Some nice touches of satire and characterization distinguish this "caper" episode of THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. Most interesting of all is the musical thread that runs through it: the episode opens with Andy singing a folk song, which prompts Barney to lament the fact that he lives in a "hick town." Later, after Barney realizes that he and Andy have the opportunity to become famous as a result of Mayberry's crime-free record, he composes an unintentionally funny folk song parody celebrating their exploits. TAGS was great at using music as a constitutive element of the plot. Too, Barney's vanity and vainglory are at their peak in this episode. And Floyd adds to the fun as well: after the award is given, he attempts to make a commercial tourist venture out of Mayberry with tours of the jail house!
Truth be told, the central premise of the episode is pretty implausible; who would believe a couple of guys claiming to be FBI agents and telling them that their town is the most crime-free in the country? But thanks to the imaginative writing and the comedy prowess of the TAGS cast, this is small matter. Be sure to look out for prolific TV character actor George Petrie as the "photographer" half of the pair of crooks; he was a veteran of THE HONEYMOONERS and LEAVE IT TO BEAVER as Eddie Haskell's father, among many other shows.
Truth be told, the central premise of the episode is pretty implausible; who would believe a couple of guys claiming to be FBI agents and telling them that their town is the most crime-free in the country? But thanks to the imaginative writing and the comedy prowess of the TAGS cast, this is small matter. Be sure to look out for prolific TV character actor George Petrie as the "photographer" half of the pair of crooks; he was a veteran of THE HONEYMOONERS and LEAVE IT TO BEAVER as Eddie Haskell's father, among many other shows.
