The Andy Griffith Show: Season 2/Episode 10: The Clubmen: December 11, 1961. 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS:

The episode begins with Andy getting out of the car in front of the jail- dropped off by a friend of his from the state capital- Roger Courtney. Andy and Roger had gone fishing. Roger ends up inviting Andy up to the state capital- to a club meeting- the Esquire Club. Andy mention that when he goes to the state capital his deputy Barney usually comes along with him. Roger is fine with that bring Barney along.

When Andy walks into the jail he finds Barney sleeping so he goes back and slams the door awakening Barney. When questioned on what he was doing Barney claims he was super busy with a number of things. When he goes to leave the jail- he forgets that his shoes are off. Andy having fun with him hides his shoes- of course Andy is fine with Barney taking a nap- and is getting a kick out of all of it. When he hands Barney his shoes Barney is mad and storms off to a laughing Andy.

When told about the club invitation- Barney sees this as a big deal- he’s excited in the way he always gets. He has to stop by Floyd’s barber shop to brag- and Floyd doesn’t seem all that interested and neither does Jud. But Barney keeps talking about it and eventually Jud goes to leave saying he will be telling everyone about it at the gas station. When Andy leaves Barney confides in Floyd he is worried about Andy- that they could reject him-because Andy needs some polishing.

When they talk beforehand- Barney tells Andy they should talk about their stocks- of course Andy reminds him they have no stocks- and it’s best just to act themselves. Of course we know that will be an impossible task for Barney.

Thursday evening arrives and both Andy and Barney are dressed up in their suits- Barney in his famous ‘salt and pepper.’ At the Esquire Club meeting- Andy goes over well- but Barney is awkward. He of course mentions stocks- and when talking to a couple of guys who were talking golf- he acts like he knows what he is talking about. He thinks though that the higher score you make- the better. He tells a club member who shoots in the 80’s that he should be taking lessons from his friend who shoots in the 90’s. Barney is drawing odd looks all around that evening. Andy fits right in.

The next morning- Andy is at home eating breakfast with Bee and Opie- when Barney comes in all wired up ‘have they called yet.’ They hadn’t. Barney is all antsy. When Bee gets a phone call he rushes to get her off the phone- clear the phone lines he’s expecting an important call from the state capitol. Andy is pretty laid back about the entire thing- he doesn’t seem to care one way or the other if they join the club. He sends Barney out on school patrol.

Courtney and another Esquire Club member drop in on Andy that morning at the jail. They explain that Andy was accepted 100 % but Barney wasn’t. Andy tells them Barney was kind of over doing it etc- but he understands they have a right to accept and reject whoever they want into the club. He then stands by his friend- and tells them he accepts the offer to join the club- but that he and Barney not only work together but are friends- and he can’t accept- no hard feelings. They leave on good terms.

Barney gets back to the jail just as Courtney and his friend leave- he walks in and is excited. He knows they had to have been accepted. When Andy tells Barney one of them was- one wasn’t- Barney gets fired up- it wasn’t right for them to reject- ANDY.. Andy doesn’t correct him- a fired up Barney sits down and starts to write a letter to the Esquire Club- he’s sending in his resignation!

The final segment- Andy comes into the jail and tells Barney he just came in from fishing- and they were invited to join another club- the Tomahawk Club- just then Opie walks in- the president of the Tomahawk Club- and swears Andy and Barney in.

In the episode the six club members who are mentioned at the meeting- were named after teachers Andy had back in high school.

CAST-

Andy Griffith- Sheriff Andy Taylor

Don Knotts- Deputy Barney Fife

Ronny Howard- Opie Taylor

Frances Bavier- Aunt Bee Taylor

Howard McNear- Floyd Lawson

Burt Mustin- Jud Fletcher

George Neise- Roger Courtney

Directed by Bob Sweeney

Written by Iz Elinson and Fred S. Fox