Andy Griffith Show Memories : Episode #22 - Cyrano Andy

Cyrano Andy

Overview

Barney can't quite seem to get up the nerve to ask Thelma Lou to be his steady girl.

Episode Number: 22 Season Number: 1

First Aired: March 6, 1961

Writers: Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart

Director: Bob Sweeney

Cast/Crew/Guest Stars

Ron Howard (Opie Taylor)

Don Knotts (Barney Fife)

Andy Griffith (Sheriff Andy Taylor)

Frances Bavier (Aunt Bee Taylor)

Elinor Donahue (Ellie Walker)

Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou)

Episode Summary

Despite Andy's encouragement, Barney can't quite seem to get up the nerve to tell Thelma Lou (in her first appearance) how much he really likes her. Andy can see that Thelma Lou is just as smitten with Barney, so he decides to take the matter up with her. He tells her how Barney really feels. Sensing a golden opportunity, Thelma Lou pretends that Andy is sweet on her, hoping to force Barney's hand. When Barney gets the news, he confronts Andy and wants to fight. Andy refuses, of course, but Barney figures there are other ways to pay Andy back. He sets his romantic sights on Ellie Walker, Andy's steady girl. After Ellie rejection, Barney decides to give in and quit the force. In order to patch things up Andy and Ellie decide to try a little reverse psychology. Andy gets fresh with Thelma Lou and Ellie throws herself at Barney - prompting both to bolt away in outrage and run right into one another! Now emboldened, Barney asks Thelma Lou to be his steady.

Notes/Trivia/Quotes

• The episode title is a pun of the 1897 Edmond Rostand play, "Cyrano de Bergerac."
• This marks the first appearance of Thelma Lou, Barney's long-time girlfriend, played by Betty Lynn.
• Barney and Thelma Lou would keep steady company for years before going their separate ways after the fifth season...Barney off to pursue his career and Thelma Lou off with another man (we see her husband in Season Six's "The Return of Barney Fife"). Fate won out in the end. In 1986, the long-running romance finally saw Barney and Thelm Lou (since divorced) married in the TV move "Return to Mayberry."
• The series was filmed entirely in Hollywood, at Desilu Productions on the former RKO Pictures lot. Mayberry exteriors were shot on the former Selznick International Pictures lot, later known as Forty Acres. The rural fishing hole that opened each episode was Franklin Canyon Lake, just north of Beverly Hills. Franklin Canyon was also the site of the show's Myers Lake and other outdoor locales.
• The whistled theme song, "The Fishin' Hole" was composed by Earle Hagen (the music coordinator and famous whistler of the show) and Herbert Spencer, with unsung lyrics by Everett Sloane. Hagen also wrote the music for the series.

Andy: (asking Barney about his date with Thelma Lou) "Did you get a little kissy?"

More From Mayberry

Come join in the fun of The Andy Griffith Show Online Hangman Game. It's therapetic! Just take the link below:

The Andy Griffith Show Online Hangman Game

Also see:

Episode #1 - The New Housekeeper

Episode #2 - The Manhunt

Episode #3 - The Guitar Player

Episode #4 - Ellie Comes to Town

Episode #5 - Irresistible Andy

Episode #6 - Runaway Kid

Episode #7 - Andy the Matchmaker

Episode #8 - Opie's Charity

Episode #9 - A Feud is a Feud

Episode #10 - Ellie for Council

Episode #11 - Christmas Story

Episode #12 - Stranger in Town

Episode #13 - Mayberry Goes Hollywood

Episode #14 - The Horse Trader

Episode #15 - Those Gossipin' Men

Episode #16 - The Beauty Contest

Episode #17 - Alcohol and Old Lace

Episode #18 - Andy the Marriage Counselor

Episode #19 - Mayberry on Record

Episode #20 - Andy Saves Barney's Morale

Episode #21 - Andy and the Gentleman Crook