Barney on the Rebound (TAGS Episode)

Episode Info

Barney on the Rebound

• S2.E5
• Filmed: 36
• Aired: 37
• Original Air Date: 1961/10/30
• Writer(s): Jack Elinson and Charles Stewart
• Director: Bob Sweeney

Plot Summary

Barney's head is turned by lovely young newcomer Melissa Stevens, the more attractive half of a pair of con artists out to trap naive young bachelors into breach-of-promise settlements. Andy saves the day by calling the bluff of Melissa's suspiciously young "father", George Stevens. In the middle of what the pair had hoped would be their payoff, Andy begins the wedding vows, and the two back off.

Summary

In "Barney on the Rebound," the fifth episode of the second season of *The Andy Griffith Show* (originally aired October 30, 1961), the small town of Mayberry becomes the stage for a comedic tale of romance, deception, and redemption. The episode opens with Deputy Barney Fife, Mayberry’s well-meaning but perpetually nervous lawman, experiencing a rare tiff with his longtime girlfriend, Thelma Lou. Their spat leaves Barney feeling dejected and vulnerable, setting the scene for his latest misadventure. Enter Melissa Stevens, a glamorous and flirtatious newcomer to town, accompanied by her smooth-talking father. Melissa wastes no time zeroing in on Barney, dazzling him with compliments and attention that play perfectly into his fragile ego. Swept off his feet, Barney quickly falls head over heels, convinced he’s found a new love to replace Thelma Lou.

Unbeknownst to Barney, Melissa and her father are seasoned con artists with a devious plan. They manipulate Barney into proposing marriage, intending to accuse him of breach of promise—a legal maneuver that would allow them to sue him for a hefty sum and then disappear with the cash. Barney, oblivious to their ulterior motives, basks in the glow of Melissa’s affection, proudly announcing his whirlwind engagement to anyone who will listen. Meanwhile, Sheriff Andy Taylor, the calm and perceptive heart of Mayberry, grows wary of the newcomers’ sudden interest in his deputy. Sensing trouble, Andy begins piecing together clues about Melissa and her father, whose overly polished demeanor and vague backstory raise red flags.

Determined to save Barney from himself, Andy enlists Thelma Lou—who, despite her earlier frustration with Barney, still cares deeply for him—and other Mayberry locals in a clever counter-scheme. They devise a plan to turn the tables on the con artists by staging a fake wedding ceremony, complete with all the trappings of a real event. As the “big day” approaches, Melissa and her father believe they’ve secured their payday, but the staged nuptials throw them into a panic. Faced with the prospect of actually tying the knot with Barney—whose bumbling sincerity only adds to the absurdity—they realize they’ve been outsmarted. The swindlers hastily abandon their plot and flee Mayberry, leaving Barney bewildered but unharmed.

In the aftermath, Barney comes to terms with his gullibility, his pride slightly bruised but his spirit intact. With a little nudging from Andy, he reconciles with Thelma Lou, who welcomes him back with a mix of exasperation and affection. The episode closes on a warm note, with Barney safely reinstated in Thelma Lou’s good graces and the Mayberry community reaffirmed in its quirky, protective unity. "Barney on the Rebound" is a classic showcase of the show’s signature blend of humor and heart, spotlighting Barney’s endearing flaws, Andy’s quiet wisdom, and the timeless charm of small-town loyalty.

Odd Facts Known by Few

• The same license plate, VT 722, is on Melissa Stevens' car in this episode and is on the Chevrolet driven by Mayberry's new Mayor Stoner (Parley Baer) in "Andy and the New Mayor."

• Barney parked right beside the fireplug in front of the courthouse so he could talk to Thelma Lou. The female con artist in this episode pulled up right behind the parked squad car. Barney stopped his conversation with Thelma - so he could tell the driver to move the car as the area was reserved for official vehicles. Barney should have written himself a ticket for parking in front of the hydrant.

• The dispatch radio in the Sheriff's Office, seen sitting beside the gun rack, is a Motorola, as indicated by the "M" insignia on the front.

• As Andy approaches Thelma Lou's home, we see the porch of her home. The dimensions of the porch exterior differ from the close-up set when she answers the door, notably the length of the wall to the left of the door jamb.

• Barney says "I love you too much. Too much," which is quoting the chorus of Elvis Presley´s 1956 hit ¨Too Much.”

• This episode premise was revisited in the "Marry Me, Marry Me" (Season 3, Episode 10) of Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C.

• Jackie Coogan, a former child star, appeared as "George Stevens" in this episode, and would later play the role of "Uncle Fester" on the TV show, "The Addams Family." As a child star in the 1920s, Coogan earned millions, but his parents squandered his fortune, leading to the passage of the "Coogan Act" to protect child actors’ earnings. This personal history adds an ironic layer to his role as a grifter in this episode.

• Actress Beverly Tyler dated the likes of Tom Drake, Peter Lawford, Audie Murphy, Mickey Rooney and Rory Calhoun,. Despite this, she did not settle down in marriage until 1962 when she wed comedy writer/director Jim Jordan, Jr., who was the son of the famous "Fibber McGee & Molly" radio couple.

• Breach of Promise Laws Were Still Relevant: The con artists threaten Barney with a "breach of promise" lawsuit, a legal action where someone could sue for damages if an engagement was broken off. While this might seem outdated to modern viewers, such laws were still on the books in North Carolina (where Mayberry is fictionally located) in 1961. North Carolina didn’t fully repeal its breach-of-promise statute until 2019, meaning Barney could have theoretically been legally vulnerable at the time of the episode.

Character List

• Andy Griffith - Andy Taylor
• Don Knotts - Barney Fife
• Ronny Howard - Opie Taylor
• Frances Bavier - Aunt Bee Taylor
• Betty Lynn - Thelma Lou
• Jackie Coogan - George Stevens
• Beverly Tyler - Gladys/Melissa