The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) Hot Rod Otis (1964) User Reviews

Closing the door without a key not a goof

[TerryS-50928 · 9/10 · 1 February 2024]

I've noticed in many reviews and goofs that some fans don't understand the type of locks used on the cell doors in the courthouse. It was a deliberate decision of the producers to use latch bolts rather than dead bolts. A latch bolt is just like the doors in your house. The door latches when you push it shut. This is different from a dead bolt that requires a key or thumb turn to operate the dead bolt. Every jail cell door in the known universe has a dead bolt which requires a key to extend the dead bolt. But just think of all the episodes where Barney accidentally lets the door close behind him locking him in the cell and the key isn't on the peg on the wall. Laughter galore. If the door had a dead bolt, which required a key to extend it, Barney could never accidentally lock himself in the cell. Hence, that gag could never happen. One of the "goofs" in this episode failed to understand this. Only in the fictional world of the Mayberry courthouse would the cell door have a latch bolt rather than a deadbolt.

Drink and drive!

[parkave-23534 · 7/10 · 15 February 2021]

I'm a very devoted fan of TAGS, and have been for years, but when an episode features drunken Otis it makes me think: Such episodes make alcoholism out to be fun and amusing. But I know very personally that alcoholism is a serious health and social issue, and no laughing matter, and would never be amusing in a tv show today. But it's the 1960's, and TAGS is a comedy, so enjoy it!

Good, but no real big laughs.

[vitoscotti · 7/10 · 15 May 2022]

Andy exhibits very poor judgement on not being concerned the town drunk bought a car. A rare Barney on the ball episode. Fun scenes, but nothing outrageously funny.

Andy & Barney singing "The Vacant Chair" was a definite highlight. Barney teaching Otis the rules of the road was certainly memorable.

Epilogue was good. But, like the rest of the episode, only ok. Compared to horrible tv made today it towers. Just not up to the many season 4 10* classic episode's standards.

A must-see just to hear the song...

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 24 October 2010]

This is a wonderful episode--made even more so than one of the funniest scenes in the entire series taking place in this show. It begins with Otis, as usual, checking himself in to jail after a bender. The only difference is that the very drunk Otis insists he be woken up at 8am--he has something important to do. Barney and Andy figure that this is just the liquor talking and Barney insists they should make him up early just to teach him a lesson. Amazingly, Otis is grateful for the early wakeup and is readying to leave. When asked why, he tells them that he's been saving up for ages in order to buy a car!! Considering he's the town drunk, the idea of him drunk driving naturally scares the boys, so they decide on a very elaborate hoax to teach Otis a lesson. So, when they soon find him drunk and apparently about to drive a short time later, they drag him back to the cell and wait for him to awaken. When Otis does, Barney and Andy keep straight faces and behave as if Otis died! They talk about how they miss him and what a great guy he was. But it gets better when Barney and Andy begin singing a song to their 'dead' comrade--especially when Otis joins in with the song! It's hilarious--and made even more so by the punchline.

This is one you just have to see--clever, very funny and sweet.

The Death of Otis--Sort Of

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 10 December 2019]

Otis's alcoholism continues as he checks into his usual cell. He asks the boys to wake him at 8 a.m. and they do. It turns out he has saved enough to buy a jalopy. It becomes obvious that the whole town will be in danger if the town drunk has wheels. What follows is one of the funniest things I've seen in any television show. Do not miss this.