Last few episodes I've watched of MTS I have really been annoyed by Ernie, he's been a nuisance on the show, ruined plans for his family, he has revealed things to other characters that he should have not revealed. Not sure he did this from the start, in fact I'm sure I thought he was cute when he first started on the show.

In the last episode I saw, Ernie was so sweet, he bought a little boy a puppy. It almost felt like the writers were trying to get him to do something kind and good for a change.

Overall, was Ernie great or an unintentional troublemaker? Did you like him? Could you have done without him?

I'm only on season 8 right now, so I don't know if this was just a phase for the character or if that is just the way the character is going to be throughout the series.

It may have just been that season. Ernie was usually a pretty good kid. He's good to Dodie in the later seasons.

Yeah, it's pretty evenly divided. Sometimes he's OK, other times annoying.

He didn't have much to do in the 9th season with the triplets coming on the scene, but in what I think is the final episode of the season, he's stuck with a horrible teacher in AP English, and really explodes on her near the end. Justifiably. Pretty good episode.

In an episode, I think from season 12, both he and Dodie are grounded, and Barbara catches him sneaking back in. Kind of destroyed his good-kid persona.

Also involving Dodie, I just thought of another where he's annoying, from season 11. He is supposed to be watching Dodie, but he's more concerned with talking to his girlfriend on the phone. In the meantime Dodie and her friend board a bus and end up in downtown L.A.

Adorable ! I love Ernie !! :)

There really aren't many positive Ernie episodes, based on that account. The OP pointed out the puppy Ernie gave the boy; Zsa Zsa took a liking to him, although he caused a lot of trouble (even ruining a movie scene) by disobeying in the first place. In the final episode of the series he clues the Andersons in that their boy isn't smoking pot.

An enjoyable Ernie episode from season 8 had Charley running into another of his old seafaring pals, who turned out to be a star Ernie knew from seeing him on TV. The star gave them a studio tour and even got them into a TV scene as extras, and in the episode Charley and Ernie bond a bit. We see a gentler side of Charley and Ernie not getting in trouble.

On the other hand, another episode where he really caused trouble was in his school assignment on the power of suggestion, the last episode in the 1990s syndication package, from season 11. He causes Charley a lot of trouble by psyching him out in varying ways, and even victimizes Dodie by swapping out her doll Myrtle for a rock or something similar. He's at his most annoying in this episode, telling his project partner to "Cool it, Paula" numerous times--she thought he was taking things too far, and she was right. He couldn't fool Steve by doctoring his ketchup with sugar, though, and later Steve nailed him in the act of rigging a shelf to fool Charley again.

Cool it, Ernie!

I should really get back to that fan-fiction where Ernie and Dodie swap bodies, right before Dodie has to leave Casa Douglas for an important childrens' party.

There seem to be a lot of examples of Ernie being a troublemaker. But also a sweet kid, sometimes.

Right now I'm watching, "My Wife, the Waitress," season 8, episode 7, and Ernie has just promised Robbie to not tell anybody, not even Chip, about the special gift Robbie is getting Katie. Enter Chip, and it's the first thing Ernie tells Chip. Of course he tells Katie a few minutes later. It's as though Ernie is unable to remember anything from minute to minute, because it does not look like he actually wants to ruin a surprise for Robbie. He just did not remember his own promise, that he just made.

Thanks to all for all the examples and opinions. It's been wonderful and informative, reading all the responses.

And because Ernie blabbed Katie took the job, which ended up being a scantily-clad cigarette girl. Some might say Rob was kind of a jerk in the restaurant when he saw her, but it has to be kind of a shock to unexpectedly see your wife like that.

"a scantily-clad cigarette girl"

Why did she need to be clad at all? *whistles innocently*

And because Ernie blabbed Katie took the job, which ended up being a scantily-clad cigarette girl. Some might say Rob was kind of a jerk in the restaurant when he saw her, but it has to be kind of a shock to unexpectedly see your wife like that.

Agreed. As the scene was happening I expected Robbie to actually drag Katie out of the restaurant, instead of just walk away.

That whole relationship and marriage was so rushed, finding Katie there should have made Robbie realize that he didn't really know Katie very well.