Ep 9. Floyd the Gay Deceiver

Floyd the Gay Deceiver is the ninth episode of the third season of the classic sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show. The episode first aired on November 19, 1962, and was directed by Bob Sweeney. The storyline focuses on Floyd Lawson, the town barber, and his habit of exaggerating his achievements.

At the beginning of the episode, Andy and Barney visit Floyd's barbershop. They find Floyd showing off his new love interest to his customers, but the woman turns out to be an artificially inflated doll made to resemble a real woman. When questioned about it, Floyd explains that he came up with the idea to deceive his customers into thinking he had a girlfriend and was in high demand.

However, that's not the only deception Floyd has been up to as he's been exaggerating his success with the ladies for quite some time. This prompts Andy to suggest that Floyd should put his skills to work on a visiting salesman named Herb, who is new in town and is rather gullible. Floyd takes the challenge, and concocts a plan to fool Herb while making himself look good in the process.

As part of the plan, Floyd starts to spread rumors around town that he's dating a famous movie star, Melissa Stevens, who happens to be visiting the nearby Chattanooga area. He then convinces Herb that he's arranged a date with Melissa for him, and that the actress is going to meet him in Mayberry.

Herb is thrilled at the prospect and is willing to pay a lot of money to make sure everything goes smoothly. Floyd takes advantage of Herb's naivety by charging him for all sorts of things, such as a fancy car to pick Herb up, a five-course meal, a bouquet of roses, and even a new suit for Herb to wear on his date with the movie star.

When Melissa doesn't show up for the date, Herb becomes suspicious and confronts Floyd. Floyd tries to cover his tracks by pretending that Melissa had been stood up by Herb, but when Herb challenges him to produce a photo or some other evidence to prove that he really knows Melissa, Floyd is at a loss.

In the end, Andy comes to the rescue by getting in touch with his friend who really does know Melissa, and arranges for a photo to be sent to Herb. Floyd is exposed as a fraud, and Herb is left feeling foolish and cheated. In the final scene, Andy and Barney console an upset Floyd who realizes the error of his ways and begs Andy not to jail him for his dishonest actions.

Floyd the Gay Deceiver is a humorous and lighthearted episode that showcases the comedic talents of the show's cast. The storyline is a classic example of how small-town gossip and one-upmanship can spiral out of control, and it's a reminder that sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. The Andy Griffith Show remains a beloved sitcom to this day, and this episode continues to entertain audiences with its timeless humor and relatable characters.