it was in studio with a studio audience and if it had been shot on location somewhere it would have lasted longer. Not every comedy has to be done in a studio with an audience. Good job Mr. Rickles and rest in peace.