what did the dresser say to the mirror
We are very pleased to have this feature here on the TAGSRWC web site. You lot volition exist able to read the answers to questions posed to two of The Andy Griffith Show's well-nigh prolific writers, Harvey Bullock and Everett Greenbaum. We can't give thanks these two wonderful writers enough for their time and for giving us this insight into "our hometown."
Q.
What did Barney mean when he was talking near the hot conditions and said, "It must be the bomb?"
A. From Everett:
This was a very common expression during the mail service-Earth State of war menstruation. Back and so, equally some of yous have mentioned, people ascribed every unusual happenstance as an aftermath of "the Bomb." It was a worldwide apprehension. I went to a theater in London during a monstrous downpour...I said to the doorman, "Nasty conditions, what?" He immediately said....well, you know the line.
From Harvey:
Aye, information technology was a mutual misconception which Barney probably shared with many. But somehow, reading the script 30 years afterwards, I wince a bit about getting gentle Mayberry associating unnecessarily, even in a minor style, with the topical and tragic. Maybe my years in OZ accept made me a softy.
Q.
I have a question for Harvey Bullock. I've watched the episode "Aunt Bee's Romance" at to the lowest degree 30 times, and I e'er wonder about the punchline to Roger's riddle: What DID the mirror say to the dresser?
A. To that most faithful viewer who's seen AUNT BEE'S ROMANCE thirty times (!!) and is going into last bonkers over a question asked just not answered.; Beginning I am flattered immensely by your interest in TAGS. Next, ,I really had to rack my ancient mind to recall the reply in the old gag I had the annoying Roger employ, due east.thou. "What did the mirror say to the dresser?"
In the script I didn't give the answer, I stewed and stewed, finally EUREKA..later on 35 years the answer came to me..I remembered information technology was a bear on gamey to be told in Aunt Bee's presence, (but very tame by today's standards.) the zippy respond is
I DON'T Hateful TO Cast REFLECTIONS, BUT YOUR DRAWERS ARE OPEN.
I hope True-blue Fan's sanity can at present be saved.. all-time to all, Harvey Bullock
Everett Greenbaum plays along with Andy on the set.
Q. You had mentioned being a freelance writer. Were yous deputed to write a sure number of episodes, or did you just submit them as yous wrote them? Did you ever have any ideas rejected, and what stories were these?
A. Freelance writers were gypsies. They worked mostly at abode, weren't on a payroll so no salary, no perks. Being new in town, the tough part was getting a buyer to listen to my story ideas. Producers were hard-pressed to observe fourth dimension to meet with an unknown who hadn't written a single word for any sitcom in town.
Finally a interruption; my amanuensis got me a meeting with Aaron Ruben at TAGS. I rehearsed telling my four or five notions (Per marriage rule, they had to be presented orally, nothing in writing.) If the producer didn't have any, the meeting was over, no coin changed hands.
Aaron was most gracious, sensing my nervousness. He was effective, and non adversarial. Wonder of wonders, he accustomed i of my stories, OPIE'Southward HOBO FRIEND. I was at present entitled to "story" money (about $1100) and if the story went through to completed script, another $2400)
Best of all I had a chance to work on a that prestigious evidence. What a thrill!! I drove away from the studio in my rent-a-wreck clunker, and the wheels never touched the ground!
Thereafter I would meet with Aaron whenever I had accumulated some story notions. He often bought ane. Sometimes a producer offered a "multiple script" deal promising a writer a sure number of assignments, usually 3 or iv. This was beneficial to both, the producer was assured of a supply of "workable" scripts and the freelance author had a mensurate of security. Of course, the writer still had to come up up with enough stories to make full his commitment. Afterward my start yr, Aaron offered me a TWELVE script commitment! Unheard of! My wheels were off the ground again.
Now, what were some of the rejected stories Aaron didn't purchase? There were many, many of them, many more rejects than acceptances. Simply to my utter amazement, I tin can't retrieve the details of a singe 1! I guess my brain just sluiced them away as useless memories, best forgotten...Harvey
Q.
In the WBMUTBB Digest of 2/18/99 Ken Kokourek spotted a graphic symbol in episode #39 named Frank Myers (played by Andy Clyde). In the credits of this episode at that place was too a Frank Due east. Myers listed as production manager for TAGS. Was this just a coincidence or a manner of honoring the Production Manager?
A. The late Frank Myers was an affable hard-working TAGS production chief...he had to line up live bears, or pole-climbing repairmen, or a loaded caprine animal, or a collapsible cave for the rescue story..whatever the author indicated. My partner, Ray Allen, and I had a small room at the Cahuenga Desilu Studio just down the hall from Frank's office. So on a boring mean solar day, we inserted a phoney scene into a script we'd just finished, It called for as forest fire which was put out by busting a dam open up. The script went to his desk, and presently afterwards we heard the nearly agonizing screech from his part. A truely un-earthful howl...A Wood FIRE AND A DAM BURSTING!!!!!
Eventually he simmered down enough to let us crawl out from nether the desk.
Frank'southward son Chuck was also on the production coiffure. Frank Myers was truly a memorable graphic symbol with omnipotent pride in TAGS. We gratefully used his name, and he relished seeing it. - Harvey
Q.
How tin a re-create of Mr. Greenbaum's autobiography be constitute? Where did the title come up from?
A. The book, THE GOLDENBERG WHO COULDN'T DANCE was published around 1980 by Harcourt Brace Co. Information technology is out of impress only at that place are copies in many libraries.
WHERE DID THAT TITLE Come FROM? Everett had close relatives in Philadelphia named Goldenberg, all of whom prided themselves mightily for existence accomplished dancers. Information technology was in the claret, they all were exceptional, they danced nighttime and day. Everybody except Everett. Endeavour as he might, he couldn't trip the light fantastic toe a lick! The family unit tried everything, Everett couldn't fifty-fifty dance the Hora. He thinks they kept it a surreptitious; they were besides embarrassed to admit to the world there was such a thing as..A Goldenberg who couldn't Dance. - Harvey
Harvey and Andy look over a script.
Q. Where did the "T" in "Ernest T." come from?
A. Everett'south start big-time assignment was writing in New York, with Jim Fritzell, all the scripts for MR. PEEPERS" for the three years information technology was on the air. Wally Cox was the star; the talented cast included Marion Lorne, Pat Benoit, Tony Randall, Ruth McDevitt, Georgian Johnson, Reta Shaw and Jack Warden Jack played the part of crude and tumble school coach. Everett and Jim were broken-hearted to go a proper noun just right for the aggressive Warden. They finally decided to telephone call him "FRANK T. WHIP."
Ev and Jim were tickled by the proper noun, and for whatever reason, were especially happy with the "T" middle initial. Go figure. Many years later when they created Howie Morris' inimitable role, they made certain its name likewise had a middle initial "T". It differed in that it attached itself to the beginning name, which was never used without the T..It was always like one proper name, "Ernest T." - Harvey
Comments from Harvey:
EV GREENBAUM; A STAR IS Born?
Everybody has a niggling streak of ham...the desire to hear laughs and to hypnotize an audience. Everett got his commencement chance when he attended a rehearsal for the MR PEEPERS show. An actor was missing, it was near airtime, so the producer grabbed Everett saying "You wrote the script, you lot know the lines, you do it."And Everett did. It was a tiny role, only a line or two but the producer was impressed. He suggested Ev and Jim Fritzell write a script with a sizable part for Everett . and they did.
The show went on, featuring Cyril Richard. Everett got his cue, stepped onto the prepare. took a breath and then froze solid. His listen went completely totally zero. And this was on Live Tv, no retakes. Wally Cox and Alice Ghostley quickly went on stage and ad libbed hoping Everett would regain his retentivity. No such luck. Mercifully the bandage finally rescued Everett. But he had developed a deep aversion and embarrassment about performing...which lasted 20 years. Today he's over it, and blithely takes on sitcom roles and Tv set commercials.
Q. Were there any TAGS scripts which were written merely never filmed?
A. Yes .Paul, I wrote one ..( I don't know if other writers wrote any.) Our unfilmed episode was THE WANDERING MINSTREL, which I wrote with Ray Allen Saffian for the 1962-1963 season.. It featured a mannerly footloose guitar player we called "Wally Jordan." ( based on an actual musician Andy had great respect for, Credibility Mcghee)
Andy had constantly spoken in praise of Brownie, so it was inevitable someone would write the story. We wrote the outline and then the fully completed script. At present the weird role. To this day nobody on TAGS can give a reason why it wasn't filmed. Information technology's notwithstanding a mystery.
If you'd similar to read the script, it is printed in its entirety in Richard Kelly'due south seminal book THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW .. Pickled Tink to hear from you. Harvey B
**Y'all can get Richard Kelly's book at...y'all guessed information technology...Weaver's Dept Store***
Q: In episode #67, "Andy's Rich Girlfriend," Andy said that the Model A that he and Barney were driving to New Orleans broke down in DeQueen Junction. Is that an actual town?
A: From Everett:
This is an actual town, and in fact, the town where my wife grew up. The name came about when Queen Wilhelmenia of Holland once visited and the minor village celebrated this marvelous happening by naming itself "DeQueen." Other towns nearby tried to get on the bandwagon, one called itself "Queen of Holland," another "Queen Junction" and even one but "Nina."
Some other boondocks nearby is Dierks, where my wife, Deane, went to high school.
From Harvey:
There's more to the story. Everett's wife came from the plainest background back in the hills, no indoor plumbing, catching the milk wagon to get to school, etc. Simply she was a lady determined to get an teaching so she came to Los Angeles and got a job as a dr.'south receptionist. Every dark she was at school or the library. That's when Everett had (unknowingly) a stroke of luck. He took sick and fabricated an appointment with his doctor...yep, yous guessed it.
Deane says when she first saw Everett she KNEW immediately she was going to marry him!
Now well-nigh of you lot will recall that wonderful dialogue scene between Andy and Barney on the porch where Barney casually states he finally constitute a present to give his parents. They're hard to purchase for. Just he found the very right thing. Andy asks what it was and Barney says, "A septic tank." Andy says,"You're a skillful son, Barn." Barney replies, "I try."
THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED!!! Everett GAVE his new IN-LAWS BACK IN DeQueen a COMPLETE septic tank!!! They even so marvel at information technology.
Q. Was there a connection between the word "ABYSINNIA" used as slang by Opie in a TAGS episode...then the same word reappearing equally a title to a M.A.S.H. episode, since both were written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell?
A: From Everett:
Everett responds: "I remember well using the slang/gag term in one of Opie'south speeches, it was the sort of corny humor of the times..and like other kids, Opie liked to be on the cutting edge sometimes. However, when afterward Jim and I wrote that Brew episode, we did not call back (at that time ) having used it with Opie. It seemed to make a good championship for that Mash story about the demise of Colonel Blake."
"So it was not a conscious reminder of the TAGS show which prompted us to championship the MASH episode. But since both usages came from the same memory pool, there MAY have been a psychological connection. Interesting gadget, the medulla oblongata!"
Q. How long does it accept to write an episode for TAGS?
A: From Everett:
The variable here is the STORY. Finding one is the toughest part of writing. Sometimes it takes a calendar week, staring at the ceiling, pitching one-half-baked ideas to each other. Nothing seems to piece of work, and so one suggestion starts to click. Cautiously we experiment...expanding the tenuous notion...things seem to be working. QUICK, get this stuff down so we can make an outline!!
After producer Aaron Ruben amends and accepts the outline, nosotros ordinarily were able to bring in a completed script of twoscore pages in about forty hours. The force of the story dictates the stride. A well-conceived story types upward fast. When nosotros wrote MY FAIR ERNEST T BASS, using the ageless Pygmalion premise, it was done in record fourth dimension. We were able to use marvelous dialogue shut to the original and backed by a solid and familiar plot line, Heaven!
Q.
Have the actors ever deviated from the script?
A: From Everett:
TAGS sometimes had a few last-infinitesimal changes but they were minor. The performers had read the script so many times they were in a rhythm with each other so advertising libs were unnecessary. They stuck to the fabric.
Source: https://imayberry.com/tagsrwc/askthewriter/index.htm
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