Maynard G. Krebs
Encyclopedia
Maynard G. Krebs was the "beatnik
" sidekick
of the title character in the U.S.
television
sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
.
The Krebs character, portrayed by actor
Bob Denver
, began as a stereotypical
beatnik, with a goatee
, "hip" (slang
) usage, and a generally unkempt, bohemian
appearance. His abhorrence of conventional social forms was signified by comical reactions to the three words: "work", "marriage", and "police". For example, whenever the word "work" was mentioned, even in passing, he would yelp "Work?!" and jump with fear or even faint. He served as a foil to the well-groomed, well-dressed, straitlaced Dobie, and the contrast between the two friends provided much of the humor of the series.
Gradually, he became less of the stereotypical beatnik and more a free soul who did his own thing—including collecting tinfoil or petrified frogs, seeing the old Endicott Building get torn down and seeing the movie The Monster That Devoured Cleveland. In one episode, he invited Dobie to accompany him to a double-feature in which the film was shown with its sequel, Son of the Monster that Devoured Cleveland. Maynard might be described as the prototype
of the late-1960s hippie
. Many of the later episodes centered around Maynard, with Dobie more of an observer, but always as narrator. The series lasted four years (1959–1963), but its popularity extended into the 1990s as stations like Nick at Nite
and Me-TV re-broadcast it for new generations.
Maynard's middle name was Walter. Named for his aunt, the "G" was silent.
, especially among members of the mainstream culture who had never had any contact with actual "beats", and formed the basis for the beatnik character archetype. For example, in an episode of The Simpsons
, Homer Simpson
yelled, "Take that, Maynard G. Krebs!" as he imagined himself riding a hydrogen bomb after it was dropped from a plane to blow up beatniks in a scene that parodied Dr. Strangelove. Krebs was also referenced in an episode of Family Guy
, "Tales Of A Third Grade Nothing", as an insult by an out-of-touch Frank Sinatra, Jr.
towards a young DJ at a nightclub.
The series inspired the creator of Scooby Doo, whose four human characters were modeled from characters on the series, with Shaggy Rogers
being inspired by Maynard.
Krebs appeared in the novel Gilligan's Wake
, where Gilligan
believed himself to be Krebs.
Cult film director John Waters
credited the character of Maynard G. Krebs as an inspiration when he was a young man.
Krebs is mentioned in a song called Cobwebs
by the American singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III
. In the song, Krebs (along with Jack Kerouac
) is blamed for starting the vogue of using the word 'like' as a quotative.
ranked Maynard G. Krebs number 22 on its '50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time' list.
Beatnik
Beatnik was a media stereotype of the 1950s and early 1960s that displayed the more superficial aspects of the Beat Generation literary movement of the 1950s and violent film images, along with a cartoonish depiction of the real-life people and the spiritual quest in Jack Kerouac's autobiographical...
" sidekick
Sidekick
A sidekick is a close companion who is generally regarded as subordinate to the one he accompanies. Some well-known fictional sidekicks are Don Quixote's Sancho Panza, Sherlock Holmes' Doctor Watson, The Lone Ranger's Tonto, The Green Hornet's Kato and Batman's Robin.-Origins:The origin of the...
of the title character in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1959 to 1963. The series and some episode scripts were adapted from a 1951 collection of short stories of the same name, written by Max Shulman, that also inspired the 1953 film The Affairs of Dobie Gillis with Debbie...
.
The Krebs character, portrayed by actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Bob Denver
Bob Denver
Robert Osbourne "Bob" Denver was an American comedic actor known for his roles as Gilligan on the television series Gilligan's Island and the beatnik Maynard G. Krebs on the 1959–1963 TV series The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.-Early life:Denver was born in New Rochelle, New York, and raised in...
, began as a stereotypical
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
beatnik, with a goatee
Goatee
Goatee refers to a style of facial hair incorporating hair on a man’s chin. The exact nature of the style has varied according to time and culture.Traditionally, goatee refers solely to a beard formed by a tuft of hair on the chin...
, "hip" (slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
) usage, and a generally unkempt, bohemian
Bohemianism
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits...
appearance. His abhorrence of conventional social forms was signified by comical reactions to the three words: "work", "marriage", and "police". For example, whenever the word "work" was mentioned, even in passing, he would yelp "Work?!" and jump with fear or even faint. He served as a foil to the well-groomed, well-dressed, straitlaced Dobie, and the contrast between the two friends provided much of the humor of the series.
Gradually, he became less of the stereotypical beatnik and more a free soul who did his own thing—including collecting tinfoil or petrified frogs, seeing the old Endicott Building get torn down and seeing the movie The Monster That Devoured Cleveland. In one episode, he invited Dobie to accompany him to a double-feature in which the film was shown with its sequel, Son of the Monster that Devoured Cleveland. Maynard might be described as the prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
of the late-1960s hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
. Many of the later episodes centered around Maynard, with Dobie more of an observer, but always as narrator. The series lasted four years (1959–1963), but its popularity extended into the 1990s as stations like Nick at Nite
Nick at Nite
Nick at Nite is the nighttime Cable network that broadcasts over the channel space of Nickelodeon on Sundays from 8.p.m.-7.am., Monday through Fridays from 9 p.m.-7 a.m. and Saturdays from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. . Though it shares channel space with Nickelodeon, A.C. Nielsen Co...
and Me-TV re-broadcast it for new generations.
Maynard's middle name was Walter. Named for his aunt, the "G" was silent.
In popular culture
Maynard G. Krebs became a well known figure in American popular culturePopular culture
Popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the...
, especially among members of the mainstream culture who had never had any contact with actual "beats", and formed the basis for the beatnik character archetype. For example, in an episode of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, Homer Simpson
Homer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
yelled, "Take that, Maynard G. Krebs!" as he imagined himself riding a hydrogen bomb after it was dropped from a plane to blow up beatniks in a scene that parodied Dr. Strangelove. Krebs was also referenced in an episode of Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
, "Tales Of A Third Grade Nothing", as an insult by an out-of-touch Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Franklin Wayne Sinatra , professionally known as Frank Sinatra, Jr., is an American singer, songwriter and conductor....
towards a young DJ at a nightclub.
The series inspired the creator of Scooby Doo, whose four human characters were modeled from characters on the series, with Shaggy Rogers
Shaggy Rogers
Norville "Shaggy" Rogers is a fictional character from the American animated television series Scooby-Doo, about the adventures of four crime-solving teenagers and Shaggy's pet great dane, Scooby-Doo. Shaggy is a cowardly slacker more interested in eating than solving mysteries. He is the only...
being inspired by Maynard.
Krebs appeared in the novel Gilligan's Wake
Gilligan's Wake
Gilligan's Wake is a 2003 parallel novel loosely based on the 1960s CBS sitcom Gilligan's Island from the viewpoints of the seven major characters, written by Esquire film and television critic Tom Carson....
, where Gilligan
Gilligan (fictional character)
Gilligan is a fictional character played by Bob Denver on the 1960s TV show Gilligan's Island and its many sequels. It starred Bob Denver as "Gilligan", the bumbling, dimwitted, accident-prone crewman of the S.S. Minnow...
believed himself to be Krebs.
Cult film director John Waters
John Waters (filmmaker)
John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an American filmmaker, actor, stand-up comedian, writer, journalist, visual artist, and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films...
credited the character of Maynard G. Krebs as an inspiration when he was a young man.
Krebs is mentioned in a song called Cobwebs
Grown Man
Grown Man is the thirteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III, released on October 2, 1995 on Virgin Records. The release is generally considered less stark and somewhat more humorous that its predecessor, History....
by the American singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Snowden Wainwright III is a Grammy Award-winning American songwriter, folk singer, humorist, and actor. He is the father of musicians Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche, brother of Sloan Wainwright, and the former husband of the late folk singer Kate McGarrigle.To...
. In the song, Krebs (along with Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac
Jean-Louis "Jack" Lebris de Kerouac was an American novelist and poet. He is considered a literary iconoclast and, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, a pioneer of the Beat Generation. Kerouac is recognized for his spontaneous method of writing, covering topics such as Catholic...
) is blamed for starting the vogue of using the word 'like' as a quotative.
Reception
In 1999, TV GuideTV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
ranked Maynard G. Krebs number 22 on its '50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time' list.