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Half-hour promo film sent to affiliates to promote the 1961 CBS fall season to advertisers and audiences. Hosts include Rod Serling and Andy Griffith. A look at what a great television season used to be and a few surprises too! (PD title).
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Tired of relying upon others for his transportation, Barney is determined to become "Mr. Independent Wheels" by purchasing his own car. He ends up investing his life savings ($300) in a lemon provided by a deceptively sweet little old lady, Myrt Lesch (Ellen Corby)-actually the head of a gang of sophisticated con artists and thieves. To save Barney's bankroll, Andy calmly sets a trap for Myrt and her henchman Jake (Allan Melvin). This is the episode with the classic "septic tank" dialogue exchange.
Andy learns to his chagrin that ex-convict Luke Comstock (Leo Gordon) is coming back to Mayberry. Inasmuch as Andy was responsible for sending Luke to jail, everyone in town fears the worst-none more so than Barney, who organizes local lunkheads Gomer Pyle and Billy Ray Belfast (Dub Taylor) into a "bodyguard committee" for Andy. But everyone is in for a surprise-including Luke.
Wally's Filling Station has been plagued by a series of robberies, and the prime suspect is young Jimmy Morgan (Pat Colby), who has been in and out of trouble all his life. Convinced of Jimmy's innocence, Andy tries to clear the boy-while gung-ho Barney attempts to use the latest electronic technology to solve the case.
Originally telecast March 18, 1963, this episode served to introduce the hillbilly Darling family: rambunctious papa Briscoe Darling (Dub Taylor), his wide-eyed daughter Charlene (Maggie Peterson), and his dimwitted but musically talented sons (played by The Dillard Brothers, a popular quartet of country-western performers). Arriving in Mayberry to meet Charlene's sweethart, Pvt. Dud Wash, at the local depot, the Darlings are overwhelmed by their first taste of city life-and Andy and Barney have a heck of a time trying to control the uninhibited mountaineers.
An explosive situation develops when Cy Hudgins' pet goat Jimmy eats a box full of dynamite. The nervous Mayberryites spend the rest of the day gingerly tiptoeing around the goat, terrified that the animal will blow up "real good" at any moment. In the end, it is up to Barney to lead Jimmy out of town in a manner reminiscent of Hamelin's Pied Piper (or, in this case, Pied Harmonica Player).
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