User Reviews

Don't understand why everyone has to dump all over the return of a great character. Malcolm was one of my favorites in the first appearance and loved all that typically British slang like all dressed up like a dog's dinner, a proper Charlie and a regular Bobby dazzler. When Malcolm returns to Mayberry this time to give Aunt Bee some time to herself you know it's going to be a gas.

Watching Malcolm entertain us with all those hilarious maneuvers and gestures like picking up his pants at the knees and skipping as well as 'You what' when asking where to find the soup ladle is most entertaining. Anyone else doing these moves would be cringeworthy but not Bernard Fox. Of course he could have explained to Andy it was time he was on his way and let Miss Bee take over but we wouldn't have that memorable spoof serving dinner. Opie was noticeably missing so as to have him not see Malcolm but he knows all about a snootful.

Aunt Bee shows a different side to her character playing her irritated and cross. I tend to think this could be the real Frances Bavier acting when something displeased her like bad language on the set. At times she could be a piece of work. Apparently she never talked to Knotts except when working.

Anyway I love Malcolm Merriweather and glad he returned for another laugh fest. You can keep the fun girls, Goober and Helen Crump but love the Darlings and Lydia Crosswaite.

Bernard Fox's second appearance on The Andy Griffith Show is a writer's redo of his first appearance basically. Both episodes start off with a bicycling traffic accident (or near) which is his fault. Ends with him leaving that he feels he's worn out his welcome.

All of Bernard Fox's three Andy Griffith Show appearances are really entertaining. This episode has a classic scene though. He fakes being drunk nipping at the cooking cherry to put lady of leisure Aunt Bea back in her top dog spot. Absolutely hysterical few minutes scene with Malcolm being supposedly drunk.

As a kid watching this episode there were many memorable parts to it other than the Malcolm being drunk classic scene.

Barney delivering the classic line " Nothing I hate worse is a wino on a crying jag". Andy and Opie praising Malcolm's many attributes but Opie saying "Aunt Bee hugs better though." Seeing the perils of alcohol abuse in a non PC manner you wouldn't see today. The episode really touched on the value of hard work and it's many positive rewards.

The episode is a showcase for the comedic brilliant Bernard Fox. He portrayed three legendary 60s sitcom characters. Malcolm Merriweather, Doctor Bombay on Bewitched, and Colonel Crittenden on Hogan's Heroes.

A truly classic 10* episode even though it borrows from Fox's first appearance.

*** UPDATE MAY, 21 2022*** Watched it again 4 years later. Thought I might lower my 10* rating up against all the classic season 4 episodes. 10* still holds up. I believe the only time we ever see Aunt Bee with her hair down. A very daffy script though like most sitcoms. MM's stay was only temporary. Why couldn't Aunt Bee just enjoy her vacation? Take day tips, visit friends? Also, why couldn't MM just say he's moving on. Best laughs are when Aunt Bee is tired of the situation all through to the end.

I don't know why the writers so often thought they had to resolve things with characters lying to get out of situations. Malcolm could've simply gone to Andy to say he was concerned about Bea or simply to say it was time to move on so he could explore more of America. Instead, he pretended to be drunk so he could get fired. It just didn't make any sense. And as another reviewer noted, the show has told this story before anyway.

Love me some Andy Griffith Show, but seriously, this one isn't the best episode by far. Malcolm Merriweather didn't have to pretend to be drunk to solve the problem; he could just have left. What kind of example was he setting for Opie the way he resolved the issue?

In addition, it is perfectly understandable why Aunt Bea doesn't take kindly to all this. Andy hires Malcolm without her input, and Malcolm just takes things over instead of discussing a division of duties with her first.