Ernest T. Bass

[DTMX]

Howard Morris, aka Ernest T. Bass from the Andy Griffith Show, died over the weekend.

By far my favorite character on a show that had so many, I laughed myself sick when he tuned a gasoline can (by tightening the cap) before serenading Charlene Darling during his first appearence on the Andy Griffith Show.

Of course he ended up married to Barney - saw that coming a mile away.

And the dialogue on that show - comedy gold...

Briscoe Darling is waiting for Andy & Barney when they come into the courthouse.

Briscoe: Well, there's this fella up home: Ernest T. Bass. He just don‘t take to Dud and Charlene bein' married.

Andy: Well, it's all legal and everything. I give you a copy of the marriage certificate and kept a copy here for my files.

Briscoe: I know that. But that doesn't signify with Ernest T. Bass. He keeps botherin' Charlene... yellin' in the night... throwin' rocks through the windows.

Andy: Well, can't you and your boys handle it?

Briscoe: Well, we thought about killin' him – kinda hated to go that far.

[ghost of miles]

Funny thing is that that character appeared on only five or so shows, right? And yet he's legendary in the annals of TV history.

[catesta]

Bummer.

"Howdy do to you and you! It's me, it's me, it's Ernest T!"

RIP

[catesta]

I didn't realize he had a site.

Sounds and all...

Ernest T .COM

[Jazzmoose]

I guess I missed those five episodes...

[JSngry]

Howie Morris did a helluva lot more than play Ernest T. Bass!

A great career, and a significant contributor to the earliest Golden Age of Television.

R.I.P., and thanks.

[Jazz Kat]

"You ain't heard the last, from Ernest T. Bass!"

[Chuck Nessa]

Most of my memories are from Sid's show. Never saw the Andy stuff. He was a serious man of comedy. One of the best.

[Jim Dye]

Maybe we should make the Ernest T forum the new Back Room.

[Ron S]

Maybe we should make the Ernest T forum the new Back Room.

And instead of Kevin Bacon, Emilio Estevez, etc., we could assume the personas of our favorite Mayberry residents:

[AfricaBrass]

Ernest T. was a great character.

Andy Griffith was smart to not have him on too often, E.T. Bass would have ended up taking over like Urkel or the Fonz on their respective shows. I loved the chaos that he brought to Mayberry.

Since they made a spinoff of the Andy Griffith show anyway, I wish they would have sent Ernest T. off the Marines instead of Gomer Pyle. Now that would have been a funny show. Instead of Gollllleeee Sgt. Carter, you'd have had the good Sgt. getting the Ernest T. treatment.