Howard Sprague
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Howard Sprague is a fictional character on the CBS television sitcom ''
The Andy Griffith Show ''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American sitcom television series that was aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color. The series ...
'', and its spin-off '' Mayberry R.F.D.''. He was played by Jack Dodson from 1966 to 1971. He was characterized by his
milquetoast Caspar Milquetoast was a popular American cartoon character created by H. T. Webster. The term “milquetoast” has since come to be used for a meek or timid person. Milquetoast may also refer to: *Dr. Milquetoast, a character in " The Pacifis ...
demeanor, moustache,
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s, and a penchant for philosophy and culture. Howard was a repressed Mother's boy who lived with his overbearing and manipulative mother, played by
Mabel Albertson Mabel Ida Albertson (July 24, 1901 – September 28, 1982) was an American actress of television, stage, radio and film who portrayed Phyllis Stephens in the TV sitcom '' Bewitched''. She also appeared in TV's ''The Time Tunnel'' (S1:E30, "Town ...
. He appeared as the county clerk during the later color episodes of The Andy Griffith Show (and continued onto Mayberry R.F.D.). While Jack Dodson made an earlier appearance as an insurance agent named Ed Jenkins, he first appeared as Howard in the sixth season. This was not unusual. Other show regulars were first introduced with different names:
Hope Summers Sarah Hope Summers (June 7, 1902 – June 22, 1979) was an American actress known for her work on ''The Andy Griffith Show'' and '' Mayberry R.F.D.'', portraying Clara Edwards. Early life Hope Summers was born in Mattoon, Illinois, the daugh ...
, who played Clara Edwards, first appeared as Bertha Johnson; Goober Pyle was first called Goober Beasley; and
Arlene Golonka Arlene Leanore Golonka (January 23, 1936 – May 31, 2021) was an American actress. She is known for playing Millie Hutchins on the television comedy ''The Andy Griffith Show'' and Millie Swanson on '' Mayberry R.F.D.'', and often portrayed ...
, who played Millie Swanson, was introduced as Millie Hutchins.


Character overview

In the episode "The County Clerk", Howard is portrayed as socially stymied, especially when it came to dating. His mother even tries to thwart a double date he has with Andy Taylor, Helen Crump, and a nurse, by feigning heart palpitations. In the episode "The Lodge", Howard is about to join a men's social club, but his mother manipulates Goober Pyle with a sob story in an attempt to blackball his membership. Opie once said Howard threw a baseball "just like
Aunt Bee Aunt Bee is a fictional character from the 1960 American television sitcom ''The Andy Griffith Show'' played by Frances Bavier. The character migrated to the spinoff ''Mayberry R.F.D.'' (1968–1971) when ''The Andy Griffith Show'' ended its run ...
". When his mother remarried and moved to Mount Pilot, Howard sought to metamorphosize into a swinging hipster. Wearing a smoking jacket and ascot, his plain home became a mod bachelor pad, with threshold-beads, and floor pillows. In the episode "Howard's New Life", he tried to recreate himself by moving to a Caribbean island (St. Benedict's) to become a beachcomber. Bored, he soon returned to
Mayberry Mayberry is a fictional community that was the setting for two popular American television sitcoms, ''The Andy Griffith Show'' (1960–1968) and '' Mayberry R.F.D.'' (1968–1971); Mayberry was also the setting for a 1986 reunion television f ...
and resumed his drab bureaucratic job. Howard's brief love interest/fiancée on The Andy Griffith Show was Millie Swanson (Arlene Golonka), a character who later dated Sam Jones ( Ken Berry) on the spin-off series Mayberry R.F.D. Millie and Howard soon realized their incompatibility and mutually agreed to dissolve the relationship right before they were to wed. Despite his awkwardness, Howard proved to be quite a sportsman. He caught "Old Sam", the much coveted legendary fish in Tucker's Lake, thus antagonizing the town's seasoned anglers. He also proved to be an excellent bowler, after joining Emmett Clark's bowling team and astonishing everyone by scoring a perfect game. Howard even parachuted from an airplane to appease a thrill-seeking lady friend. Howard had two brushes with stardom. First he appeared on the "Colonel Tim's Talent Time" television show performing his
stand-up comedy Stand-up comedy is a performance directed to a live audience, where the performer stands on a stage (theatre), stage and delivers humour, humorous and satire, satirical monologues sometimes incorporating physical comedy, physical acts. These ...
act, which consisted of personal affronts to his neighbors and "one-horse" jokes about Mayberry, causing him to be temporarily snubbed by the townsfolk. In the ''Mayberry R.F.D.'' episode "The Panel Show", the Mayberry city council sends Howard with Emmett Clark to a
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
TV station to promote traditional, small town values. Howard does a backspin and becomes an unabashed New Yorker, replete with a loud, paisley Nehru suit and hair bangs.


Additional appearances

In the 1986
television movie A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...
'' Return to Mayberry'', Howard was revisited (along with most of the surviving cast). In a funk about aging, the clerk was seen throughout the movie in various hues of hair color. Dodson appeared in character as Howard Sprague on ''
It's Garry Shandling's Show ''It's Garry Shandling's Show'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on Showtime from September 10, 1986, to May 25, 1990. The series, created by Garry Shandling and Alan Zweibel, is notable for breaking the fourth wall. I ...
'' in the 1990 episode "The Day Howard Moved In".


References


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sprague, Howard Fictional characters from North Carolina The Andy Griffith Show characters Television characters introduced in 1966 American male characters in sitcoms