I’m Gumby, Damn It!
NBC
“Gumby” follows the adventures of the titular green clayboy exploring different lands and times throughout history. Joined by his sidekick and best friend Pokey, the talking orange pony, Gumby and Pokey’s adventures frequently put them at odds with the G & J Blockheads, antagonistic red humanoids with, you guessed it, block heads. Gumby’s other friends include Prickle, a yellow fire breathing dinosaur who dresses like Sherlock Holmes, Goo, a flying blue mermaid who spits blue goo balls and can shape shift into any object, Nopey, Gumby’s dog who can only say “nope” like he’s a walking promo for Jordan Peele’s new movie, his sister Minga, a mastodon friend named Denali, and a chicken friend named Tilly.
Without exaggeration, “Gumby” is one of the weirdest shows I’ve ever seen, and yet I love every second of it. My introduction to “Gumby” actually came from watching old episodes of “Saturday Night Live” and not understanding why my dad was cry-laughing while watching Eddie Murphy, dressed like the titular character, scream out “I’m Gumby, damn it!” He clocked my lack of laughter and immediately bought a VHS tape of “Gumby” episodes to educate me. I’m so glad he did, because “Gumby” kicks absurd amounts of ass. He’s been parodied a million times, and thanks to shows like “Robot Chicken,” younger generations are at least somewhat familiar with the character.
By BJ Colangelo/Feb. 8, 2022 4:01 pm EST
I’m Gumby, Damn It!
NBC
“Gumby” follows the adventures of the titular green clayboy exploring different lands and times throughout history. Joined by his sidekick and best friend Pokey, the talking orange pony, Gumby and Pokey’s adventures frequently put them at odds with the G & J Blockheads, antagonistic red humanoids with, you guessed it, block heads. Gumby’s other friends include Prickle, a yellow fire breathing dinosaur who dresses like Sherlock Holmes, Goo, a flying blue mermaid who spits blue goo balls and can shape shift into any object, Nopey, Gumby’s dog who can only say “nope” like he’s a walking promo for Jordan Peele’s new movie, his sister Minga, a mastodon friend named Denali, and a chicken friend named Tilly.
Without exaggeration, “Gumby” is one of the weirdest shows I’ve ever seen, and yet I love every second of it. My introduction to “Gumby” actually came from watching old episodes of “Saturday Night Live” and not understanding why my dad was cry-laughing while watching Eddie Murphy, dressed like the titular character, scream out “I’m Gumby, damn it!” He clocked my lack of laughter and immediately bought a VHS tape of “Gumby” episodes to educate me. I’m so glad he did, because “Gumby” kicks absurd amounts of ass. He’s been parodied a million times, and thanks to shows like “Robot Chicken,” younger generations are at least somewhat familiar with the character.
Without exaggeration, “Gumby” is one of the weirdest shows I’ve ever seen, and yet I love every second of it. My introduction to “Gumby” actually came from watching old episodes of “Saturday Night Live” and not understanding why my dad was cry-laughing while watching Eddie Murphy, dressed like the titular character, scream out “I’m Gumby, damn it!” He clocked my lack of laughter and immediately bought a VHS tape of “Gumby” episodes to educate me. I’m so glad he did, because “Gumby” kicks absurd amounts of ass. He’s been parodied a million times, and thanks to shows like “Robot Chicken,” younger generations are at least somewhat familiar with the character.
Into the Gumbyverse
Personally, I am lighting candles, crossing fingers, and praying for a Blockheads origin story based on the 2017 comics (why do I know this?!) that reveal the Blockheads are evil and vengeful because they’re oppressed by the clay people for having square heads and are sick and tired of being treated like second-class clay citizens. Until the comic revival, The Blockheads were believed to just be a bunch of non-speaking, physically pantomiming a-holes, and they deserve their whole story be told! I also wouldn’t be opposed to a musical show à la “The Monkees” centered on Gumby’s band, “The Clayboys,” because the world needs more Fatbuckle the drummer in our lives.
