Mayberry R.F.D. (TV Series) Howard, the Swinger (1971) User Reviews

Howard's Swinging Triangle

[JordanThomasHall · 7/10 · 25 February 2020]

The Mt. Pilot newspaper's fashion editor Pamela Bennington's (Judith McConnell) car breaks down and she is brought into Mayberry by Goober. Howard gives her a ride to her Mt. Pilot apartment building- the singles only Riviera Park. The two like one another, and Howard decides to sublet an apartment there for two months to be near her. Howard decides to hold an upcoming opening house party as he settles into his new life. Pamela doesn't quite work out, and he begins mingling with his single neighbors. He shares mutual admiration with Jane Mullins (Judith Cassmore) who first welcomed him to the complex. She accepts being his date for his upcoming party. However, he next runs into Pamela who says the man she had been seeing is out of the picture. Howard now has the conundrum of two dates for the party. He prefers the more attractive Pamela and lets Goober think Jane is his date. At the party, both ladies think they are with Howard, as he struggles to keep up the charade and must make a decision.

Uncomfortable viewing.

[vitoscotti · 3/10 · 20 December 2023]

Howard Sprague (Jack Dodson) has had girlfriends throughout the series. Here he reverts back to the unlucky with women Howard. That'd be ok but he was really dumbed down and stripped of his confidence, and of social grace.

The script had an icky feel to it how Howard falls for Pamela and moves at the spur of the moment to be near her. Not many highlights. A lot of character actors from the 60s. Some who passed early in life. The two dates at the same time is a high school sitcom thing that felt weird with adults some near 40.

Best scene was Goober Pyle (George Lindsey) comically dancing up a storm like only he can do. A task to get through the episode.