The Clubmen

One of Andy's fishing buddies is a businessman from Raliegh. One day, after finishing up a day of fishing, this businessman invites Andy up to meet the membership committee of the Esquire Club, apparently a very prestigious businessman's club. Andy agrees, but says that when he goes to Raleigh he usually brings his deputy along, Barney. So they are both invited.

Barney, as Andy put it, "tries so hard to put his best foot forward he trips over both of them". Barney puts on airs while at the club and rubs the membership the wrong way. When Andy gets word that he has been accepted but Barney has not, he has a decision to make. Complications ensue.

Lodges and clubs were pretty popular, even into the 1970s. They've virtually disappeared as far as younger people are concerned, probably for several reasons. First, married women often did not work up into the 1970s, thus men did not need to share childcare duties. Now everyone works, sometimes multiple jobs, and men are much more involved fathers. Also, married couples often socialize together. If you are still an all male club, this is not going to be attractive to younger people.

This was a good episode, demonstrating Barney's willful pride and how good Andy was at dealing with Barney as he was.

An episode that mostly highlights Don Knotts. Barney shows his ego can not only be deflated, but we see here he can also have an extremely misguided high opinion of himself. The ups & downs are truly hilarious features that are used to get the true genius out of the Barney Fife character. There had to be club dues that if Andy & Barney joined would be too costly for them to pay.

A fishing friend of Andy's invites Barney and him to a meeting of an exclusive club. Barney gets all riled up, creating a persona that he thinks will appeal to these rich, impressive men. They immediately recognize his phoniness and the results are not good. Andy is forced to make a very difficult decision.