Andy's attitude toward Otis' alcoholism - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

vitoscotti · 07-16-2022, 12:35 AM

A real slice into 60s attitudes. Andy is a decent person. But, doesn't show any desire to get Otis help like Barney & Warren. He's very nonchalant (eh?) about it. He's not cold about it. But not proactive. In "Otis the Artist" he tells Warren "I like fishin', you like paintin', Otis likes drinkin' '". In a show the writers are very inconsistent generally they're very consistent in Andy's attitude towards Otis' drinking. Even when Otis got a car Barney panicked. Andy's not too concerned.

Yong Fang · 07-16-2022, 06:26 AM

Makes me wonder how many people with someone in their family who has alcoholism and the trouble it has caused them, just to watch TAGS played for humor. My father and his siblings had to suffer an alcoholic father who was a mess. My father and my uncle always said "He was a nice man sober.", but went off on drink and became a mean, abusive animal.

I drink, I am going through some problems now and will have to move home in a couple of weeks, and looking for a job, two things I am not looking forward to doing (and be seperated from my wife who is Chinese (yong fang) with the prospect of never seeing her again or takes years back to see her. I get tired of worry so I drink to numb myself.

Concerning Otis, I drink just like him (usually), stay sober if I have to work the next day, but get drunk on Friday or Saturday night. Im drinking now (beer）. At least when I move back to my father's house, I will be sober again, because doesnt allow it. Or smoking cigarettes, something I am worried about since I have smoked for basically 37 years since I was 18 years old.

Hal Smith who played Otis actually did an excellent job playing a drunk. There is one scene where Andy and Barney were playing cards (ironically rummy) with Otis standing behind Barney messing with him. Hal looked drunk here. Hal Smith himself rarely if ever drank, was a real good guy and actually supported things like Mother's Against Drunk Driving and similiar things.

GentlemanJim · 07-16-2022, 12:19 PM

I'll have 18 years sober this coming November. And my take on the specific issue you raise is that Andy is mature enough to understand that so long as the individual is content (being the way they are), then there is very little anyone can do that will change them.

You can preach, and complain, and engineer schemes designed to punish bad behavior...all to little avail...if the person has decided that in order to be happy, they need a drink, then that is what they are going to do, with or without your approval. And from that point, any help you might try to give them, then you are the bad guy trying to spoil their fun.

"Tough love" swings both ways. Sometimes you just got to let the person be happy, no matter how self destructive that is.
And, I suspect that is where Andy's tolerance comes from.

By giving Otis a safe place to sleep it off, he's protecting him from the worst harm

On a more immediate level, I often wonder how many of the hard-boiled personalities we bump into on the internet are "alcohol fueled"? The types who might believe that after a couple stiff drinks they are "more able to tell people what they deserve to hear", etc Seems that might explain a lot.

Mr. Television · 07-16-2022, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

I'll have 18 years sober this coming November. And my take on the specific issue you raise is that Andy is mature enough to understand that so long as the individual is content (being the way they are), then there is very little anyone can do that will change them.

You can preach, and complain, and engineer schemes designed to punish bad behavior...all to little avail...if the person has decided that in order to be happy, they need a drink, then that is what they are going to do, with or without your approval. And from that point, any help you might try to give them, then you are the bad guy trying to spoil their fun.

"Tough love" swings both ways. Sometimes you just got to let the person be happy, no matter how self destructive that is.
And, I suspect that is where Andy's tolerance comes from.

By giving Otis a safe place to sleep it off, he's protecting him from the worst harm

On a more immediate level, I often wonder how many of the hard-boiled personalities we bump into on the internet are "alcohol fueled"? The types who might believe that after a couple stiff drinks they are "more able to tell people what they deserve to hear", etc Seems that might explain a lot.

I've often wondered that too.

vitoscotti · 07-16-2022, 02:52 PM

The highly planned keeping Andy hands off Otis' rehab must be related to the comedy flow of Andy being the straight man who sooner or later will run into a problem coming his way. TAGS had two of three funniest actors playing drunks in Hal Smith & Don Knotts. My third would be Foster Brooks. Hal Smith still was hilarious in his two final episodes in color.

Babalu · 07-16-2022, 04:02 PM

This was before TV sitcoms took themselves too seriously and thought it was their duty to indoctrinate America to think the way they do.

Yong Fang · 07-18-2022, 05:42 AM

One time Otis was actually kept in jail as punishment the time Otis spiked the water kettle and inadvertently got Barney drunk.

Stepperry40 · 07-18-2022, 02:38 PM

Wasn’t there one show where Andy and Aunt Bea try dry Otis out?

TSMIV · 07-18-2022, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babalu

This was before TV sitcoms took themselves too seriously and thought it was their duty to indoctrinate America to think the way they do.

Exactly, Otis as a character was meant to be funny. Nothing more and nothing less. Whenever one of the other characters tried to sober him up, it's played for laughs. None of the producers or writers had any idea people would be having serious discussions about Otis Campbell 60 years later. Besides, drunkness has been a staple of comedy for all of human history.

stevea · 07-18-2022, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSMIV

Exactly, Otis as a character was meant to be funny. Nothing more and nothing less. Whenever one of the other characters tried to sober him up, it's played for laughs. None of the producers or writers had any idea people would be having serious discussions about Otis Campbell 60 years later. Besides, drunkness has been a staple of comedy for all of human history.

Echo that!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stepperry40

Wasn’t there one show where Andy and Aunt Bea try dry Otis out?

I think I remember that episode--I'm sure there is one.

GentlemanJim · 07-18-2022, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Television

I've often wondered that too.

LOL, it would be cool if they incorporated those interlock devices like they put on DUI conviction cars, onto internet access modems, so that the person would have to "blow" clean numbers in order to post.
Or. at least display their BAC% next to every post.

vitoscotti · 07-18-2022, 06:05 PM

There was an episode "Aunt Bee the Warden" the jail cells were full so Otis served his time at the Taylor's home. Aunt Bee made Otis' life a living hell working him to death.

just1paul · 07-18-2022, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vitoscotti

There was an episode "Aunt Bee the Warden" the jail cells were full so Otis served his time at the Taylor's home. Aunt Bee made Otis' life a living hell working him to death.

Aunt Bee? You mean Bloody Mary!

Let's get out of here Andy, I don't ever want to see the ROCK again.

07-16-2022, 12:35 AM	#1
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,077	Andy's attitude toward Otis' alcoholism A real slice into 60s attitudes. Andy is a decent person. But, doesn't show any desire to get Otis help like Barney & Warren. He's very nonchalant (eh?) about it. He's not cold about it. But not proactive. In "Otis the Artist" he tells Warren "I like fishin', you like paintin', Otis likes drinkin' '". In a show the writers are very inconsistent generally they're very consistent in Andy's attitude towards Otis' drinking. Even when Otis got a car Barney panicked. Andy's not too concerned.

07-16-2022, 12:19 PM	#3
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	I'll have 18 years sober this coming November. And my take on the specific issue you raise is that Andy is mature enough to understand that so long as the individual is content (being the way they are), then there is very little anyone can do that will change them. You can preach, and complain, and engineer schemes designed to punish bad behavior...all to little avail...if the person has decided that in order to be happy, they need a drink, then that is what they are going to do, with or without your approval. And from that point, any help you might try to give them, then you are the bad guy trying to spoil their fun. "Tough love" swings both ways. Sometimes you just got to let the person be happy, no matter how self destructive that is. And, I suspect that is where Andy's tolerance comes from. By giving Otis a safe place to sleep it off, he's protecting him from the worst harm On a more immediate level, I often wonder how many of the hard-boiled personalities we bump into on the internet are "alcohol fueled"? The types who might believe that after a couple stiff drinks they are "more able to tell people what they deserve to hear", etc Seems that might explain a lot.
	__________________ On my word as a gentleman!

07-16-2022, 04:02 PM	#6
Babalu Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 22, 2014 Posts: 4,779	This was before TV sitcoms took themselves too seriously and thought it was their duty to indoctrinate America to think the way they do.
	__________________ . I just nailed Mrs. Trumbull

07-16-2022, 06:26 AM	#2
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Makes me wonder how many people with someone in their family who has alcoholism and the trouble it has caused them, just to watch TAGS played for humor. My father and his siblings had to suffer an alcoholic father who was a mess. My father and my uncle always said "He was a nice man sober.", but went off on drink and became a mean, abusive animal. I drink, I am going through some problems now and will have to move home in a couple of weeks, and looking for a job, two things I am not looking forward to doing (and be seperated from my wife who is Chinese (yong fang) with the prospect of never seeing her again or takes years back to see her. I get tired of worry so I drink to numb myself. Concerning Otis, I drink just like him (usually), stay sober if I have to work the next day, but get drunk on Friday or Saturday night. Im drinking now (beer）. At least when I move back to my father's house, I will be sober again, because doesnt allow it. Or smoking cigarettes, something I am worried about since I have smoked for basically 37 years since I was 18 years old. Hal Smith who played Otis actually did an excellent job playing a drunk. There is one scene where Andy and Barney were playing cards (ironically rummy) with Otis standing behind Barney messing with him. Hal looked drunk here. Hal Smith himself rarely if ever drank, was a real good guy and actually supported things like Mother's Against Drunk Driving and similiar things.

07-16-2022, 02:52 PM	#5
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,077	The highly planned keeping Andy hands off Otis' rehab must be related to the comedy flow of Andy being the straight man who sooner or later will run into a problem coming his way. TAGS had two of three funniest actors playing drunks in Hal Smith & Don Knotts. My third would be Foster Brooks. Hal Smith still was hilarious in his two final episodes in color.

07-18-2022, 05:42 AM	#7
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	One time Otis was actually kept in jail as punishment the time Otis spiked the water kettle and inadvertently got Barney drunk.

07-18-2022, 02:38 PM	#8
Stepperry40 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 11, 2019 Location: CA Posts: 163	Wasn’t there one show where Andy and Aunt Bea try dry Otis out?

07-18-2022, 06:05 PM	#12
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,077	There was an episode "Aunt Bee the Warden" the jail cells were full so Otis served his time at the Taylor's home. Aunt Bee made Otis' life a living hell working him to death.