Ernest T. Bass was an ignorant and obstreperous mountain man with a penchant for rock throwing, who was known to wreak havoc on the otherwise quiet town of Mayberry. He lived in the mountains neighboring Mayberry, and his appearance in town almost always meant trouble for Sheriff Andy Taylor and Deputy Barney Fife. A wild, belligerent hillbilly, he had a scruffy appearance, a maniacal laugh, and often spoke in rhyme. When threatened with the law, Ernest T. would generally run off, yelling over his shoulder his famous catchphrase, “You ain’t seen the last of Ernest T. Bass!” Another catchphrase came from his greeting to Andy and Barney, “Howdy do to you and you. It’s me, it’s me, it’s Ernest T.!”
His behavior was often summed up succinctly by Barney Fife: “He’s a nut!”
Early on, Ernest T.’s most notable trait is breaking windows with rocks, and he prides himself on being “the best rock thrower in the county.” He is notoriously importunate with the women he desires, and regularly uses this tactic to get their attention. He also tries to impress people by informing them that he is saving up for a gold tooth.
In his first appearance (“Mountain Wedding”), Ernest T. has his mind set on marrying Briscoe Darling’s daughter Charlene Darling, despite the fact that she is already married to Dud Wash. He breaks the Darlings’ window in the middle of the night, and then attempts to serenade Charlene by performing a sort of spoken-word song called “Old Aunt Mariah,” accompanied by drumming a gas can, which he “tuned” by tightening and loosening the cap. The family then decides to conduct a faked wedding, to which Ernest T. reacts by devising a nefarious plan to steal the bride, only to discover that it was Barney in disguise.
Despite only appearing in five episodes during the series’ entire run, Ernest T. Bass is one of The Andy Griffith Show’s best remembered characters, and remains a fan favorite.
The Parables of Mayberry 