The Family Visit

I used to hate when fringe members of our family came to visit. Even as a child, I could tell they were ill mannered and pushy. They always judged us but had no trouble letting us pay for things and feed them. Andy's Uncle is a windbag and incredibly tiresome. He's also all blow and no go.

Every single time I watch this episode, I can't get past the idea that Andy's 50 something year old aunt and uncle are visiting with their kids, who are Opie's age or younger. I'm not sure which writer thought this was a funny idea. It's just absurd. Another thing. Where is Barney?

Relatives from out of town come for a visit with their two young boys and upset the Taylor household. This was an episode without Don Knotts (Barney) who in later years would take occasional time off I beleive "Family Visit" became the model of what to do when the shows main source of comedy (Barney) was not in the script. It was all about Andy's reactions to situations and this story had several good examples. Watch Andy's face at the breakfast table when his Uncle Ollie complains he "did not sleep a wink". This after Andy spent a sleepless night being kept awake by Ollies snoring and tossing and turning. Watch Andy's reaction when his Aunt Nora wont get off the official courthouse phone until Andy speaks to her spinster friend she thinks is perfect for him. And watch Andy's reaction to Uncle Ollie's multiple blustery displays of boorish behavior like playing with the siren in the squad car, randomly grabbing the rifles out of the gun rack and chastising a local who comes in the courthouse to pay a fine. Guest stars Maudie Prickett and James Westerfield are excellent as the bickering relatives in this one of the funniest non-Barney episodes.

I find interesting that in this episode, they put three good sized boys in one bed, the adults have to double up, and when the hurried business man stays Opie has to sleep on the ironing board. In other episodes though, when other guests stay, Gomer, the old man who loses his home, the pretty cousin, and the old girlfriend, there seems to be nice guest rooms for them.

Always a favorite TAGS episode. Great performances by James Westerfield (Uncle Ollie), and Maudie Prickett (Aunt Nora). Both are so bold, unaware and insensitive to the Taylor's feelings.

I always for some reason liked the series one time mention of the "Mayberry Bears", and both families bragging about their towns public works being black topped. Always a treat to hear Howard Morris as the radio voice of the local station.

The perfect casting of Ollie & Nora made this episode click. The ending of Andy scaring Ollie off was one of TAGS best. A witty epilogue revealed how people talk in reality, as opposed to in person as not to hurt people's feelings.