The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) Ellie for Council (1960) User Reviews

Not terrible, but it does come off as a tad preachy.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 18 October 2010]

This is far from my favorite episodes of the series, as at times it seemed a bit heavy-handed and preachy--though the overall message was pretty good.

There is an election in town for city council and the men of town take it for granted that yet another man will run for this office. Incensed with their taking the women of Mayberry for granted, Ellie decides to run for office against Andy! Soon, it turns into a very stereotypical battle of the sexes in town--with all the women solidly behind Ellie and the men solidly behind Andy. And, uncharacteristically, Andy buys into this stupidness...that is until Opie inadvertently teaches him the error of his ways in a rather touching scene.

While it was very nice to see an episode that dealt with women's rights, this one seemed way too unreal and preachy--and quite unlike the normal writing of this show. Everyone behaved more like caricatures throughout and many formerly decent people began behaving like vicious idiots--something that just didn't sit well with me.

Andy says to the men that they control the purse strings. Do they really?

[deblc-91334 · 7/10 · 17 June 2022]

This episode makes me wonder how Otis and his wife survive in the world? In a least one episode later, we see Otis's house, and it seems to be very nice. He's drunk a lot of the time. He has been known to look for jobs in various episodes. Does the house belong to the mother in law?

This also makes me wonder about Aunt Bea. Does Andy pay her? In a later episode she buys the car with her own money. Interesting questions.

Very Funny Episode

[michaelscheindlinger1 · 8/10 · 21 November 2019]

I know I know, it's offensive in 2019. This episode was a sign of the times when women were at home cooking and cleaning. If you can get past that, which most reasonable people should, the episode has some down right hilarious scenes. Personally, I am not a fan of Ellie because I don't think her and Andy had the chemistry to be a believable couple. I prefer Helen. She was closer to his age and I believed that they loved each other. So if you need to, grab a puppy and go to your safe space, but watch this episode. It is very very funny.

Opening the Door for Women (a little)

[ncole1962 · 7/10 · 15 October 2021]

It seems antiquated today, but this particular episode was fairly progressive for 1960. I can only imagine the conversations it started in living rooms across the country when it aired.

Ellie decides to run for City Council in Mayberry and the men become incensed that "a woman" would have the nerve to enter the race and the women rally behind Ellie. Tension grows between Andy and Ellie and their (sort of) romantic relationship.

This episode strikes me as rather simplistic and clunky dealing with women's rights and their place in politics and...well, anywhere outside of the kitchen, but 60+ years hindsight gives one a clearer perspective. I have to give props to the producers and writers for putting it out there and opening that door just a little bit wider for the women's movement to kick it down in the 1970's.

Kick Andy in the Lake

[Hitchcoc · 5/10 · 23 November 2019]

When Andy becomes the representation of basic insensitivity, he loses his allure for me. First of all, he is lucky to have anything to do with Eleanor Donahue. She's about half his age and pretty liberated. I buy into the difference between our time and theirs. What bugs me is his inability to keep his mouth shut. If she found out that he was responsible for the men retaliating against their wives, she should have told him to get lost for good. This is a flaw in a normally principled and courageous character.

Andy is very annoying.

[vitoscotti · 2/10 · 19 September 2022]

Season 1 country bumpkin Andy is just on the screen too much. Don Knotts will get more screen time starting in season 2. Barney has shown flashes of brilliance in his limited role. We get to see Hilda Mae (Florence McMichael) who wi) be Winnie Kirkwood on "Mr Ed" in a better part for her. Opie forgot about beloved Rose (Mary Treen) awful fast. Here another dry character Clara Lindsay. The anti-women bit was very forced and laid an egg. Otis is even suggesting hitting them with a leg of lamb which Andy eventually agreed with. The whole episode is awkward with no laughs. One of many season 1 episodes that is country bumpkin Andy dominant that fails.