Summary[]
Ernest T. Bass makes his intentions known to Charlene Darling.
Plot[]
Andy and Barney visit The Darlings to rid them of Ernest T. Bass, who has his mind set on marrying Briscoe's daughter Charlene. Andy, as Justice of the Peace, already married Charlene to Dud Wash, but as Andy is not a preacher, Bass doesn't believe it counts and comes courting her all hours of the night and day. He continues to be a bother after Andy and Barney arrive, and between his antics and the Darling boys' snoring, the lawmen find it impossible to sleep. The next day, the circuit preacher is due to come by, so Charlene and Dud prepare for a proper 'preacher wedding' to get Bass to stop. Charlene appears in her wedding gown, which Mr. Darling says makes her look as pretty as her "Maw". Bass throws a rock through the window, with a note suggesting he plans to kidnap Charlene before the wedding. Andy hatches a plan; Barney wears the wedding dress, with the veil masking his face, during the wedding ceremony. When Bass kidnaps what he thinks is Charlene, Charlene hurries out of the bushes she was hiding in and quickly renews her vows with Dud. By the time Bass realizes the truth and angrily pursues Barney back to the house, the wedding is over. Bass admits defeat, but warns Dud to take care of Charlene, or else.
Notes/Trivia[]
- This episode was voted one of the top 10 fan-favorite episodes.
- Howard Morris, making his first appearance as crazed mountain man Ernest T. Bass, was actually an accomplished director and directed many episodes of The Andy Griffith Show.
- One of the Darling Boys sleeps apart from the other three.
- Briscoe Darling and his boys considered killing Ernest T. Bass, this is one of the few times death or killing is mentioned on the show.
- According to Maggie Peterson, she and Don Knotts both fit into and wore the same white wedding dress.
- To get to the Darling's house from one direction, Andy and Barney must cross the Robert E. Lee Natural Bridge (which is simply where an oak tree fell across a shallow part of the creek). They instead opt to approach from the main road in their squad car.
- When Ernest T is declaring for Charlene, he brags that he can do 18 chin-ups.
- This is one of the few episodes where Opie and Aunt Bee don't appear. But Opie does appear in the sponsor tag in the original 1963 broadcast.
- This marks Ernest T's only appearance in the third season.
- The sponsor tag in the original 1963 broadcast was previously featured in the original 1963 broadcast of Barney's First Car.
- Barney´s absence in the Darlings´ first appearance is explained here; he and his mother were on a bus trip to Charlotte.
Goofs[]
- A continuity blooper occurs when Andy, Barney, and Briscoe are talking to Ernest T. Bass. Facing the camera is Andy on the left, Briscoe in the middle, and Barney on the right. The scene's concluding shot, following a cut-away of Ernest T. retreating into the woods, has Andy and Barney in reversed positions.
- DirecTV listings accidentally add Jim Nabors to the cast.
Music[]
- At Charlene and Dud's wedding, those in attendance at the ceremony sing "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.”
- "Dooley" is sung by the Dillards, who play the Darling Boys.
Quotes[]
Barney: Adios amigo!
Briscoe: He one of ours?
Andy: Sure.
Briscoe: More power to ya.
Briscoe: Well we thought about killin' him, kinda hated to go that far.
Earnest T Bass: "You ain't seen the last of Ernest T. Bass!"
Songs[]
- "Dooley"
- "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms"