The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) The Beauty Contest (1961) User Reviews

A cute episode....

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 17 October 2010]

Andy is given a very dubious distinction. He's the judge for the Miss Mayberry pageant. Now you'd think this would be a good thing, but the good folks of the town are acting like a bunch of idiots, as they all try to convince Andy to give their favored entrant his 'special consideration'! Naturally, Andy is horrified by these blatant attempts to influence him but it only gets worse when even his own family tries to influence him as well! Andy doesn't want to disappoint anyone but he also doesn't want to cheat, so he's in a real bind. In the end, at the very last second, he comes up with a great solution that naturally doesn't please anyone but is true to the spirit of a true beauty pageant.

This show is pretty good and is made even more so by Opie's 'help'. Seeing him bringing a classmate to Andy so that he'll give her the crown is pretty cute--as is the final scene with her. The writing is quite good and it further solidifies that the people of Mayberry are far from perfect and yet in spite of everything, Andy is a decent man who always tries to do the right thing.

Andy Isn't All That Perfect

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 25 November 2019]

The other reviewers point out that Andy is torn, trying to do the right thing because of his honesty and integrity. Well, what does he do when he get that job of beauty contest judge: tell Ellie she has already won. He then becomes embroiled in town busybodies wanting their daughters to win the contest. It has a nice ending and, I'm sure, not such pleasant consequences for Sheriff Taylor.

The Contest

[kellielulu · 8/10 · 9 November 2022]

This is a good episode for showing a lot of the people of Mayberry. It also shows how people get carried away over a town beauty pageant. It's to highlight the founders day celebration.

Ellie thinks Andy is the best choice to judge it but quickly changes her mind as he thinks she wants to win . She doesn't. Everyone paraded their choice including Opie . Aunt Bee wants Ellie . Andy is overwhelmed and literally doesn't know who to choose.

It's interesting there is no Barney in this one he would have been a hoot coming up with his own choice . He may have overshadowed so that may be why.

In the end Andy makes a choice of the one person in town who shows true inner beauty. Watch for the look on the sweet lady's face as she's crowned. Although I must say I liked Mary Wiggins - Opie's choice and one of his school friends . When Opie pleads Mary's case again at Floyd's Andy declares Mary Miss Mayberry junior.

Being the Judge is a lowly assignment.

[mloessel · 8/10 · 30 November 2023]

Ms Ellie nominates Andy to be the Judge of the 'Miss Mayberry' Beauty contest. Following the nomination Andy has a conversation with Ms Ellie suggests (much to his dismay) that the reason she nominated him was so he could pick her though other candidates would enter. Ms Ellie wastes no time and berates Andy for suggesting she had that thought in mind. Taylor is then inundated with parents parading their daughters before Andy as possible winners. Eventually Miss Ellie is put in the mix of Miss Mayberry candidates, and she expresses her displeasure to Andy at the crowning ceremony.

At the last-minute Andy chooses the lady that has assisted him through the various stages of the contest (Erma Bishop). Erma is played by veteran character actress Lillian Bronson. Ms Ellie shows her appreciation to Andy as the other candidates begin to cry feeling they should've been picked. As a final touch Floyd the barber sings the song 'Hail to thee Miss Mayberry'.

"Oh hail to thee Miss Mayberry'.

[vitoscotti · 9/10 · 26 September 2022]

Early flaw was dumbing down of Andy insulting lovely Ellie (Elinor Donahue) that she wanted a fix. Wonderful cast throughout. Henrietta (Elvia Allman) will be Elverna Bradshaw on "The Beverly Hillbillies" & Oscar Madison's mother on "The Odd Couple". Lovely beauty contestants and pushy parents was hilarious. Cute Josie Lloyd now Josephine Pike previously Juanita is always a joy to see. Andy saying the contestants visiting his home weren't pretty was a clunker poorly written ignorant line. Funny Mayor Pike (Dick Elliot) opinion flipping early. Floyd's (Howard McNear) song was hilarious. Andy as a single judge is rediculous when multiple judges is the norm. But writers needed something to put Andy on the spot. Barney oddly was missing thats occurred a few times already.

A Beautiful Queen, Inside and Out

[[e-mail] · 7/10 · 9 November 2022]

I always enjoy this episode, with the mothers parading their daughters past Sheriff Andy using various ruses to get into his home so that he will see that each is most deserving to win the coveted title of Miss Mayberry. Poor Andy. Even Opie has his adorable classmate with the irresistible space in her front teeth that he just knows will also be a favorite with his pop. And then there's Andy's love interest, Ellie; is she interested in competing or not?!

There aren't many big laughs here--very little of Barney. The pressure on Andy from everyone from Opie to (surprisingly) Floyd finally forces Andy to become disenchanted with the whole event. He decides to award the crown to a lovely lady who has volunteered to help in the pageant in everything from costumes to musical accompaniment.

What no one mentions is that Erma, played by Lillian Bronson, really is a lovely woman. (Please view her next to the Morrison sisters who have a still in their greenhouse). I always have thought it was too bad we couldn't have seen her in the most flattering makeup and outfit that the young girls were wearing for the contest.

This is a very nice episode, although it does seem kind of cruel to the girls who legitimately believed they had a chance at the crown.