7.8/1056 votesLoading...#1 - The Harvest Ball
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/30/1968
The annual Harvest Ball is soon and the men are asking each other who they're going to take. Goober would like to take Millie Swanson, but is having a hard time asking her. Emmett writes a letter to Millie for Goober. Meanwhile, Sam would like to ask Millie to the ball as well. Goober asks Sam to rewrite Emmett's letter and Sam finds out it's to Millie. Sam has to run an errand before he can finish Goober's letter. Millie comes to Sam's office and sees the letter. She is excited because she likes Sam. Millie gets the letter in the mail but is disappointed when she sees it's from Goober. Millie's friend Dorothy is there when she reads the letter and says what a nice guy Goober is. Millie shows up to the ball with Goober. Sam is able to get a dance with Millie and Goober can see she would rather be with Sam. Goober tells Sam what he sensed and says it's OK. Goober leaves and runs into Dorothy and senses she likes him. Sam and Millie see Goober and Dorothy walking off arm in arm.
Director: Christian Nyby
Writer: Bob Mosher
7.8/1038 votesLoading...#2 - An Efficient Service Station
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 3/3/1969
Ken Marshall, a district sales manager with the ACME Refining Company, is looking for Goober. Ken doesn't like the way Goober runs his station. Profits haven't increased and Goober's appearance doesn't fit with ACME's image. If things don't improve, ACME will take away Goober's franchise. Later, Emmett comes by the station and makes fun of Goober's white uniform and cap. Emmett is just there for a visit and gets annoyed when Goober starts checking things on his car. Goober tells Sam that he's not enjoying his work anymore with all the new rules. Howard tells Sam and Emmett that Goober shut down the station. Howard is worried that without a gas station the town will slowly fall apart. Sam can sense that Goober isn't doing well with this new job. While getting air at the gas station, Sam runs into G.B. Smith. Smith asks Sam why the station shut down and Sam tells him what happened. Turns out Smith is the president of ACME and he wants Goober to run the station the way he used to.
Director: Hal Cooper
Writer: John McGreevey, Joel Swanson
7.6/1045 votesLoading...#3 - Sam and the Teenager
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 12/20/1968
Sam tells Goober and Emmett that the high school journalism class has been assigned to interview the office holders in Mayberry. Sam meets Nancy Hughes, who is instantly attracted to him. The next day, Nancy finds Sam at the bakery and asks to interview him some more. Millie tells Sam that Nancy has a huge crush on him. Sam now tries to avoid Nancy. Goober and Emmett tease Sam about Nancy. Sam wants to tell her off but Millie and Howard think that will effect her psychologically. Howard suggests finding a younger version of Sam for her to fall for. Sam asks Emmett's nephew Pete to join him, Millie, Nancy, Howard, and Emmett at a barbecue at Myers Lake. Nancy has no interest in Pete. Howard has a direct talk with Nancy about Sam. The next day, Nancy goes to the bakery and apologizes to Sam for throwing herself at him. Nancy is now attracted to Howard. Howard tells Sam and Emmett that he told Nancy right off that he wasn't interested. It appears she is now hooking up with Pete.
Director: Christian Nyby
Writer: Dick Bensfield, Perry Grant
7.6/1043 votesLoading...#4 - The Bicycle Club
Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 12/7/1970
The men make a bicycle club without telling Emmett. When Emmett finds out about it from Millie, he's determined to show them that he can still shine at his age.
Director: Hal Cooper
Writer: Walter Black
7.6/1031 votesLoading...#5 - Mike's Project
Season 3 Episode 14 - Aired 12/14/1970
Sam's help on Mike's Project goes overboard when he gets into a dispuit with another boy's father.
Director: Hal Cooper
Writer: Dick Bensfield, Perry Grant
7.6/1040 votesLoading...#6 - Howard the Dream Spinner
Season 3 Episode 15 - Aired 12/28/1970
Howard becomes to hose of a local literary program and becomes attached to an anonymous girl named Melissa whom Goober and Emmett created
Director: Hal Cooper
Writer: Bob Mosher
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7.5/1042 votesLoading...#7 - The Camper
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/10/1969
Sam, Howard, Emmett and Goober are making plans for their camping trip. Meanwhile, Mike and his friend Harold have a major argument. It's been several days and the boys are still not speaking. Howard suggests that they take the boys on the trip so they can see the meaning of friendship. The boys agree to go, as long as they don't have to speak to each other. They arrive at the camp site and the men immediately try to show what doing things together as friends is like. It's not long before the men start bickering with each other. That night, it's starts to storm and everyone is confined to the camper. The men continue to snap at one another, while Sam tries to keep the peace. The boys are watching all this and ask Sam why they are fighting. Sam tries to down play what's going on and sends the boys off to bed. The boys are starting have fun watching the men annoy each other and they become friends again. Sam has had enough and wants to drive home, but the camper is stuck in the mud.
Director: Hal Cooper
Writer: Dick Bensfield, Perry Grant
7.5/1040 votesLoading...#8 - Goober and the Telephone Girl
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/13/1969
Goober is upset over his bill from the Mt. Pilot telephone company for calls he didn't make. Sam drives Goober to Mt. Pilot and Goober speaks with Violet Henderson from the company. It's Saturday and Sam and Millie double date with Goober and Violet. A man makes a pass at Violet and Goober goes to intercede. The man punches Goober in the stomach and Violet uses her judo skills to throw the man to the floor. An embarrassed Goober asks Sam to take Violet home and leaves. Word gets around and Goober thinks the whole town is laughing at him. Violet comes by to talk to Sam and Millie shows up saying Goober is selling his gas station. Sam talks to Goober and says to show people he's not afraid, he should take Violet to Morelli's again. At Morelli's, Goober starts an argument at the jukebox with a man named Jim.
Director: Hal Cooper
Writer: Dick Bensfield, Perry Grant
7.5/1036 votesLoading...#9 - Aloha Goober
Season 2 Episode 24 - Aired 3/30/1970
Everybody thinks Goober is going to Hawaii
Director: Christian Nyby
Writer: Dick Bensfield, Perry Grant
7.5/1035 votesLoading...#10 - Millie the Best-Dressed Woman
Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 10/26/1970
Great news comes from the Mt.Pilot Press....Millie is declared the best dressed woman in ALL of the area! Everyone is very happy about this. Soon, the woman start copying Millie's styles and clothing she wears...including miniskits! The men strongly object, and Sam must tell Millie to stop. That night, the woman who she has been getting the fashions visits....and is in completly different clothes! Millie finds out that you should wear what you want to wear in this episode.
Director: Hal Cooper
Writer: Bob Mosher
7.4/1042 votesLoading...#11 - Emmet's 50th Birthday Party
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/16/1968
Mailman Felton delivers a bunch of birthday cards to Emmett. Emmett tells Goober and Howard that he's going to be 50. The men tease Emmett a little bit about his age. Martha wants to throw a birthday party for him, but Emmett is against it. Realizing that Emmett is getting sensitive about his age, Goober and Howard try to cheer him up. After getting directions from Emmett, a guy on a motorcycle says "Thanks Gramps". Emmett then gets a blank card from a fortune machine. Emmett now feels worse. While looking through a movie magazine, Millie mentions to Emmett that Cary Grant is in his 60s. Now Emmett doesn't feel so bad about his age. He has a spring in his step and tells Martha he now wants a party. Emmett goes wild at his party. The next morning, he is all worn out. Sam comes by and the two have a talk that puts things in perspective.
Director: Hal Cooper
Writer: Dick Bensfield, Perry Grant
7.4/1043 votesLoading...#12 - Millie the Model
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 10/20/1969
Millie visits a dress shop in Mt. Pilot that is run by her friend Emma Whittaker. Millie tries on a new line of dresses and is introduced to their designer, Miss Rogers. Miss Rogers likes Millie's freshness and asks her to come to New York for a month to model the line for fashion magazines. Millie is excited and accepts the offer. It's been a week and Mr. Felton, the mailman, finally brings a card from Millie. She's been busy and has met a sculptor. Another week passes with no word from Millie. Sam goes to see Millie and Thornton Avery, the photographer, is not happy that Sam interrupted the photo shoot. Sam doesn't really get to talk to Millie as she is busy. Then the two go to a party that night. Sam finally gets a quiet moment with Millie. She says that while she's had fun, she can't wait to get back home.
Director: Hal Cooper
Writer: Burt Styler
7.3/1037 votesLoading...#13 - The Panel Show
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/28/1968
Sam receives a letter from Jackson Television Productions. Their debate program will discuss which is better, big city or small town life. They request two citizens to come to New York City. Representing New York will be writer Harding Capehart and socialite Pamela Mason. The City Council pick Emmett and Howard to defend the honor of all small towns across America. It's the night of the show and people gather at Sam's office to watch the show. The show begins with moderator Mr. Jackson introducing the panelists. Howard concedes many of the points that the city representatives make. Emmett and the folks at home start to get frustrated with Howard's reactions. Howard returns to Mayberry an outcast and admits he got carried away on his first trip to New York. Sam sent a Manhattan newspaper an apologetic poem Howard had written about Mayberry. The paper prints the poem and Sam reads it to the Council. Everyone then forgives Howard.
Director: Hal Cooper
Writer: Joseph Bonaduce
7.3/1033 votesLoading...#14 - Sam Gets a Ticket
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/7/1968
Mike comes home late because he got into trouble at school. The teacher thought he was peeking at a girl's answers, but he was just borrowing an eraser. He is almost done writing "I will not peak" 100 times on the board and has to finish it the next day. Sam thinks Mike should assert himself and tell the teacher he did nothing wrong. Sam drives Aunt Bee to Mount Pilot and is stopped by Officer George Hopkins. The Officer says Sam didn't signal when making a turn. Aunt Bee insists that Sam did make the signal, but Sam gets a ticket anyway. Aunt Bee tells Sam to fight it in court, but Sam would just as soon pay the ticket. Back at home, Mike reminds Sam of what he told him. In court, Officer Hopkins presents his side of the story. Aunt Bee testifies and then Goober gets up and says that the electrical system in Sam's car is working perfectly. Sam is then questioned by Prosecutor McComb and is found guilty by the Judge. But something Sam later realizes gets the Judge to change his mind.
Director: Hal Cooper
Writer: Elroy Schwartz
7.3/1035 votesLoading...#15 - Driver Education
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 1/27/1969
Sam and Howard meet with principal Mr. Adams and Mrs. Corcoran. Mrs. Corcoran is concerned with the rise of minor traffic accidents and violations occurring among the teenagers in Mayberry. She recommends a drivers education course be instituted. Sam recommends Goober. Goober meets with Mr. Adams and accepts the job. One day while backing out of a tight spot in the parking lot, Goober backs into Mr. Adams' beloved car, badly damaging it. Goober admits to Mr. Adams what happened and Mr. Adams can't believe his driving instructor caused the damage. Emmett tells Goober he should quit before he gets fired. Goober lets Howard and Sam know he's quitting. Sam says he'll talk to Mr. Adams first. Mr. Adams tells Sam he's willing to overlook the accident. But, Mrs. Corcoran and some of the other parents want to hold a meeting about the incident. At the meeting, Mrs. Corcoran insists that Goober be replaced.
Director: Christian Nyby
Writer: John McGreevey
7.3/1030 votesLoading...#16 - Emmett Takes a Fall
Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 1/19/1970
While tossing a football with Sam at Goober's service station, Emmett falls into the grease pit. The guys take Emmett to the Doctor and learn he broke his arm. He'll have to wear a cast for 5-6 weeks. Emmett is worried about having to close his shop. Not wanting to leave the town without a fix-it shop, Emmett puts an add in the paper for help. A scientifically-minded high school boy named Ernie applies for the job. Emmett at first turns him down, but then hires him. Emmett soon learns that Ernie is very skilled at fixing things. Word spreads around town about how talented Ernie is and now everyone is bringing in things to be fixed by him. A depressed Emmett tells Sam that he's closing up shop and leaving Mayberry. He says his shop just isn't the same anymore. Sam tells Emmett that even he has to try and keep up with new things and methods. After Emmett leaves, Sam calls the high school. Emmett winds up joining Mr. Desmond's science class at the school.
Director: Hal Cooper
Writer: Bob Mosher
7.3/1035 votesLoading...#17 - The Health Fund
Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 3/16/1970
At their lodge finance meeting, Sam discusses their new health insurance plan. It will only increase dues $8 a month and all bills will be paid by the lodge. Later, Howard tells Sam that his doctor suggests he have an operation to correct his deviated septum. Elmo finds the timing of this operation very suspicious. Emmett and Goober confront Howard and call him a crook. They go with to the hospital to make sure Howard doesn't pad the bill. Emmett and Goober then ask Dr. Wilson about some of the expenses of the operation. Emmett and Goober decide to go see Howard at checkout time to make sure he doesn't stay longer than he should. The lodge meets and learns the health fund is heavily depleted. Goober suggests if Howard doesn't have appendicitis the lodge shouldn't pay for the extra day. Howard is out of the hospital. Goober doesn't believe someone can develop symptoms just by talking about it. Then Sam mentions hives and Goober starts itching.
Director: Christian Nyby
Writer: Bob Mosher, Joel Swanson
7.3/1041 votesLoading...#18 - Howard the Swinger
Season 3 Episode 22 - Aired 3/1/1971
Howard moves into a swinging singles apartment
Director: Elliott Lewis
Writer: Dick Bensfield, Perry Grant
7.3/1033 votesLoading...#19 - Mike's Car
Season 3 Episode 23 - Aired 3/8/1971
Sam lets Mike buy Goober's old car.
Director: Hal Cooper
Writer: Dick Bensfield, Perry Grant
7.3/1031 votesLoading...#20 - The City Planner
Season 3 Episode 25 - Aired 3/22/1971
When the representative of the company City Planners turns out to be an attractive woman, everyone worries about Sam spending so much time with her.
Director: Hal Cooper
Writer: Bob Mosher, Charles Stewart
7.2/1035 votesLoading...#21 - Aunt Bee's Cruise: Part 1
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/13/1969
Aunt Bee is about to deposit some money in her savings account. Aunt Bee considers the Caribbean cruise she's always wanted to take. Goober, Emmett and Howard tease Aunt Bee about shipboard romances. Aunt Bee invites them to a bon voyage party on the boat. On the boat, Aunt Bee's friends point out some of the men on board. Aunt Bee mistakes Captain Charles Wolford or a steward. Aunt Bee befriends two other older ladies, Blanche Wilkins and Amelia Turner. Aunt Bee runs into Charles and accepts his invitation for coffee in the officers lounge. They wind up spending a lot of time together on the trip. Aunt Bee writes back home about Charles. Charles tells Aunt Bee that he is going to retire after this trip and hopes to settle down on a farm somewhere. Her two week trip is over and Aunt Bee returns home. She tells her friends that Charles proposed and she accepted. Aunt Bee receives a telegram from Charles saying he'll be arriving in Mayberry in a week.
Director: Christian Nyby
Writer: Dick Bensfield, Perry Grant
7.2/1029 votesLoading...#22 - Sam the Expert Farmer
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/17/1969
Sam was experimenting growing string beans, but his crop turned out very poorly. Sam consults with his friend Ralph Barton, but Ralph has no answers. He then talks to Harry at the lawn and garden shop in town, but he's no help. Meanwhile, Millie is growing string beans in her backyard garden. Sam later sees Millie's beans and asks her what she did to get them to grow so well. Turns out Millie did nothing special but water them. Sam gets irritated when Millie sees a bucket of his tiny shriveled up beans. That night Sam and Millie are double dating with Goober and Marilyn. Sam becomes annoyed when Goober keeps complimenting Millie's beans. Mike talks to Millie about her fight with Sam and her beans. Later, Mike tells Sam that Millie talks to her beans. Ralph sees Sam talking to his beans and tells Sam something that makes him feel better. Sam apologizes to Millie and brings her some of his tomato crop. After he leaves, she compares his tomatoes to hers and hers are bigger.
Director: Christian Nyby
Writer: Elroy Schwartz
7.2/1030 votesLoading...#23 - The New Farmhand
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 11/17/1969
Sam hires a new farmhand, Rudy Harwell, to help harvest his corn crops. Emmett mentions to Sam how impressed Mike is with Rudy. Even Flora sees how much Mike admires Rudy. Flora tells Sam he should spend more time with Mike. She is afraid Mike is beginning to enjoy being around Rudy more than him. The next day, Sam takes Mike into town, but Mike doesn't seem to have much fun. Flora tries to tell Rudy how close Sam and Mike are. Back at home, Sam and Mike try to put a model car together. Things don't go smoothly and then Rudy comes in and finishes the model. Mike goes off with Rudy. Later, Mike is having a hard time with a composition for school. Flora tells him to ask Sam for help, but he goes to Rudy instead. Rudy intentionally gives Mike bad advice hoping he will then turn to Sam. Mike does go to Sam and tells him about the bad advice Rudy gave him. The corn crop is harvested and Rudy leaves. It's then that Sam figures out that Rudy wanted Mike to be close to his father.
Director: Christian Nyby
Writer: Bob Mosher
7.2/1031 votesLoading...#24 - Palm Springs, Here We Are
Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 12/15/1969
The group arrive in Palm Springs and then head to Selma's house. The home is large and beautiful. Howard and Goober wind up having to share a room. Millie comes back from town saying she saw Rock Hudson. By the pool, Howard gets upset when Goober gets him wet. Their bickering continues that night while they're in their bedroom trying to sleep. The next morning Goober and Howard are still getting on each other's nerves. The others notice this and hope it won't ruin the vacation. Sam rents a Dune buggy and he, Millie, Howard and Goober go riding in the desert. Goober and Howard are still not getting along. They run out of gas and fortunately another driver comes by. Sam and Millie go with the driver to get gas after Goober and Howard insist on staying behind. The two start to worry when it seems that Sam has been gone longer than it should've taken. The men start to confess things to each other and become friends again.
Director: Christian Nyby
Writer: Dick Bensfield, Perry Grant
7.2/1032 votesLoading...#25 - Hair
Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 10/19/1970
Emmett tries to look young by buying a Toupee
Director: Christian Nyby
Writer: Dick Bensfield, Perry Grant
The Best Episodes of Mayberry R.F.D.
Every episode of Mayberry R.F.D. ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Mayberry R.F.D.!
Mayberry R.F.D. is an American television series produced as a spin-off and direct continuation of The Andy Griffith Show. When star Andy Griffith decided to...
Genres:ComedyFamily
Network:CBS
Episodes
78
Avg. Rating
6.8
S1
S2
S3
S4
E1
E2
E3
7.0
7.1
6.2
7.8
6.4
7.0
6.1
7.0
6.9
Best Episodes Summary
"The Harvest Ball" is the best rated episode of "Mayberry R.F.D.". It scored 7.8/10 based on 56 votes. Directed by Christian Nyby and written by Bob Mosher, it aired on 9/30/1968. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "An Efficient Service Station".
