Bernard Fox's second appearance on The Andy Griffith Show is a writer's redo of his first appearance basically. Starts off of with a bicylcling traffic accident which is his fault. Ends with him leaving that he feels he's worn out his welcome.

All of Bernard Fox's three Andy Griffith Show appearances are really entertaining. This episode has a classic scene though. He fakes being drunk nipping at the cooking cherry to put lady of leisure Aunt Bea back in her top dog spot. Absolutely hysterical few minutes scene with Malcolm being supposedly drunk.

As a kid watching this episode there were many memorable parts to it other than the Malcolm being drunk classic scene.

Barney delivering the class line " nothing I hate worse is a whino on a crying Jag". Andy and Opie praising Malcolm's many attributes but Opie saying " Aunt Bea hugs better though." Seeing the perils of alcohol abuse in a non PC manner you wouldn't see today. The episode really touched on the value of hard work and it's many positive rewards.

The episode is a showcase for the comedic brilliant Bernard Fox. He portrayed three legendary 60s sitcom characters. Malcolm Merriweather, Doctor Bombay on Bewitched, and Colonel Crittenden on Hogan's Heroes.
A truly classic 10* episode even though it borrows from Fox's first appearance.

Bernard Fox was a good actor but I thought Malcolm Merriweather was his most complex and best role. He really showed himself to be a fine actor. Although as I was writing that I remembered his three funny appearances on The Dick Van Dyke Show. I liked him on Bewitched but TAGS and TDVDS showed how good he could really be.

I actually didn't like the Malcolm character. I found him annoying.