Why was Andy so hard on Cousin Virgil?

[Mayberry'sBadBoy]

The other day I rewatched the episode Cousin Virgil and one thing I noticed was how during the episode Andy seemed to have absolutely zero tolerance for Virgil's nonsense. This is weird because in addition to having never met Virgil (only going by what Barney had told him years ago) Andy doesn't really have much to go off on and the stuff Virgil does (barring backing the squad car into the garage door) is either accidental, novice's mistakes or Barney goading him on. There's also the fact that early in the season Barney does much worse like ramming the back of another car with the Squad car (Barney's Replacement), royally embarrassing Andy in front of Andy's friend Roger and Roger's esquire club members (The Esquire Club) and in the direct preceding episode nearly costing Andy his job (Andy on Trial) by running his mouth to an undercover reporter and saying things like "The kid is a little lax." Andy also showed much more understanding to the handyman Mr. Wheeler who wanted to swindle Aunt Bea out of her money particularly since he forced Andy to shingle a hot roof.

I have to wonder if there was something that went on behind the scenes between Andy and Virgil's actor because barring Warren Ferguson and Goober in the last two seasons i can't think of another character that Andy treated as nasty during the episode to the point that when Knotts finally loses his patience with Virgil it seems like he's more angry with Andy than Virgil. Even when he saw Virgil's potential had an air of annoyance with the entire episode. Not even the actor who played Mr. Melton the Bank President (who Andy hated working with to the point that they barely had any lines together because unlike Francis Bavier and George Lindsey they both could barely keep it professional) got that treatment. I read a few years ago when the actor who played Virgil died that he was a bit of an eccentric and that might have gotten on Andy's nerves off camera but it does seem weird that he'd be upset with whatever eccentricities Virgil had while a few years later had no problem with Knotts reportedly spending five hours in the bathroom washing his hands over and over following the filming of the town scenes of Barney and the Cave Rescue due to Knott's hypochondria making him overreact due to the character Mr. Melton having a cold in episode.

[GentlemanJim]

Virgil had a personality that was meek, and mild. And I think it's sort of a rule of the jungle that the alpha males must taunt and badger the meek, to assure they maintain their rightful place in the natural order.

[Mayberry'sBadBoy]

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

Virgil had a personality that was meek, and mild. And I think it's sort of a rule of the jungle that the alpha males must taunt and badger the meek, to assure they maintain their rightful place in the natural order.

I thought of that but from the same season you also had The Merchant of Mayberry where Andy was very nice to the extremely whiney and timid Burt (who was played by the guy who voiced Winnie the Pooh in Disney movies) even though Burt's meek and mildness was more annoying than Virgil. Granted he was doing it to have a little fun at Ben Weaver's expense but it seems weird that Andy would be nice and charming to a stranger who we've never seen before and never see again and yet in the exact same season have him have the same amount of tolerance he had for Warren Ferguson's antics for a family member of his best friend he'd never met before, particularly when said family member is a relation to Barney's mother who Andy seemed to like more than Barney's father (the few times Barney's father was mentioned like in Opie and the Spoiled Kid it was heavily implied Andy had a rather negative opinion of him)

[GentlemanJim]

Originally Posted by Mayberry'sBadBoy

particularly when said family member is a relation to Barney's mother

Perhaps there was an aspect of vicarious joy involved? Where abusing Virgil allowed Andy to unhitch suppressed hostility he had for Barney?

[Mayberry'sBadBoy]

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

Perhaps there was an aspect of vicarious joy involved? Where abusing Virgil allowed Andy to unhitch suppressed hostility he had for Barney?

While I wouldn't be surprised if that played a part in it particularly if you buy into the theory that the reason Andy didn't get the job his friend Ed Crumbpacker offered him in the season five episode Barney Runs for Sherriff was Ed was a member of the Esquire club chapter in Minnesota and being a fellow esquire member and mutual friend Roger had warned him that Barney would screw it up like he did the club membership, i would be more onboard with it if Virgil was a relative of Barney's father. While i can understand why the writers didn't want to call him Virgil Fife (while Barney's mother had appeared in the second episode Manhunt it was clear that by season 2 the writers had decided none of the main casts parents would appear hence why we never see Mr. and Mrs. Fife despite them supposedly living nearby and the son of Barney's aunt or uncle was visiting town), it does seem that it would make more sense for Virgil to be a paternal relative given how it was clear even as early as Season 2 that Andy didn't have that high of an opinion of Barney's father and would also explain why Barney was so nervous when he tried to sell Andy on the fact that Virgil had changed for the better since Barney had talked about him last.

[GentlemanJim]

Originally Posted by Mayberry'sBadBoy

it was clear even as early as Season 2 that Andy didn't have that high of an opinion of Barney's father .

Season 5's "The Family Visit" might suggest that Andy just didn't make a lot of room in his life for familial ties. Uncle Ollie and Aunt Nora were definitely kept on the outside, looking in.

[vitoscotti]

There was a Michael J. Fox category on Jeopardy with him personally. He mentioned he put the J. in his name because there already was a MF and to honor Michael J. Pollard (Cousin Virgil).

[Samme]

I think actors have to play some episodes that are slightly out of character because that's what the story needs and they hope they can get away with it. June had to do that a lot on Leave it to Beaver. Here they tried to take the curse off by Andy being kinder and more understanding at the end. The same thing happened in "The Jynx" when Barney went too far in being superstitious and cruel to the older gentleman. It was a mistake because it made Barney too unlikeable. I've read Andy and Don watched that episode together and both didn't think the episode really worked. It's rare but sometimes they didn't get it quite right. Andy was too harsh about him.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by vitoscotti

There was a Michael J. Fox category on Jeopardy with him personally. He mentioned he put the J. in his name because there already was a MF and to honor Michael J. Pollard (Cousin Virgil).

I'd have to Google it but didn't Michael J. Pollard aka Cousin Virgil later win an Academy Award for supporting actor in Bonnie and Clyde?

[vitoscotti]

Originally Posted by Will Dockery

I'd have to Google it but didn't Michael J. Pollard aka Cousin Virgil later win an Academy Award for supporting actor in Bonnie and Clyde?

MJF specifically referred to MJP's role in Bonnie and Clyde.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by vitoscotti

MJF specifically referred to MJP's role in Bonnie and Clyde.

The only other appearance I can remember from Michael J. Pollard was in the Star Trek episode when he played one of the "wild children."

Interestingly, the planet that episode took place on was the downtown Mayberry area of 40 Acres.

[SarahBellum]

MJP also appeared in The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! which is where I first saw him.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by SarahBellum

MJP also appeared in The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! which is where I first saw him.

After all these years, I still haven't seen that one.

Something to look forward to, I reckon.

[hifijohn]

Originally Posted by Will Dockery

The only other appearance I can remember from Michael J. Pollard was in the Star Trek episode when he played one of the "wild children."

Interestingly, the planet that episode took place on was the downtown Mayberry area of 40 Acres.

His character was supposed to be prepuberty age but he was 27.