Maynard G. Krebs (the G. stood for Walter) 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 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 and 2000s 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.
Maynard G. Krebs became a well known figure in American popular culture, 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.[1] 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.[2]
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.
In 1999, TV Guide ranked Maynard G. Krebs number 22 on its '50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time' list.[3]