The Manicurist

I have to admit to too much maleness here. I'd forgotten what a gorgeous creature Barbara Eden was, especially in her younger days. She steals every scene she is in here. I kind of thought she would remain if she had appealed to the wives and girlfriends. Were there no beauty shops or other venues? This was a lot of fun.

This is the last episode in which Mayor Pike (Dick Elliott) appears. Mr. Elliott died on December 22, 1961, one month (to the day) before this episode aired. In my opinion, Mr. Elliott's contributions to the show were extremely valuable and I'm sure we would have seen many more appearances by the "Little Fat Mayor" had he not left us so suddenly. Any serious fan of the show will fondly remember his performances in episodes like "Mayberry Goes Hollywood", "The Beauty Contest", "A Plaque for Mayberry" and so many others. His appearance in "The Manicurist" was his 11th of the first 48 episodes. He was just one of many who made Mayberry a special place - even to this day.

In this memorable entry of TAGS, attractive young Ellen Brown (the beauteous Barbara Eden) arrives in Mayberry intending to set up as a manicurist in Floyd's Barber Shop. The menfolk of Mayberry don't quite know how to react to Miss Brown, being both bashful and fascinated at the same time; as for the womenfolk, they become highly suspicious and jealous. The usually sensible Andy ends up putting his foot in his mouth in front of Miss Brown and must then correct his faux pas, winning back her confidence.

We have some funny and perceptive observation of human (paricularly male) behavior in this episode, leading to some subtly risqué material as the men absentmindedly ogle Miss Brown in the barber shop. Andy, with his gallantry, exemplifies the real way to act toward a woman. A solid human story arc, as well as an affecting performance from Eden as a good-natured outsider who is simply looking for a "friendly town" in which to set up shop. Don't miss this one.

Barbara Eden to me was on of the most gorgeous women in show business. She was a fantastic comedian also. The Andy Griffith show ' the Manicurist' was awesome as another appearance she made on the I Love Lucy show. Any time there was a program on with Barbara Eden in it I would watch it. I would watch her in anything she did even if it was reruns. This program on the Andy Griffin show Barbara Eden shows up in Mayberry and gets off a bus. All the boys are in Floyds barber shop just yakking away. All of a sudden she is spotted. She gets a job in the barber shop but none of the men will get a manicure as it is not manly. Andy feels sorry for her so Andy gets a manicure. Then all the men are getting manicures on a daily basis. Well, the women of Mayberry will not put up with this as she ( Barbara Eden is much too beautiful) So the town women want her to live. Andy goes up to her to tell her what is happening and tells her that the LORD has been very good to her. That the town and the town women want her to leave town as she is single and much too pretty to be holding their men's hands while giving the manicure. Well the manicurist thinks Andy wants to marry her and she tells him that she would accept she is returning home and leaving Mayberry to marry her boyfriend. That is the reason she left in the first place. Happy ending for all. I wish her and all her endeavors the very, very best.

This episode will introduce many people to a young Barbara Eden. If there is any female with more absolute beauty and innocent kindness then please let us all know. Eden presents herself like the perfect female. And therein lies the trouble. This package (excuse me) is just too much. At planet earth's least likely venue for a manicurist she is able to supplant herself using the friendliest town mantra as a guise. Of course a bit of chaotic confusion ensues and it's classic in more than "small town" lack of sophistication. It's down to the battle of the sexes. And Eden is convincing in the fairer sex winning. Men, by nature perhaps, resists the simple act of a manicure until...until Barbara Eden appears. She could sell ice cubes to Eskimos as the saying goes. But wait, there's sure to be a flip-side as these things go. Just when she wins over the impossible audience of men the women of the town are appalled. As if just in time when Eden's character thinks Andy is on his knee inquiring that big question she has been won back by a suitor she was fleeing. Like wars when there is a vacuum there must be someone to fill the void and the ending is hilarious. A great episode that introduced many a TV viewer to a Jeanie of actress.