This is one of my favorites! Bernard Fox playing Malcolm Merriweather & making Andy & Opie dressing for dinner & Opie taking a bath even before Saturday.Malcohm coming to America to see our country & meeting people is cool. When talking to Andy & saying you look a bit Clem I guess that means hungry & makes them lunch.I have recorded this episode just to watch when feeling alittle down. I came from a small town & makes me think of the good times back when this show aired 1963. These times are gone & it's a shame but the Andy Griffith Show takes you back there if you are old enough to remember.
4 Reviews
A New Culture for the Folks in North Carolina
Hitchcoc7 December 2019
When a Britisher shows up on a bike, Andy is told the guy is seeing he country. But as he tries to follow Andy's directions, he causes an accident. Not having any money, he goes to work for the sheriff. He is a charming man who has worked as a gentleman's gentleman. Andy and Barney learn a few things about common courtesy and love.
He's from...somewhere's else
FlushingCaps23 April 2015
Warning: Spoilers
The Meeting Malcolm Merriweather episode has always been one of my favorites. Bernard Fox was a funny character in many shows of the day--the amorous night-school teacher of Laura Petrie and a few appearances as klutzy Col. Crittendon on Hogan's Heroes are two of his best remembered roles. Here he plays an Englishman taking a bike trip around the US.
He happens upon Andy outside Andy's house and asks for directions. While following the map Andy drew him, he foolishly causes a minor traffic accident and somehow doesn't have the $40 or so he is told it will cost to fix the man's truck that was damaged. I don't understand how he was going to bicycle far if his funds were already that low, let alone return to England--OK, he could have purchased a round-trip ticket to explain that part. But he seemed to be early in his exploration of our country--still didn't have the hang of riding on the right side of the road, he quipped. How could his funds already be so low? Because of the accident, Barney hauls him into the courthouse before Justice of the Peace Andy, who never lets on to Barney that he already met Malcolm a bit earlier. The highlight of the show to me was the astonished look on Barney's face when, after he told Andy that he thought the man with the heavy accent might be from Canada, then Andy slyly said he might be from Eckmundwyke, England. Andy said, "Ask him." When Barney did and Malcolm said the very town Andy just named, Barney's mouth opened as he gazed at Andy in amazement.
Since he couldn't pay for the damage he caused, Andy thought he could perform handyman chores around his house to earn enough. But Malcolm only broke a window and proved totally inept at those chores, but jumped at the chance to cook and clean for Andy and Opie, since Aunt Bee was away for a few days.
He was super at cooking and teaching Opie some magic tricks but was a bit of a pest as he insisted Andy dress up for supper and such. This led to him overhearing Andy admitting to Barney that he was not totally loving Malcolm's housekeeping, so Malcolm decides to leave right away.
But Andy found out what happened and he drives out and finds him, smiles at Malcolm and "orders" him back to continue his duties--in essence, an apology without apologizing for hurting his feelings, and Malcolm returned happily, not leaving until Aunt Bee returned.
I thought Malcolm could have been worked into the show as a regular. His few return visits were also quite funny, even a color one where he confronted Ernest T. Bass.
He happens upon Andy outside Andy's house and asks for directions. While following the map Andy drew him, he foolishly causes a minor traffic accident and somehow doesn't have the $40 or so he is told it will cost to fix the man's truck that was damaged. I don't understand how he was going to bicycle far if his funds were already that low, let alone return to England--OK, he could have purchased a round-trip ticket to explain that part. But he seemed to be early in his exploration of our country--still didn't have the hang of riding on the right side of the road, he quipped. How could his funds already be so low? Because of the accident, Barney hauls him into the courthouse before Justice of the Peace Andy, who never lets on to Barney that he already met Malcolm a bit earlier. The highlight of the show to me was the astonished look on Barney's face when, after he told Andy that he thought the man with the heavy accent might be from Canada, then Andy slyly said he might be from Eckmundwyke, England. Andy said, "Ask him." When Barney did and Malcolm said the very town Andy just named, Barney's mouth opened as he gazed at Andy in amazement.
Since he couldn't pay for the damage he caused, Andy thought he could perform handyman chores around his house to earn enough. But Malcolm only broke a window and proved totally inept at those chores, but jumped at the chance to cook and clean for Andy and Opie, since Aunt Bee was away for a few days.
He was super at cooking and teaching Opie some magic tricks but was a bit of a pest as he insisted Andy dress up for supper and such. This led to him overhearing Andy admitting to Barney that he was not totally loving Malcolm's housekeeping, so Malcolm decides to leave right away.
But Andy found out what happened and he drives out and finds him, smiles at Malcolm and "orders" him back to continue his duties--in essence, an apology without apologizing for hurting his feelings, and Malcolm returned happily, not leaving until Aunt Bee returned.
I thought Malcolm could have been worked into the show as a regular. His few return visits were also quite funny, even a color one where he confronted Ernest T. Bass.
Far fetched fantasy to showcase Bernard Fox
vitoscotti25 April 2022
The whole story is pretty preposterous even for a sitcom. A sheriff would let a complete stranger live in his house, watch his son, and be forced to adhere to British gentlemen's gentlemen protocols.
Even with the bizarreness of the episode it's fun to watch any thing with Bernard Fox.
I particularly liked Barney's scenes. The classic "from somewheres else", and Barney self-consciously embarrassed by his casual attire visiting during a formal supper. Epilogue was just okay.
Even with the bizarreness of the episode it's fun to watch any thing with Bernard Fox.
I particularly liked Barney's scenes. The classic "from somewheres else", and Barney self-consciously embarrassed by his casual attire visiting during a formal supper. Epilogue was just okay.
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