Ernest T Bass is still a nut

Ernest T is a legend

For six decades actor, Howard Morris has kept fans of The Andy Griffith Show in stitches as the rowdy mountain man Ernest T Bass. When he shows up in Mayberry everyone knows there will be trouble and side-splitting humor. Ernest T is the character who had television audiences laughing out loud before the Internet and LOL were introduced to the world. He was a legend in his own mind during his own time and even today.

It may be hard to believe but Ernest T Bass was only in five episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. He was so over the top and larger than life that he seemed to be around on a regular basis. He made his first appearance in season 3 in episode #94, "Mountain Wedding" where Ernest T. has his mind set on marrying Briscoe Darling's daughter Charlene, even though she is already married to Dud Wash. He returns in season 4 episode 98 Ernest T. Bass Joins The Army” because he wants to wear a uniform to impress women. In episode 112 Andy tries to pass Ernest T. off as a sophisticated man at a society party in “My Fair Ernest T. Bass”

The mountain man shows up again in season 5 episode #133, "The Education of Ernest T. Bass." He sought higher learning to impress the woman he loves, Ramona, (whom he calls "Romena"). The final appearance of Ernest T Bass was in Episode #162, in season 6, "Malcolm at the Crossroads" where he is fired as a crossing guard. Howard Morris was not in the first two or the last two seasons of the series which ran from 1960-1968.

Rhymes Without Reason

Who could forget the crazy rhymes from Mr. Bass, among them this fan favorite;

"Old Leg Briar, Jump in the Fire, Fire too hot, jump in the pot, Pot too black, jump in the crack, Crack too high, jump in the sky, Sky too blue, jump in canoe, Canoe too shallow, jump in the tallow, Tallow too soft, jump in the loft, Loft too rotten, jump into cotton, Cotton so white she stayed there all night."

Catch Phrases

Ernest T often shows up with his trademark greeting, "Howdy do to you and you. It's me, it's me, it's Ernest T.!" Sheriff AndyTaylor (Andy Griffith) often tried to reason with him but Deputy Barney Fife said of the man from the hills 'He's a nut.". Ernest T. is a wild card, a stereotypical hillbilly who is gruff, scruffy, and unkempt in his appearance. He often has a crazed look in his eyes and a maniacal laugh. Mr. Bass is known for throwing rocks through windows and they often have notes attached.

One of his many catchphrases is "You ain't seen the las' of Ernest T. Bass!" Ernest T. This lovable unpredictable character once boasted that he had lifted a mule up onto his shoulders and in his words "tote' her five miles to the doctor,"

Howard Morris outside of Ernest T Bass

The talented Howard Morris was a versatile actor who had a number of other roles that were so different from Bass viewers may have had to look twice at the character or check the credits. The actor has portrayed gangsters, businessmen, cowboys, and had other roles where he was serious, solemn, dangerous or mild-mannered and kind. Morris and Allan Melvin worked together on and also wrote a number of episodes for "a 50-episode King Features Syndicate series, Beetle Bailey."

Morris appeared on the television series Thriller, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, I Dream of Jeannie, and The Twilight Zone. He had roles in a number of films including With Six You Get Eggroll, The Big Mouth, The Nutty Professor, and 40 Pounds of Trouble. He lent his voice to many cartoons such as Daffy Duck and Porky Pig Meet the Groovy Ghoulies, The Flintstones, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. He was also Jet Screamer who sang the "Eep opp ork ah ah!" song on The Jetsons.

Directing and later roles

Morris stepped away from acting and turned to directing. It's difficult to imagine Ernest T doing anything serious but his portrayer directed several episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, Bewitched, Gomer Pyle, Hogan's Heroes, The Dick Van Dyke Show, the black and white pilot episode of Get Smart and later One Day at a Time. He was on an episode of Murder She Wrote (1999) and the voice of Flem on Cow and Chicken. (1997-1999)

In 1984, he played Dr. Zidell in Splash, which was directed by Ron Howard who was Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show. Morris reprised his role as Ernest T in the movie Return to Mayberry in 1986 and in spite of his impressive career he will forever be admired and beloved as Ernest T Bass. Thanks to streaming services and networks like TVLand. and MeTV fans can continue to enjoy the talent of Howard Morris as Bass and his other roles.

The actor passed away on May 21, 2005, from congestive heart failure but lives on through his iconic character and continues to have fans laughing until they are in tears. Ernest T Bass will always be a lovable nut.