S4.E3

Ernest T. Bass Joins the Army

Episode aired Oct 14, 1963
30m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Howard Morris in The Andy Griffith Show (1960)

Ernest T. Bass causes a ruckus when he decides to join the army. When Andy and Barney find out why, they are able to solve his problem - with a little help from Barney.Ernest T. Bass causes a ruckus when he decides to join the army. When Andy and Barney find out why, they are able to solve his problem - with a little help from Barney.Ernest T. Bass causes a ruckus when he decides to join the army. When Andy and Barney find out why, they are able to solve his problem - with a little help from Barney.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

381

YOUR RATING

8User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos21

+ 16

Top cast13

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Andy Griffith

Andy Taylor

Ron Howard

Opie Taylor
(as Ronny Howard)
(credit only)

Don Knotts

Barney Fife

Allan Melvin

Recruiting Sergeant

Paul Smith

Army Doctor

Alice Backes

Olive, the waitress

Thomas Myers

Recruit
(as Tom Myers)

David Lipp

Recruit

Howard Morris

Ernest T. Bass

Joseph Crehan

Diner Patron
(uncredited)

Norman Harris

Recruit
(uncredited)

Tom Jacobs

Townsman
(uncredited)

Colin Male

Announcer
(voice)
(uncredited)

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9:57

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Richard Crenna directed this episode (and several others). He became famous for his portrayal of Col. Trautman in the Rambo movie series. Early in his career he was type-cast as whiny teenage characters, before booking real teenagers became the convention.

Goofs
As Ernest T. approaches the courthouse and Andy tracks his progress by phone calls, he hangs up and tells Barney to go out the front and he will go out the back. After Barney confronts Ernest T. in front of the jail, Andy emerges from the shared entryway of the barber shop and TV repair shop, which is on the opposite side of the courthouse's back door.

Quotes
[Andy, Barney and the recruiting sergeant watch as Ernest T. Bass incurs his wrath on Mayberry for not getting into the Army]
Sheriff Andy Taylor: Look at him go! He's a strange one!
Recruiting Sergeant: He's a wild one!
Deputy Barney Fife: He's a nut!

Connections
Referenced in Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam (1985)

User reviews8

Featured review

7/10

This Guy Gives Me the Creeps

The Ernest T. Bass character isn't funny. He is a sick individual who is dangerous. I know this is a comedy but his entire being makes me uncomfortable. In this episode he is doing his usual glass breaking, throwing rocks and such. He torments Andy because he feels the sheriff is preventing him from getting where he wants to go. Once again, Barney creates more mayhem because of his bad judgment.