Man in a Hurry

If you could pick only one episode to show someone who has never seen a single episode pf "The Andy Griffith Show", this would be a great example. The contrast between the hustling of displaced businessman Malcom Tucker and the easygoing Sunday afternoon antics of Mayberry's finest citizens demonstrates everything that's appealing about the series. It includes the great front porch scene with Barney lazily repeating his mundane afternoon itinerary to the point that it infuriates Tucker. We also learn about "adventure sleeping" and Gomer's cousin Goober (who would later replace him at the filling station). Then there are the two elderly sisters who tie up the phone line every Sunday talking to one another about their health issues. A high point from the classic era that usually ends up at the top of most viewers "Best of" lists.

We should all be thankful that Jim Nabors changed his Gomer voice after this because it just sounds so wrong. I know it's because we later heard the voice we came to know and love but this first version is quite strange to hear.

Ironically, Robert Emhardt appeared in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock presents entitled "Road Hog" in December of 1959. In it he played a man who was NOT in a hurry, in fact he was an obnoxious road hog and so caused the death of a injured man. Later in the episode, he was now a man in a hurry as the tables were turned on him and he was desperately trying to get to a hospital before he died of poisoning. It makes you wonder if he was chosen on purpose for this episode of Andy Griffith as a tongue in cheek tribute to that episode.

This episode works because the man in the title can't sit still. He has to be somewhere and nothing can deter him. It's Sunday, and nothing normally would be done. On Sunday, the whole town shuts down and people sit back and enjoy the silence. The guy needs his car repaired and the mechanic who could manage it doesn't work on Sunday. Great kindness and patience are shown to the man and he harumphs and complains over and over. While we don't meet Gomer for the first time, he is much more visible and critical to the plot. Eventually, silence takes a stance. Nice writing and a true philosophical episode.

Another quintessential episode that hits all the buttons that made the Andy Griffith show memorable.

A busy businessman driving on a Sunday to be in Charlotte for Monday morning meetings breaks down in Mayberry. He is desperate to get his car fixed immediately but runs into small town pacing and finds that difficult. Of course spending time waiting at Andy's home exposes him to small acts that stir memories in him from likely simpler times.

Several classic events: Barney analyzing his plans for the rest of the day, the older sisters tying up the party line telephone talking about their sore feet, the thrill of peeling an apple with the skin in one piece, Opie looking forward to adventure sleeping on an ironing board, and Goober being thrilled just to work on a car like the businessman's.

A fitting ending which I won't spoil, but well worth the wait.

A note of complaint about TV Land which is running a marathon on Memorial Day. They have cut the tag scenes off in every episode. In a few the loss of the tag are a big loss. Especially this one (and Mr. McBeevee). We get they need to sell x minutes of commercials and run a tight schedule but they surely have editors that can cut minutes from these episodes in more strategic moments.