Malcolm Merryweather was almost a series regular

[Mayberry'sBadBoy]

According to an interview Bernard Fox gave, there was serious consideration to make Malcolm Merryweather a series regular in the colored episodes. Unfortunately, Bob Ross decided not to go forward with that idea, which annoyed Bernard Fox. I'm just curious as to how Malcolm would have fit into Mayberry. My thoughts would have been for him to replace Barney Fife as Deputy in a similar vein to Colonel Crittendon on Hogan's Heroes.

[Samme]

I've seen newspaper interviews of Andy where he said they considered it too. I'm glad they didn't do it, he wouldn't have fit in. Fine as a guest star, but not as a regular. He would have taken it too far away from the natural feel of the series. Be like adding Mr. French to Mayberry.

[Zoneboy]

The character was fine for guest appearances & I concur that he wouldn't have fit-in as a regular. It would be like sending Ernest T. Bass to merry-old-England.

[Mayberry'sBadBoy]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

The character was fine for guest appearances & I concur that he wouldn't have fit-in as a regular. It would be like sending Ernest T. Bass to merry-old-England.

While I do agree Malcolm probably might not have fit in well as a series regular, I actually think that would have been funny if Ernest T Bass went to England and Andy and Barny had to go after him.

Train Passenger (played by Frank Thornton): So what do you do over in Mayberry after work?
Barney: Oh we go to movies and dances. One thing Thelma Lou and I like to do is called Shagging
Man: What?
Barney: Shagging. It's very fun. Do you know how to do it?
Man: Very well sir.
(Just then Man's twenty year old daughter comes into compertment) 'Ello daddy
Man: Hello Dear what time do you want me to knock you up tomorrow?
(Barney looks shocked)

[mets82]

He wouldnt have fit either. Too upstanding for Mayberry and lets face it what would he have done in Mayberry?

[gopyle]

I think we saw just the right amount of Malcolm.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by Mayberry'sBadBoy

While I do agree Malcolm probably might not have fit in well as a series regular, I actually think that would have been funny if Ernest T Bass went to England and Andy and Barny had to go after him.

Train Passenger (played by Frank Thornton): So what do you do over in Mayberry after work?
Barney: Oh we go to movies and dances. One thing Thelma Lou and I like to do is called Shagging
Man: What?
Barney: Shagging. It's very fun. Do you know how to do it?
Man: Very well sir.
(Just then Man's twenty year old daughter comes into compertment) 'Ello daddy
Man: Hello Dear what time do you want me to knock you up tomorrow?
(Barney looks shocked)

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by gopyle

I think we saw just the right amount of Malcolm.

I that Howard had the same effect but kept it "realistic" down south North Carolina.

[mets82]

The thing is though that Howard was so wooden. I mean he was straight as an arrow. Compare him to when he played Ralph's father on Happy Days. Its like night and day.

[FanofRetroTV]

I'm glad that don't happen, he might not have been on all those other shows, he played some of the best minor characters. Even his one shot characters were great. Can you imange someone else as Dr. Bombay or Colonel Crittendon.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by Samme

I've seen newspaper interviews of Andy where he said they considered it too. I'm glad they didn't do it, he wouldn't have fit in. Fine as a guest star, but not as a regular. He would have taken it too far away from the natural feel of the series. Be like adding Mr. French to Mayberry.

He could have perhaps rotated with Howard on the more "stuffy" storylines, the character who never quite fits in archetype.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by mets82

The thing is though that Howard was so wooden. I mean he was straight as an arrow. Compare him to when he played Ralph's father on Happy Days. Its like night and day.

The actor who played Howard had a nice cameo in Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid, very unlike Howard, but still with that air of overwrought dignity.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by Mayberry'sBadBoy

According to an interview Bernard Fox gave, there was serious consideration to make Malcolm Merryweather a series regular in the colored episodes. Unfortunately, Bob Ross decided not to go forward with that idea, which annoyed Bernard Fox. I'm just curious as to how Malcolm would have fit into Mayberry. My thoughts would have been for him to replace Barney Fife as Deputy in a similar vein to Colonel Crittendon on Hogan's Heroes.

He would probably have filled some of the roles Howard had... the "strange bird", as Barney might say.

Note: I see I was thinking this five years ago... forgot that until now.

[hifijohn]

british humor and style is so different than american style , he wouldnt have fit in.

[SarahBellum]

Malcolm should have been a one and done.