The Best Episodes Written By Jack Elinson

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   10.0/10(2 votes)

   #1 - The Keeper of the Flame

   S2:E141/8/1962

   Opie joins a secret club known as The Wildcats and is subsequently suspected of being the guilty party when the barn that the club meets in catches fire and burns to the ground.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Jack Elinson

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   Writer:Jack Elinson
2. 

   9.7/10(3 votes)

   #2 - Alcohol and Old Lace

   S1:E171/30/1961

   Opie comes home talking about a "flower-making machine" owned by sisters Clarabelle and Jennifer Morrison, the spinsters who run the local flower shop. Andy and Barney do a little investigating -- and discover the contraption is actually a still and the kindly sisters are in the moonshine business!

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Jack Elinson

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   Writer:Jack Elinson
3. 

   9.7/10(3 votes)

   #3 - Barney and the Choir

   S2:E202/19/1962

   Things hit a sour note when Barney joins the Mayberry choir -- and it's quickly determined that his singing voice isn't exactly harmonious to the other members of the group.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Jack Elinson

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   Writer:Jack Elinson
4. 

   9.5/10(2 votes)

   #4 - Bringing Up Opie

   S1:E325/22/1961

   After being scolded by Aunt Bee, Opie decides to run away from home -- a plan that quickly turns into a series of eye-opening, and sometimes dangerous, adventures for Opie and a scare for both Aunt Bee and Andy.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Jack Elinson

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   Writer:Jack Elinson
5. 

   9.5/10(2 votes)

   #5 - Barney's Replacement

   S2:E210/9/1961

   When a rookie policeman is sent to Mayberry for training, Barney mistakenly believes the man is his replacement and quits the police force to become a vacuum-cleaner salesman.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Jack Elinson

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   Writer:Jack Elinson
6. 

   9.5/10(2 votes)

   #6 - Mayberry Goes Bankrupt

   S2:E410/23/1961

   Will the town coffers run out of cash? It appears that way when Mayberry resident Frank Myers is stunned to discover that the township apparently owes him close to $350,000!

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Jack Elinson

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   Writer:Jack Elinson
7. 

   9.5/10(2 votes)

   #7 - The Jinx

   S2:E171/29/1962

   After a series of mishaps, Barney declares that Mayberry resident Henry Bennett is a "jinx." Andy sets out to prove him wrong -- but begins to believe it himself after the troubles continue.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Jack Elinson

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8. 

   9.5/10(2 votes)

   #8 - Aunt Bee the Warden

   S2:E233/12/1962

   With the town jail full, Andy reluctantly decides to have the town drunk, Otis Campbell, incarcerated in Andy's own home. But when Aunt Bee takes charge as the "warden," Otis is soon howling to be locked up in the real jail!

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Jack Elinson

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9. 

   9.3/10(4 votes)

   #9 - Those Gossipin' Men

   S1:E151/16/1961

   Aunt Bee, accused by Andy of being a hopeless gossip, sets out to prove that the men of Mayberry are even bigger rumormongers than the women.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Jack Elinson

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   Writer:Jack Elinson
10. 

    9.0/10(3 votes)

    #10 - Guest of Honor

    S2:E212/26/1962

    As part of the Founder's Day festivities, the residents of Mayberry decide to give a key to the city to the first visitor entering the town. Unfortunately, that visitor is Sheldon Davis, a highly skilled pickpocket and petty thief.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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    Writer:Jack Elinson
11. 

    9.0/10(3 votes)

    #11 - The Farmer Takes a Wife

    S2:E131/1/1962

    Big Jeff Pruitt (Alan Hale) comes to Mayberry, determined to find a suitable wife. Andy and Barney are more than happy to help him with his search -- until Pruitt announces his choice: Barney's girlfriend, Thelma Lou!

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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    Writer:Jack Elinson
12. 

    9.0/10(2 votes)

    #12 - The Inspector

    S1:E264/10/1961

    When a state inspector arrives in Mayberry to check the jail and courthouse, Andy and Barney are shocked to discover he's a by-the-book stickler for rules and regulations. Things look shaky until Andy is able to demonstrate the "Mayberry way" of fighting crime.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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    Writer:Jack Elinson
13. 

    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - The Cannon

    S6:E1111/22/1965

    The governor comes to town for founders day. The mobile state museum is brought to town for the event. Goober and Warren are supposed to guard the museum and end up firing the old Civil War cannon at two crooks who are attempting to burglarize the museum.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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    Writer:Jack Elinson
14. 

    8.7/10(3 votes)

    #14 - The Horse Trader

    S1:E141/9/1961

    Andy performs some slick dealing with an antique dealer to get rid of the town's old worthless cannon. But when young Opie later mimics his father's shady deal to obtain a pair of roller skates, Andy has second thoughts about his own wheeling and dealing.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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15. 

    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #15 - The Manhunt

    S1:E210/10/1960

    Andy and his bumbling deputy, Barney Fife, offer to help track down an escaped convict, but the captain of the state police scoffs at the small-town sheriff's help.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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    Writer:Jack Elinson
16. 

    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #16 - The New Doctor

    S1:E243/27/1961

    Andy must make a hasty, ill-advised marriage proposal to Ellie Walker after he becomes convinced that the new, handsome young doctor in town is trying to steal his girl.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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17. 

    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #17 - The Guitar Player

    S1:E310/17/1960

    A gifted guitar player (James Best) who has self-doubts about his musical talent gets a chance at stardom -- with a little push from Andy.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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18. 

    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #18 - Cyrano Andy

    S1:E223/6/1961

    Andy makes an earnest attempt at matchmaking to help Barney win the heart of his girlfriend, Thelma Lou. Things go fine at first -- until barney misinterprets Andy's efforts and thinks he's trying to steal her away!

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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19. 

    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #19 - Barney on the Rebound

    S2:E510/30/1961

    After a disagreement with Thelma Lou, Barney unwittingly falls under the spell of the female half of a scheming con team and Andy must attempt to save the day.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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20. 

    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #20 - The Manicurist

    S2:E161/22/1962

    The men of Mayberry become infatuated with Ellen Brown (Barbara Eden), a curvaceous manicurist who sets up shop in Floyd's barbershop. But the women of Mayberry are less than enthusiastic about the situation.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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21. 

    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #21 - The County Nurse

    S2:E243/19/1962

    Feisty country farmer Rafe Hollister is determined to avoid getting a tetanus shot when county nurse Mary Simpson arrives in Mayberry to inoculate the citizenry.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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22. 

    8.3/10(3 votes)

    #22 - Ellie for Council

    S1:E1012/12/1960

    It's a battle of the sexes when Ellie Walker decides to become the very first woman to run for a seat on the Mayberry city council -- and the town's horrified menfolk decide to sabotage her newfound political career.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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    Writer:Jack Elinson
23. 

    8.3/10(3 votes)

    #23 - The Beauty Contest

    S1:E161/23/1961

    The Mayberry town council wants to end the annual Founder's Day celebration with a beauty contest, with Andy chosen to pick the winner. The result is pandemonium as candidates of all shapes and sizes descend on the hapless "judge."

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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    Writer:Jack Elinson
24. 

    8.3/10(3 votes)

    #24 - Andy on Trial

    S2:E294/23/1962

    A newspaper publishing mogul is ticketed for speeding and retaliates by sending an undercover reporter to Mayberry to dig up whatever dirt she can on Andy and his department.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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25. 

    8.3/10(4 votes)

    #25 - Ellie Comes to Town

    S1:E410/24/1960

    When Mayberry's local pharmacist falls ill, his niece Ellie Walker steps in as a temporary replacement -- and creates turmoil with the town's resident hypochondriac.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Jack Elinson

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    Writer:Jack Elinson