The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) Ernest T. Bass Joins the Army (1963) User Reviews

Bass as usual

[greggaver · 9/10 · 18 February 2019]

The Nut returns & this time its for an Army uniform why because of a girl & how this will help him get her. Sure it will,of course the Army will take anyone but not this time as Barney says he's a nut & the Sargent tells Bass they don't need him.Well the fun starts here the rocks start flying & glass is breaking & Andy knows he got to stop him & finds out it is all about a uniform. Doesn't matter what kind just something that looks official & important doesn't even need to fit. Always a problem when Bass comes to town & he is always getting out of jail & Barney & Andy can't figure it out. Finally Andy tells Barney he is about Ernest T's size & take off your uniform What! Barney goes ballistic you can't do this it was special made for me.Guess what Barney you lose & Ernest T gets his uniform & Barney is wrapped in a blanket watching him leave & hearing that insidious laugh. I think a bath,shave & haircut would have helped more!

This Guy Gives Me the Creeps

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 8 December 2019]

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.

Who paid for the broken windows?

[vitoscotti · 10/10 · 3 May 2022]

Andy is so lenient with Ernest T Bass. He'd be up for time in jail in the 60s for all the property damage. Every ETB episode is a true classic. An amazing character. We see Allan Melvin & Howard Morris who are Magilla Gorilla and Mr Peebles. Always enjoyed the restaurant scene with Barney's big order. Then the look on the customer's face near the exit as ETB is taken away. Epilogue being locked in the jail cell always is funny.

One of the worst episodes of TAGS

[trevor-44290 · 1/10 · 6 December 2021]

Ernest T. Bass is simply not funny if anything it's uncomfortable to watch . He comes across as nasty. Nothing about this episode makes any sense. Not sure how it has an average of above 8 the mind boggles.

I Know Howard Morris is Talented, But............

[[e-mail] · 4/10 · 27 September 2022]

I've always been a little disappointed when I see that an AGS episode is going to feature either the Darling family or Enest T. Bass. I have learned to appreciate (somewhat) two of the Darling's episodes and one of the Bass episodes where Andy makes a "silk purse out of a sow's ear" so Ernest can enter high society. But this one is only becomes tolerable in the last five or so minutes when Ernest explains to Andy and Barney why he wanted to join the military (for the uniform). A bit touching and even funny. Otherwise, just not my cup of tea. Howard Morris should stick to directing and writing.

Has it's moments

[kellielulu · 5/10 · 27 September 2022]

Ernest T. Bass divides fans of TAGS . I probably liked his episodes more as a kid . He was just a kook that made Barney act even funnier. At least I can understand Barney' reaction to him. I agree Ernest is a nut!

He always wants a girl but sometimes they way he talks about it it's a little unnerving.

The best part of this one is Barney apologizing to Olive at the diner when Ernest was there after breaking out of jail and Barney tries to arrest him( in that she has to see that)Also Barney breaking the glass then showing Barney in a raincoat after he has to give his uniform to Ernest so it will attract girls.

It's one of the times I find Andy too indulgent in doing so much for Bass.

Ernest T Bass is Too Much

[zombiemockingbird · 1/10 · 12 August 2023]

I'm usually pretty tolerant of the silliness because a lot of it is funny. Sometimes they just push it a little too far and it crosses the line from funny to so ridiculous that it becomes almost embarrassing. I love Barney but sometimes they push the thresh hold a little too far with him. Ernest T Bass on the other hand is NEVER funny. It's painful to watch him because he's obviously mentally deranged and dangerous; he waves guns around and constantly throws rocks. Not to mention the fact that he's broken dozens of windows, and never seems to have to pay for the damages. He's creepy and repulsive, and instead of committing him to an asylum somewhere, they just keep letting him go. Ernest T Bass is a complete character fail.