The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) Goober's Contest (1967) User Reviews

Farewell to Floyd

[barlowralph · 7/10 · 20 January 2014]

"Goober's Contest" is one of the above-average (not the best but certainly not the worst) episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. The interesting anomaly in which a California license plate is clearly obvious on one of the cars at Goober's gas station is only one little diverting facet. The element of this episode that I found the most compelling and also the most heartbreaking is the fact that it is the last time Howard McNear is seen. Most fans know that he had a stroke several years into the series which forced him always to appear either seated, or propped up against something. His speech also deteriorated, and in this episode it is heart-rending to hear him painstakingly deliver his lines. Just to compare, I went back and looked at the first episode he was in, and the difference is startling. So sad to see this fine and talented actor deteriorate before our eyes.

Goodbye Floyd

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 6 January 2020]

At the end of the seventh season, Goober realizes that there are other gas stations that are running contests and scooping up customer. He decides to create a contest, but an error is made at the print shop and it causes quite a commotion. Floyd is the heavy here because he receives a major un-financed prize. But this is the swan song for Floyd.

And Then There Was Another Great Loss

[AudioFileZ · 8/10 · 21 January 2024]

If you consider TAGS revolved around Andy, Barney, Aunt Bee, Opie, & Floyd in most every episode you'd be pretty correct. You might say Goober after Barney left became a staple, but you get the gist of it. Of course Barneys absence lingered, but this episode signals yet another great loss to the core cast. Floyd the barber, or more specifically Howard McNear. More than in previous episodes the failing health of McNear is painfully obvious. It's not the lines, though we're told he couldn't remember them readily, It's the delivery. Howard as Floyd could be hysterically animated without much physical effort at all save for his expressions and arm movements. Here he's totally flat delivering the lines and always seated with nary any movement, especially the exaggerated expressions with hand and arm movements. Being the trooper he was he stayed until the 11th hour to finish season seven. That's just poignant to all of us who absolutely loved the way McNear brought such a unique character like Floyd to life. If Mayberry was that place we all wanted it to be Floyd would always be there killing us viewer with his sing-songy comments and reflections. Though not much stands out about the episode it will always be important to us fans as McNear soldiered on to finish out his run.

Floyd the Barber

[phvince · 9/10 · 18 August 2017]

As written before, this episode was heartbreaking because of Floyd's slurred speaking. In the previous episode it was not so apparent. This episode first came when I was 20 years and it is too long ago for me to remember any TV programs from that long ago. It has been only because of the internet and recent reruns that I learned that the actor had suffered a stroke but continued to act while being half paralyzed.

End for a legendary actor

[vitoscotti · 10/10 · 20 August 2022]

Some sadness to the episode to see Floyd (Howard McNear) noticeably struggle with ill health in season 7.

Three imbeciles Goober (George Lindsey), printer Mr Hammond (Owen Bush), and his assistant Joe "Meathead Stivic" weren't much for double checking and having a meeting of the minds. Bright Opie you'd think would give Goober a heads up to draw a line over $200 and write total. There's no way Wally lets dimwit Goober run his contest. Interesting wide shots of the filling station showing other shows sets. The Floyd double was pretty lame when freezed and examined more closely. Episode ends a strong season 7. My average rating for season 7 episodes is 7.8* out of 10.