Ellie for Council

Synopsis of Ellie for Council – The Andy Griffith Show season 1

When Ellie wonders why there are no women running for the city council and doesn’t like Andy’s answers, especially his use of the word silly, she decides to run herself. The town quickly divides into two camps, with the men cutting off their wives’ charge accounts and the women refusing to cook and clean for their husbands. Ellie decides to quit the race when she sees the uproar she has caused but Andy, realizing he was wrong, tells everyone there is no good reason for her not to run. Original airdate: December 12, 1960

This is clearly one of the early episodes, in several ways.  First, Ellie as Andy’s love interest didn’t last past the first season.  Second, this is the type of foolish mistake that Barney Fife (Don Knotts) would typically do, and Andy would fix.  Even so, a good episode, and it’s nice to see Andy eat a slice of humble pie for a change.

Trivia for Ellie for Council

• In this episode, Barney is dating Hilda May, who is mentioned again in the episode Christmas Story

Cast of characters

• Andy Griffith (A Face in the Crowd, Matlock) … Andy Taylor
• Ron Howard (The Music Man) … Opie Taylor (as Ronny Howard)
• Don Knotts (The Incredible Mr. Limpet) … Barney Fife
• Frances Bavier (The Stooge, The Day the Earth Stood Still) … Aunt Bee Taylor
• Florence MacMichael … Hilda Mae
• Frank Ferguson (Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein) … Sam Lindsey
• Mary Treen (It’s a Wonderful Life) … Clara Lindsey
• Forrest Lewis … Angry man
• Hal Smith (Adventures in Odyssey, Million Dollar Duck) … Otis Campbell
• Dorothy Neumann (The Undead, The Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow) … Rita Campbell

Updated March 1, 2022