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The Best Episodes Written By Jack Elinson

Every TV Episode Written by Jack Elinson Ranked from Best to Worst by Thousands of Voters

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    undefined Season 2 Episode 20 - Barney and the Choir
    9.8/10(4 votes)

    S2:E20

    Things hit a sour note when Barney joins the Mayberry choir -- and it's quickly determined that his singing voice isn't exactly harmonious to the other members of the group.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  2. undefined Season 1 Episode 32 - Bringing Up Opie
    9.3/10(3 votes)

    S1:E32

    After being scolded by Aunt Bee, Opie decides to run away from home -- a plan that quickly turns into a series of eye-opening, and sometimes dangerous, adventures for Opie and a scare for both Aunt Bee and Andy.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  3. undefined Season 1 Episode 17 - Alcohol and Old Lace
    9.3/10(4 votes)

    S1:E17

    Opie comes home talking about a "flower-making machine" owned by sisters Clarabelle and Jennifer Morrison, the spinsters who run the local flower shop. Andy and Barney do a little investigating -- and discover the contraption is actually a still and the kindly sisters are in the moonshine business!

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  4. undefined Season 1 Episode 15 - Those Gossipin' Men
    9.2/10(5 votes)

    S1:E15

    Aunt Bee, accused by Andy of being a hopeless gossip, sets out to prove that the men of Mayberry are even bigger rumormongers than the women.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  5. undefined Season 2 Episode 14 - The Keeper of the Flame
    9.0/10(3 votes)

    S2:E14

    Opie joins a secret club known as The Wildcats and is subsequently suspected of being the guilty party when the barn that the club meets in catches fire and burns to the ground.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  6. undefined Season 2 Episode 4 - Mayberry Goes Bankrupt
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    S2:E4

    Will the town coffers run out of cash? It appears that way when Mayberry resident Frank Myers is stunned to discover that the township apparently owes him close to $350,000!

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  7. undefined Season 2 Episode 17 - The Jinx
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    S2:E17

    After a series of mishaps, Barney declares that Mayberry resident Henry Bennett is a "jinx." Andy sets out to prove him wrong -- but begins to believe it himself after the troubles continue.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  8. undefined Season 2 Episode 23 - Aunt Bee the Warden
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    S2:E23

    With the town jail full, Andy reluctantly decides to have the town drunk, Otis Campbell, incarcerated in Andy's own home. But when Aunt Bee takes charge as the "warden," Otis is soon howling to be locked up in the real jail!

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  9. undefined Season 1 Episode 22 - Cyrano Andy
    8.3/10(3 votes)

    S1:E22

    Andy makes an earnest attempt at matchmaking to help Barney win the heart of his girlfriend, Thelma Lou. Things go fine at first -- until barney misinterprets Andy's efforts and thinks he's trying to steal her away!

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  10. undefined Season 1 Episode 26 - The Inspector
    8.3/10(3 votes)

    S1:E26

    When a state inspector arrives in Mayberry to check the jail and courthouse, Andy and Barney are shocked to discover he's a by-the-book stickler for rules and regulations. Things look shaky until Andy is able to demonstrate the "Mayberry way" of fighting crime.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  11. undefined Season 2 Episode 2 - Barney's Replacement
    8.3/10(3 votes)

    S2:E2

    When a rookie policeman is sent to Mayberry for training, Barney mistakenly believes the man is his replacement and quits the police force to become a vacuum-cleaner salesman.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  12. undefined Season 2 Episode 21 - Guest of Honor
    8.3/10(4 votes)

    S2:E21

    As part of the Founder's Day festivities, the residents of Mayberry decide to give a key to the city to the first visitor entering the town. Unfortunately, that visitor is Sheldon Davis, a highly skilled pickpocket and petty thief.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  13. undefined Season 2 Episode 13 - The Farmer Takes a Wife
    8.3/10(4 votes)

    S2:E13

    Big Jeff Pruitt (Alan Hale) comes to Mayberry, determined to find a suitable wife. Andy and Barney are more than happy to help him with his search -- until Pruitt announces his choice: Barney's girlfriend, Thelma Lou!

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  14. undefined Season 1 Episode 10 - Ellie for Council
    8.3/10(4 votes)

    S1:E10

    It's a battle of the sexes when Ellie Walker decides to become the very first woman to run for a seat on the Mayberry city council -- and the town's horrified menfolk decide to sabotage her newfound political career.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  15. undefined Season 1 Episode 14 - The Horse Trader
    8.3/10(4 votes)

    S1:E14

    Andy performs some slick dealing with an antique dealer to get rid of the town's old worthless cannon. But when young Opie later mimics his father's shady deal to obtain a pair of roller skates, Andy has second thoughts about his own wheeling and dealing.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  16. undefined Season 2 Episode 29 - Andy on Trial
    8.3/10(4 votes)

    S2:E29

    A newspaper publishing mogul is ticketed for speeding and retaliates by sending an undercover reporter to Mayberry to dig up whatever dirt she can on Andy and his department.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  17. undefined Season 1 Episode 2 - The Manhunt
    8.2/10(5 votes)

    S1:E2

    Andy and his bumbling deputy, Barney Fife, offer to help track down an escaped convict, but the captain of the state police scoffs at the small-town sheriff's help.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  18. undefined Season 1 Episode 24 - The New Doctor
    8.0/10(3 votes)

    S1:E24

    Andy must make a hasty, ill-advised marriage proposal to Ellie Walker after he becomes convinced that the new, handsome young doctor in town is trying to steal his girl.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  19. undefined Season 1 Episode 3 - The Guitar Player
    8.0/10(5 votes)

    S1:E3

    A gifted guitar player (James Best) who has self-doubts about his musical talent gets a chance at stardom -- with a little push from Andy.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  20. undefined Season 1 Episode 4 - Ellie Comes to Town
    8.0/10(5 votes)

    S1:E4

    When Mayberry's local pharmacist falls ill, his niece Ellie Walker steps in as a temporary replacement -- and creates turmoil with the town's resident hypochondriac.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  21. undefined Season 1 Episode 16 - The Beauty Contest
    8.0/10(4 votes)

    S1:E16

    The Mayberry town council wants to end the annual Founder's Day celebration with a beauty contest, with Andy chosen to pick the winner. The result is pandemonium as candidates of all shapes and sizes descend on the hapless "judge."

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  22. undefined Season 2 Episode 3 - Andy and the Woman Speeder
    8.0/10(3 votes)

    S2:E3

    Andy arrests an attractive speeder, who promptly uses flattery and charm to turn the various prosecution witnesses -- Opie, Barney and Floyd the barber -- against a hapless Andy and his case.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  23. undefined Season 2 Episode 5 - Barney on the Rebound
    8.0/10(3 votes)

    S2:E5

    After a disagreement with Thelma Lou, Barney unwittingly falls under the spell of the female half of a scheming con team and Andy must attempt to save the day.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  24. undefined Season 2 Episode 24 - The County Nurse
    8.0/10(3 votes)

    S2:E24

    Feisty country farmer Rafe Hollister is determined to avoid getting a tetanus shot when county nurse Mary Simpson arrives in Mayberry to inoculate the citizenry.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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  25. undefined Season 1 Episode 1 - The New Housekeeper
    7.9/10(7 votes)

    S1:E1

    Sheriff Andy Taylor and his young son Opie are in need of a new housekeeper. Andy's Aunt Bee looks like the perfect candidate and moves in, but her presence causes friction with Opie.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jack Elinson

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Jack Elinson Ratings Summary

"Barney and the Choir" is the best rated episode written by Jack Elinson. It scored 9.75/10 based on 4 votes. It was directed by N/A. It aired on 2/19/1962 and is rated 0.4 points higher than their second-best episode, "Bringing Up Opie".