Floyd, the Gay Deceiver

The actress who plays Floyd's pen pal, Doris Dowling, had a key role in the 1945 Best Picture film "The Lost Weekend." She was a neighbor of Ray Milland, who won Best Actor that year. True, this has nothing to do with this TAGS episode, but I think it's interesting!

This and "Convicts At Large" are my two favorite Howard McNear performances on TAGS. The minute the whole game arrives at the Devereaux house it's pure comical magic. I especially like Andy the 36 year old student, paw, everybody panicking when Opie walks in. More brilliant casting of Madeline Grayson (Doris Dowling). Dynamic performance. One of TAGS best. Wonderful facial expressions when she thinks she's been caught. Then her little smirk as she's walking out the door. Truly one of TAGS best episodes.

While this is certainly a contrived episode and this sort of plot was not new when it debuted, this is a fun episode from start to finish. It turns out that Floyd has a pen pal, but instead of telling her about his humdrum life, he's created a wild tale about him being a wealthy man! So, when the woman suddenly announces she's coming to Mayberry to meet Floyd, he's hysterical--what will he do (other than, of course, tell the truth?!). Despite knowing better, Andy agrees to help Floyd. They 'borrow' a rich man's home while he's away and then Andy poses as Floyd's son! The ruse works very well and only at the very end do you learn a secret--a secret that makes you laugh.

As I said above, this isn't the most original idea but it did make me laugh--and that's important. Seeing Floyd pretending to be sophisticated and worldly was a hoot and there is a lot to like here.

Floyd is part of a lonelyhearts club. He has corresponded with a rich widow, but now she is coming to see him. He tries to engage Andy in a deception, where he is to be his lying self. That is a wealthy man. Andy goes through steps that are illegal and he betrays the trust of a man who lives in a big fancy house. Floyd just doesn't come off very well here (this is a tired old plot).

For someone who is supposed to be God Fearing and law Abiding, sometimes Andy disappoints me. This is another episode where Andy should have told Floyd to put on his boy boy panties. Andy should not have encouraged Floyd to lie and put on a false front. Andy and Aunt Bea are in on the lie. C'mon Andy. Would you want someone treating you or Opie that way?

Another time was when Aunt Bea lied about having the egg farmer as her boyfriend. The show made light of the fact Aunt Bea could have ruined this man's marriage by fibbing about the relationship.