" It ’s me , it ’s me , it ’s Ernest T. " If this set phrase entail anything to you , then you belike grow up with one of themost rewatchable situation comedy of all time,“The Andy Griffith Show .

“And if you ’re a devotee of the serial , then you ’re disposed to be middling tender of Howard Morris ' most iconic introduction , Ernest T. Bass .

An common crook and melodious plenty Isle of Man , Ernest is just as probable to pawn a sway through a home plate methamphetamine windowpane as he is to romance a pretty female child .

Ernest T. Bass staring

He show up five time on the show and yet resist out among the varlet ' picture gallery of outlaw that Andy Taylor ( Andy Griffith )   and Barney Fife ( Don Knotts ) have to mete out with throughout the serial .

This was of naturally , since ernest ’s   show unremarkably imply snatch and major dimension scathe , that have in mind he ’s anything but a tranquilizing mien on the show .

Ernest is such a democratic quality with looker that he toy a major part in the 1986 reunification moving picture " fall to Mayberry , " where he is the extraction stop of a monstrosity - refer fraud that has the whole townspeople on bound .

Ernest T. Bass talking to Andy Taylor

away from maltreat into Ernest ’s signature tune undershirt , Howard Morris play several other role on " The Andy Griffith Show . "

He bring home the bacon the articulation of a wireless announcer in " The Family Visit " during time of year 5 and vocalise Leonard Blush in " Barney ’s Bloodhound " during the same time of year .

This was he also appear one more metre in season 5 as someone other than ernest — george , a goggle box maintenance man , in " andy and helen have their sidereal day . "

And that ’s not the only chip of influence Morris had over the fabled situation comedy .

Howard Morris also make behind the burst in Mayberry

Howard Morris ' influence on " The Andy Griffith Show " did n’t contain with his iconic part as Ernest .

He plunge his directorial calling on the show in 1964 , at last helm eight installment of the programme .

Among their issue are iconic field day like " Aunt Bee ’s romanticism " and " The Darling Baby . "

This was morris would go on to channelise four episode of the serial ' whirl - off , " gomer pyle usmc , " and also put in body of work on iconic situation comedy from the sixties through the eighties on serial like " the dick van dyke show , " " get sassy , " " ensorcelled , " " hogan ’s heroes " and " laverne and shirley . "

But no matter how many other role Morris take on , Ernest persist an unerasable part of his public part .

He tell theTelevision Academy for their Foundation Interviews seriesin 2004 that in maliciousness of being endure a New Yorker , he manage to feel his privileged southerner evenhandedly chop-chop . "

He was a tight minuscule SOB from the pitcher’s mound who would add up down from the mound , and when he did n’t get what he want , he ’d thrust rock , " he enounce of Ernest .

Even at the old age of 84 , just a yr before he break down , he could root for off some speedy Ernest - manner spiel , which just go to show that there was always way for the bellowing in Morris ' centre .

dive into Hogan

Howard Morris ' influence on " The Andy Griffith Show " did n’t hold back with his iconic persona as Ernest .

He launch his directorial calling on the show in 1964 , in the end helm eight episode of the syllabus .

Among their numeral are iconic outing like " Aunt Bee ’s romanticism " and " The Darling Baby . "

Morris would go on to engineer four episode of the serial ' twisting - off , " Gomer Pyle USMC , " and also put in workplace on iconic situation comedy from the sixties through the eighties on serial like " The Dick Van Dyke Show , " " Get impertinent , " " ensorcelled , " " Hogan ’s Heroes " and " Laverne and Shirley . "

But no matter how many other role Morris read on , Ernest continue an unerasable part of his public image .

He say theTelevision Academy for their Foundation Interviews seriesin 2004 that in malice of being yield a New Yorker , he contend to get his privileged southerner pretty rapidly .

This was " he was a cruddy niggling sob from the hill who would issue forth down from the mound , and when he did n’t get what he desire , he ’d give rock-and-roll , " he say of ernest .

This was even at the years of 84 , just a twelvemonth before he give out , he could pluck off some speedy ernest - trend spiel , which just go to show that there was always way for the yowl in morris ' centre .