Man in a Hurry

Richard Emhardt's (Malcolm Tucker) brilliant performance certainly shines. But each scene, and all the actors performances are all some of classic comedy's most memorable.

Favorite scenes- Norman Leavitt's (Wally) clogged fuel line impression, Barney's repeating nap, over to Thelma Lou's, watch a little tv, then his wonderfully offended walk, and facial expression leaving the porch. First time Gomer's "all the best to you and yours". Andys masterful laid back relaxed man playing off the stressed man in a hurry weaved a poignant story in Malcolm Tucker's mind.

There seemed to be some inconsistency as to where Barney was supposed to be. Left for a nap, then Thelma Lou's in a huff then there he is again on the porch near the end. Also, seemed odd a brand new car would get a clogged fuel line. Also enjoy seeing "The Real McCoys" set behind Gomer at the filling station.

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.

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.

Malcolm Tucker is a man in a hurry. He has the misfortune of having his car breakdown two miles out of Mayberry. He locates Andy as the town is getting out of church and he requests the location of a mechanic. But there's only one mechanic in town, Wally, and he simply does not work on Sunday. He diagnoses the problem from his front porch, but that doesn't mean he's leaving that front porch.

So Mr. Tucker ends up an unwilling victim of Mayberry Sunday hospitality. The Taylors offer to feed him - He's too worried. He wants to call some mechanic from out of town, but the town phone lines are tied up every Sunday for hours with two elderly women who can't get around anymore who are making small talk on the phone.

Such a situation is likely to either kill or cure this victim of the rat race even as it exists in 1960 North Carolina. As to what it does, watch and find out.

Note that Gomer is being described as someone who only pumps gas and does not understand automobiles at all. That characterization changes as he is considered an ace mechanic before his character leaves the show.

This episode is a timeless lesson about life and will always be applicable. The basic principles of human behavior and influences are clearly illustrated. What appears to be an uncaring businessman turns out to be, at the core, the same as the folks in Mayberry. He is reminded of an earlier time when he, too, made time for the important things in life. This is best illustrated by the man's perseverance toward peeling an apple all in one long piece. It seems that his success in accomplishing this task opens his eyes to the basic life lessons that Andy, Barney and Gomer live everyday. This episode will touch the pure human core of contentment with what you have rather than what you think you can achieve if you just keep pushing harder and harder without consideration for the people around you. The phrase that first comes to mind when I think of this episode is "Stop and smell the roses."