Millie: Is She Unreasonable Regarding Howard's Mustache? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

biffbronson · 06-13-2026, 08:02 AM

After Millie Hutchins (Arlene Golonka) becomes engaged to Howard Sprague (Jack Dodson), Millie asks Howard to shave off his mustache on the train trip to visit Millie's parents in West Virginia. Howard says no.

Among several other factors, they conclude that they're not compatible and decide to call off the wedding.

Was Millie's request unreasonable, in your opinion?

Howard did not have a thick or bushy mustache, so trimming it as a compromise would not have been an option.

vitoscotti · 06-13-2026, 10:30 AM

Millie might look like an angel. But, she was no angel in that episode.

stevea · 06-13-2026, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vitoscotti

Millie might look like an angel. But, she was no angel in that episode.

Yes, she was really nasty. He had also made some honeymoon suggestions and she nixed them outright. His suggestions might not have been great but she made no suggestions at all, IIRC.

After that they remained friends and Millie became Sam's "main squeeze" in Mayberry RFD.

Samme · 06-13-2026, 12:04 PM

Yeah, she was being unreasonable--or at least too soon--but they needed it for the episode. And I think it's a great episode. The best Millie episode. And, honestly, if Howard was a real person, those changes might have been very good for him. He really needed to get out of his rut and become more of a complete person.

vitoscotti · 06-13-2026, 02:54 PM

Millie really doesn't know that Howard watches his pennies, is ultra conservative, is robotic, and lives by a strict schedule? She's not too observant going with a man for multiple months.

biffbronson · 06-13-2026, 09:34 PM

Yes indeed, Millie is the type who'd take a more spontaneous approach to what she would be doing on a particular day, while Howard wanted the details laid out. There was some pretty good acting going on between Golonka and Dodson. Andy Griffith and Aneta Corsaut had fairly easy roles in the episode.

The question may arise as to whether Howard would be financially stable enough to go into marriage; we don't know if Millie would've continued working at the bakery.

Anyway, I voted "unreasonable." She could have been more tactful, such as "Howard... I've never seen you without your mustache. Would you ever consider going clean-shaven?" and gone from there. Howard may not have had such a strong reaction.

vitoscotti · 06-13-2026, 10:44 PM

It would of been interesting if the Howard & Millie conflict came after the wedding. But, you'd never see marital strife on TAGS.

I think we get hints in the episode that Millie wouldn't come cheap. She would have tried to perform a cashectomy on Howard. She was a hot babe and she knew it.

Interesting that Goober was right and Andy wrong that the relationship would never work.

View Poll Results: Is Millie's Request That Howard Shave Off His Mustache 'Unreasonable?'
A Reasonable Request: Howard should have complied with Millie's wishes.	1	16.67%
An Unreasonable Request: Howard was right to say "no" since he didn't want to shave.	4	66.67%
No opinion, or they should have waited before any decision.	1	16.67%
Voters: 6. You may not vote on this poll

06-13-2026, 08:02 AM	#1
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,326	Millie: Is She Unreasonable Regarding Howard's Mustache? After Millie Hutchins (Arlene Golonka) becomes engaged to Howard Sprague (Jack Dodson), Millie asks Howard to shave off his mustache on the train trip to visit Millie's parents in West Virginia. Howard says no. Among several other factors, they conclude that they're not compatible and decide to call off the wedding. Was Millie's request unreasonable, in your opinion? Howard did not have a thick or bushy mustache, so trimming it as a compromise would not have been an option.

06-13-2026, 10:30 AM	#2
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,071	Millie might look like an angel. But, she was no angel in that episode.

06-13-2026, 12:04 PM	#4
Samme Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 676	Yeah, she was being unreasonable--or at least too soon--but they needed it for the episode. And I think it's a great episode. The best Millie episode. And, honestly, if Howard was a real person, those changes might have been very good for him. He really needed to get out of his rut and become more of a complete person.

06-13-2026, 02:54 PM	#5
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,071	Millie really doesn't know that Howard watches his pennies, is ultra conservative, is robotic, and lives by a strict schedule? She's not too observant going with a man for multiple months.

06-13-2026, 09:34 PM	#6
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,326	Yes indeed, Millie is the type who'd take a more spontaneous approach to what she would be doing on a particular day, while Howard wanted the details laid out. There was some pretty good acting going on between Golonka and Dodson. Andy Griffith and Aneta Corsaut had fairly easy roles in the episode. The question may arise as to whether Howard would be financially stable enough to go into marriage; we don't know if Millie would've continued working at the bakery. Anyway, I voted "unreasonable." She could have been more tactful, such as "Howard... I've never seen you without your mustache. Would you ever consider going clean-shaven?" and gone from there. Howard may not have had such a strong reaction.

06-13-2026, 10:44 PM	#7
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,071	It would of been interesting if the Howard & Millie conflict came after the wedding. But, you'd never see marital strife on TAGS. I think we get hints in the episode that Millie wouldn't come cheap. She would have tried to perform a cashectomy on Howard. She was a hot babe and she knew it. Interesting that Goober was right and Andy wrong that the relationship would never work.