Lock and Load with R. Lee Ermey

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I consider R. Lee Ermey an American treasure, on par with John Wayne.
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Unlike most folks here, I don't care for R. Lee Ermey although he talks about cool stuff. However, unlike John Wayne, he is a veteran. John Wayne was nothing but an actor.

By mirror comparison to Ermey's screaming, I don't care for the gun whisperer either, the ex SEAL guy. In both cases, they seem to way over dramatize weapon capabilities until they discuss the next better item.

I have watched him since before he was a Gunny. I have trouble thinking of anybody with an honorary title as that title just like I don't consider Bill Cosby to be be a real doctor even though he played one on TV and has several honorary Ph.D.s. The "Gunny" never served as a gunny.
 
I have trouble thinking of anybody with an honorary title as that title just like I don't consider Bill Cosby to be be a real doctor even though he played one on TV and has several honorary Ph.D.s. The "Gunny" never served as a gunny.
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Well, I think that you're nit-picking on this specific issue. He did spend eleven years in the Corp, spent more than a year in-country in Vietnam, and rated a medical discharge at the rank of E-7. The fact that the Corp saw fit to issue him the (first ever for the Corp) post-retirement promotion to Gunnery Sergeant takes no luster off his military bona fides, IMO. In the eyes of the Corp, he earned the rank. Comparing that to a dude that plays a doctor on TV but has no other connection to the profession just ain't right.

The show is moderately entertaining, and shows weaponry that most of us would otherwise not get to see. Yes, it's entertainment but in a good ol' fashioned whoop-it-up style (as opposed to The Annoying Whispering Man's 'it's the bestest killing machine evar!' schtick)..

Thanks, DaninNM44, for stopping by. :)
 
"The "Gunny" never served as a gunny "

That may be true, but he has done more for the good public image of the Corp than any other gunny, or most generals for that matter. Although he is retired, in a way, he is still serving the Corp. And for that I will respect him as a real gunnery sergeant.

I am not a Marine BTW, never played one in a movie either. But I did serve in the Army as an artillery officer.
 
Let's keep our facts straight here!

Double Naught Spy--Bill Cosby IS a "real doctor!" His degree is EdD, not PhD, which means that he is a Doctor of Education, not a Doctor of Philosophy. Neither of the above is an MD, which means Medical Doctor, but holders of all of the above are properly addressed as "Doctor." Check it out if you wish: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Cosby

Now, likewise, R. Lee Ermey is properly addressed as Gunnery Sergeant, or "Gunny." He made Staff Sergeant (one notch below Gunnery Sergeant) while on active duty. The Marine Corps saw fit to honorarily bump him up a notch, after his retirement. Since it was official (done by the Corps) there is nothing wrong with addressing him as "Gunny" or his calling himself a Gunnery Sergeant. If he claimed it with no official action behind it there might be some cause for disputing his claim. Wikipedia has a nice article on Mr. Ermey, too.

And I think that we all know that John Wayne, aka Marion Michael Morrison, is not a duke. But nobody seems to object to his being called that.
 
protecting the armor

It lives in a metal building with an alarm and lots of locked doors! The start procedure is so complicated (about 15 steps) that I really do not htink there are many people, even knoweldgible ones, that could start it without help! Ammo is elsewhere than with the tank so if someone breaks in they can't fire the main gun - which theoretically is possbile without turning on the tank electrical or the engine for that matter. That has alwasy concerend me more than anything - I think it would blow the sheet metal off the side of the building and leave large hole whereever it hit...maybe a mile or more away.
Kool board!:evil:
BTW, if it ever comes to that, I can always take my friends to the grocery store and back while fending off the grasshoppers of the world.
 
I don't like his new show. When he's talking about guns or even shooting them, they are very general, they don't really go into specifics. I also see that the camera doesn't usually focus on the shooter, but rather the target.

I felt like he showed me a bunch of cools guns I want to know about but only told me a very brief and simple description of how it works. I do however think it's an appropriate level of information for most viewers.

I have researched basically all common military rifles, so I figure that's my real problem; I already know more than I'm going to find out on the television.
 
How does one get such a gig?
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Hosting a cable tv show that covers a particular niche interest?

1.) Have an outgoing personality and ability to speak clearly and concisely.
2.) Take some acting lessons and have a demeanor that is instantly recognizable (For example, think Navy SEAL guy on Future Weapons, R. Lee Ermy, Anthony Bourdain, Dennis Gage, Rachel Ray, etc.)
3.) Have some sort of understanding beyond just the general stuff for whatever topic the show deals with, or be willing to research it yourself.
4.) Contract with a talent agency who's job is to rep you to producers who might be interested in hiring you as the on-camera talent.
5.) Profit. But not a whole lot. Cable tv shows do decently well, but the pay isn't Hollywood-level like everyone thinks.


FWIW, some of the footage on Lock 'n' Load is fun to watch, but I don't think that the writing, production, and editing is nearly as good as on Mail Call.
 
Question for DaninNM44


Do you ever get requests for or have you ever rented out the Hellcat?

For movies or proms or such? :D
 
Smokey Joe said:
Double Naught Spy--Bill Cosby IS a "real doctor!" His degree is EdD, not PhD, which means that he is a Doctor of Education, not a Doctor of Philosophy. Neither of the above is an MD, which means Medical Doctor, but holders of all of the above are properly addressed as "Doctor." Check it out if you wish: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Cosby
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The Cos - never realized he was a Navy veteran - and while not a PhD, he was a Hospital Corpsman.

Come to think of that, now it makes sense the one bit he did about "then they show you the real movies, where the guys with the crosses on their helmets get shot first. Someone get me a brillo pad!"

In the eyes of the Corp, he earned the rank. Comparing that to a dude that plays a doctor on TV but has no other connection to the profession just ain't right.
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No, not medically trained, but he served a portion of his four years in the Navy as a corpsman at Bethesda Naval Hospital, and again, he has a Doctorate of Education, earned in 1976 from the University of Massachusetts.

Of special note - the Cos didn't blame guns for killing his son Ennis.
 
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Bill Cosby is a very good man and has a great message of self-reliance and personal responsibility.
 
This is my rifle, this is my gun; this is for fighting, this is for fun!

fullmetaljacket.jpg


I am a fan of the show. I need to see the pistol episode. Who gives a flip is he endorses Glock- if Glock wanted to pay me to rep their product, I would and I have never owned a Glock.
 
Renting M18 Hellcats and cannons and such

NC-Mike: Yep, have rented out varous pieces of the kit to movie houses and production companies. You may see my M8 armored car in the movie "Men Staring at Goats" (really weird title;- shot partially at the NM Military Institute in Roswell, NM). They used it as a prop - didn't need to run or anything - just delivdered it to the set, loaded back on the trailer two days later and drove it back to Albuquerque! My friend drove it down there and was fed really well and paid by the day (Union Extra Scale) while he babysat the M8!
Rates for rentals very greatly...appearance fees for armored vehciles can run to $1000-2000 a day plus expenses and insurance against damage. I don't have much experience with that subject but people in the know tell me that movie productions are notorious for doing dmage and then not paying to R&R.
Hellcat was paid an appearance fee for the Lock & Load episode but it was essentially all used up for the transportation, hotel, gas, wear & tear, food, etc. Transporting Hellcats via tractor trailer runs about $4 a mile OR MORE! They are not overweight but they are overwidth (108") and require permits to go through weigh stations. I have my gear listed with several equipment rental companies that search out owners with equipment the movie houses want for productions....NM has a good start on a movie industry - good locations, great weather, and big tax breaks! New sound stages just south of the airport and lots of wide-open locations!
Supposedly there will be a movie shot (full length) in SW next spring using Hellcat(s) PLURAL! and some German armor. Saints ande Soldiers was thier first movie - well done on a tright budgtet. New film is supposed to cover a tank destroyer battalion fighting in late winter in N. Europe against German tanks.....shooting is supposed to take about 6 weeks. I want to retire and just hang out in the woods shooting blanks at German tanks and driving the Hellcat around in the woods.....for money!:evil: I have lots of blank ammo I can load up. Should be a hoot! Several guys from Phoenix will accompany me to assist with driving shores, shooting and loading blanks. Will have to buy several new 55 gallon drums and have them filled with Aviation Gas for the Hellcat...at 2/3 mile per gallon fuel cost and pumping fuel into the two tanks wil be a chore. 175 gallon capacity....150 mile range or so. Engine holds 17 gallon of motor oil in dry sump configuration....495 HP, 975 cu in. radial with 9 cylinders. Produces 1100 ft-lb torque at 2400 RPM. Trans is a 3 speed hydramatic by GM.:):D
 
The Gunny lives in my town, he's the real deal and a nice guy. He can often be found in the local gun shops, he loves guns as much as we do. I was lucky to get his autograph with the words; "What's your major malfunction?" He is tops in my book.

Thanx, Russ
 
Compared to all the liberal pablum served up on network and cable TV, anything R. Lee Ermey does is VERY refreshing.
 
yea i like this show. it's cool how they use high speed cameras to let you see the bullet leave the muzzel. :what:

seems like he's going to run out of weapons to talk about though. he's already covered tanks, choppers, pistols, machine guns, armored vehicles, and they're already showing reruns.
 
I started watching about 2 months ago, so re-runs are fine with me. Hopefully he's working on a Metal Storm presentation, if that hasn't already been done. Like to watch an old Lincoln evaporate!
 
tjj said:
"The "Gunny" never served as a gunny "

That may be true, but he has done more for the good public image of the Corp than any other gunny, or most generals for that matter. Although he is retired, in a way, he is still serving the Corp. And for that I will respect him as a real gunnery sergeant.

I am not a Marine BTW, never played one in a movie either. But I did serve in the Army as an artillery officer.
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i think he actually was a gunnery sargent in the marines. or maybe some other rank of sargent.
 
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