The Man from My Uncle

It's a common practice in most sitcoms through the decades to place the protagonist into situations for awkward comic effect. I love Lucy probably the premier example. At times it works well if there's a certain naïveté associated with the character. But when it morphs into an almost leadership role, it's cringing. (Not a sitcom but the Columbo series often did this. At times it was mildly amusing; but in a later episode where the Lieutenant leads a child's music class on an impromptu parade while he plays the tuba is uber awkward and ridiculous).

In this Van Dyke episode Rob is particularly annoying as he purposely wedges himself into the role of 'aide de camp' to Harry Bond. Even to the point of physically standing side by side with the g-man and adding criticism to his wife for cleaning the windows. And it gets worse with his little whispers to Bond "Your cover is holding". Then pressuring the agent to let him conduct the surveillance while the agent rests with a toothache. The accidental camera shot of Harry is funny but only by Bond's lament "Mr Petrie why did you do that ?" Why indeed.

In 1994, Chevy Chase starred in the film "Cops and Robbersons"...and it's pretty much a remake of this episode of "The Andy Griffith Show"...though I think Dick Van Dyke is a lot better than Chase in the lead.

A federal agent* arrives at the Petrie house and he has an odd request...they'd like to use Ritchie's room to do a stakeout on a neighbor! It seems the neighbor has a family member who is a wanted man...and they want to watch in case the malefactor shows up so they can arrest him.

Laura is a bit hesitant to give them permission, but Rob is excited, as he'd like to be a Junior G-Man and hang out with the agents. And, through much of the show, the bumbling Rob does just that.

This is a very enjoyable episode...and my advice is to watch this and skip the Chase film. It's shorter...and funnier.

When we were kids growing up, this was the kind of unpredictable stuff and fluff we just loved. Wish it went on longer.

Connection to the MAN FROM UNCLE, also I SPY. Gary Marshall (who wrote 18 episodes), worked briefly on I SPY and may have picked up a few ideas. More over, guest star Godfrey Cambridge (as Harry Bond), prior to this episode, appeared on I SPY too.

Cambridge portrays a government secret agent, using Rob and Laura's house as a stakeout to watch a very suspicious neighbor. Actually, the neighbor has a family member who is on the Most Wanted list. Say what? This is a GAS, what with Mr. Bond having to hide out in Richie's room -- in the dark. He also has a bad tooth(?) and Rob offers him some crunchy cookies? Ouuuuuch.

Watch for the classic gun swap scene, Dick Van Dyke's "what am I doing here..." expressions are tops. Steven Geray plays the elderly neighbor, Mr. Gerard, a nervous wreck, and rightly so. Geray is best known thrillers, like MASK OF DIMITRIOS, Alfred Hitchcock's SPELLBOUND and even, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.

Director Jerry Paris is to be congratulated for putting this one together. Comedian Godfrey Cambridge (who we all miss) at his best ever.

Final Season 5 (1966) Episode 27 remastered CBS dvd box set. Available on blu ray (entire series) with a beautiful color cover. Makes a memorable gift.