Wikia

"We Want Ellie!"

―Women of Mayberry

Ellie for Council

Original airdate	December 12, 1960
Cast	Andy Griffith as Sheriff Andy Taylor Don Knotts as Deputy Barney Fife Ron Howard as Opie Taylor Frances Bavier as Aunt Bee Taylor Elinor Donohue as Ellie Walker Hal Smith as Otis Campbell Dorothy Neumann as Rita Campbell Florence MacMichael as Hilda Mae Frank Ferguson as Sam Lindsey Mary Treen as Clara Lindsey
Directed by	Bob Sweeney
Written by	Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart

SummaryEdit

It's a battle of the sexes when Ellie Walker decides to become the very first woman to run for a seat on the Mayberry City Council - and the town's horrified menfolk decide to sabotage her new found political career.

PlotEdit

After learning that the Mayberry Town Council is comprised entirely of men and that no woman has been on the council or ever been considered, Ellie decides to throw her hat in the ring. This is much to the astonishment of every man in town, especially Andy. Despite their best efforts, Ellie gets on the ballot and has a decent chance of winning election. The men then come with a scheme to force their wives to give up their support of Ellie. The women quickly fire back with a plan of their own, which results in a full blown battle of the sexes. When it becomes clear that things are getting out of hand, Ellie withdraws her candidacy. When Opie boldly announces that the men showed the women who's really boss, Andy realizes the problems with his anti-female attitude, and sets out to make amends. Allthough the outcome of the election is never revealed in the episode, Ellie is part of the town council in later episodes.

NotesEdit

This episode was filmed 50 years ago (as of 2010), yet it remains an example of the fight for equality. This was rare on a television show in 1960.
Otis Campbell's wife, Rita, appears for the first time in this episode.
The election results are never said, but it appears Ellie won since she appears on the council on later episodes.
In this episode, Otis is jailed for assault - the only time for an offense other than drunkenness. During a fight with Rita, Otis tries to hit her with a leg of lamb, misses, and hits his mother-in-law in the mouth.
There is a continuty error from scene to scene in this episode. After Andy talks to the rally there is a shot of Barney is confused, but the scene then cuts to one of Barney cheering with Hilda Mae.