The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) Floyd, the Gay Deceiver (1962) User Reviews

Floyd adopts Andy!

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 19 October 2010]

While this is certainly a contrived episode and this sort of plot was not new when it debuted, this is a fun episode from start to finish. It turns out that Floyd has a pen pal, but instead of telling her about his humdrum life, he's created a wild tale about him being a wealthy man! So, when the woman suddenly announces she's coming to Mayberry to meet Floyd, he's hysterical--what will he do (other than, of course, tell the truth?!). Despite knowing better, Andy agrees to help Floyd. They 'borrow' a rich man's home while he's away and then Andy poses as Floyd's son! The ruse works very well and only at the very end do you learn a secret--a secret that makes you laugh.

As I said above, this isn't the most original idea but it did make me laugh--and that's important. Seeing Floyd pretending to be sophisticated and worldly was a hoot and there is a lot to like here.

Outside the box, but an entertaining departure

[[e-mail] · 8/10 · 14 April 2020]

This is a great episode revolving around Floyd the Barber's membership in a Lonely Hearts Club. The role reversals result in the classic misunderstandings of a Shakespeare play.

Andy's explanations to Miss Grayson as to all the incongruencies between the plyers in this farce where even Aunt Bee (Beatrice to Miss Grayson, who assumes she is a servant) plays her role delightfully.

The conclusion of this episode is a very clever scene where Miss Grayson is revealed to Andy as a sort of fraud; harmless enough, but very effective dramatically. And Andy makes sure that his friend Floyd is not hurt. Lots of laughs of a totally different kind than "belly laughs", with a dramatic touch

scene where Floyd's glamorous pen pal is shown up for the fraud that she is. Most important, all the acting is top notch, especially Ms. Grayson, as Floyd's long distance romance, who arrives in a gorgeous Lincoln Continental convertible; and Frances Bavier as Aunt Bee. I would not want to see this sort of contrived "situation comedy" regularly on this normally fresh and timeless series. That said, there are a number of really humorous lines that had me smiling. The episode is saved by the resolution , production quality, and charm (as well as complete immersion in their roles) of the players.

Floyd Takes the Spotlight

[MichaelMartinDeSapio · 10/10 · 16 October 2014]

This delightful episode finds Mayberry's barber Floyd Lawson (Howard McNear) taking center stage in an opera buffa-style plot about romantic pen pals, honesty and pretense. Floyd has been misrepresenting himself as wealthy man in letters to a Lonely Hearts Club pen pal of his named Madeline Grayson. When Madeline announces she is stopping by Mayberry to meet Floyd, he finds himself in a tough spot from which only Andy can rescue him. McNear obviously relishes his rare chance to be in the spotlight and hams up his part wonderfully, flying around the room bewailing his predicament, scolding himself in the barber shop window, and repeatedly declaring he's going to run away to Nashville. Doris Dowling, who appeared in a number of 1940s movies including THE LOST WEEKEND and the Italian neo-realist classic BITTER RICE, plays Madeline Grayson. The comic shenanigans and a poignantly surprising twist at the end make this a highly entertaining half hour.

Howard McNear hits a home run

[vitoscotti · 10/10 · 12 April 2022]

This and "Convicts At Large" are my two favorite Howard McNear performances on TAGS. The minute the whole game arrives at the Devereaux house it's pure comical magic. I especially like Andy the 36 year old student, paw, everybody panicking when Opie walks in. More brilliant casting of Madeline Grayson (Doris Dowling). Dynamic performance. One of TAGS best. Wonderful facial expressions when she thinks she's been caught. Then her little smirk as she's walking out the door. Truly one of TAGS best episodes.

The Lost Weekend

[parkave-23534 · 6/10 · 5 February 2021]

The actress who plays Floyd's pen pal, Doris Dowling, had a key role in the 1945 Best Picture film "The Lost Weekend." She was a neighbor of Ray Milland, who won Best Actor that year. True, this has nothing to do with this TAGS episode, but I think it's interesting!

A Rare Disappointment From The Early Years

[jpop59 · 4/10 · 27 April 2016]

Even if you love Mayberry and are a fan of it's neurotic barber Floyd, you might be disappointed with this episode. Howard McNear tries admirably to carry the goofy plot with his usually hilarious portrayal of Floyd, however there are too many flaws to overlook. The story has Andy discovering that Floyd has been corresponding with a woman he's never met and lying about his status and wealth. So when the woman decides to finally visit Floyd in Mayberry its up to Andy to handle damage control (in the same manner he usually helps Barney save face). What happens next requires the viewer to suspend such disbelief that it actually distracts from any thing else that might be appealing about this episode. We are expected to believe that Andy would actually betray the trust of a homeowner who left his house keys with Andy while out of town. Then we are expected to believe that Andy would go along with Floyd's charade and even include Aunt Bee and Opie on the deception. A better showcase of Howard McNear's characterization of Floyd is the episode "Convicts at Large". Check that one out first and avoid this rare disappointing episode from the classic era of "The Andy Griffith Show".

Floyd the Barber the gay deceiver.

[mloessel · 4/10 · 27 September 2023]

Floyd the Barber (aka Howard McNear) decides to deceive a lady in a lonely hearts/pen pal correspondence. He makes himself out to be a wealthy business man and she decides to visit Mayberry and meet him. Andy Taylor volunteers to help in his deception thinking that the lady (Madelyn Grayson) may be just as a much a deceiver as he is. He is right she is.

Taylor happens to be housesitting one of Mayberry's wealthy citizen's mansion while that citizen is visiting a family in New Orleans. He decides to use the mansion as Floyd's residence. Fast forward to Madelyn showing up in a Lincoln Coupe. The charade begins as Floyd meets Madelyn and his maid (Aunt Bee), his very older son (Andy Taylor) followed by an unexpected visit from Opie. Madelyn buys into this charade and is invited to sit down and begins a friendly conversation w/Floyd.

Ms Grayson is pleased that Floyd is who he says he is. Unfortunately the conversation shifts to Madelyn suggesting she stay longer then one day. She says she's not in a rush to drive to Palm Beach. She goes outside to get her luggage and asks Floyd to send out Andy to help her. Floyd shares this news with Andy. Andy decides that's it it is time for the truth to be told. Floyd goes to the kitchen and Andy waits for Madelyn to return. Andy reveals who he is and shows Madelyn his sheriff's badge. He further states that Floyd is not the wealthy man he claims to be. As he speaks the truth Madelyn begins to chuckle and asks Andy where she went wrong. She reveals that she's not a wealthy widow and is Andy going to arrest her. Andy says he's not going to arrest her because not actual crime has been committed. But he suggests she moves on. She also reveals that the car she's driving is a rental. Madelyn leaves and comments that this is the first time she's been caught in her lie. Andy says the next sheriff may not be so generous.

I can't imagine any other actor playing the role of Floyd. He was Floyd the Barber for 6 years. In this episode I found Howard McNear to be at his quirky best. He'd joined a pen pal correspondence club and reinvents himself becoming a wealthy businessman. Of course the lady (aka Doris Dowling) he corresponds was equally deceptive. Dowling plays a very convincing role as Madelyn. She arrives driving a Lincoln and dressed to the nines. A lovely lady putting on a rather convincing show.

Good Old Deception at Its Worst

[Hitchcoc · 5/10 · 4 December 2019]

Floyd is part of a lonelyhearts club. He has corresponded with a rich widow, but now she is coming to see him. He tries to engage Andy in a deception, where he is to be his lying self. That is a wealthy man. Andy goes through steps that are illegal and he betrays the trust of a man who lives in a big fancy house. Floyd just doesn't come off very well here (this is a tired old plot).

Sometimes Andy disappoints me...

[abrytravel · 5/10 · 16 February 2022]

For someone who is supposed to be God Fearing and law Abiding, sometimes Andy disappoints me. This is another episode where Andy should have told Floyd to put on his boy boy panties. Andy should not have encouraged Floyd to lie and put on a false front. Andy and Aunt Bea are in on the lie. C'mon Andy. Would you want someone treating you or Opie that way?

Another time was when Aunt Bea lied about having the egg farmer as her boyfriend. The show made light of the fact Aunt Bea could have ruined this man's marriage by fibbing about the relationship.

Liars abound

[xapie128 · 1/10 · 10 August 2021]

For the wholesome Andy Griffith show, this one uncharacteristically spends the majority of its time telling lies about Floyd, Andy, Aunt Bee, and Opie.