Belatedly Howard gets to "spread his wings" as his newly married mother moves out with new hubby leaving the homestead to Howard. In a radical move Howard reinvents his home into a "swinging bachelor pad" This in itself is quite humorous as the decor Howard creates is a kind of omage of things considered to be trendy and cool for the time: bearskin rug, hi-fi, abstract art, wet bar, and beads. Howard decides he wants to host an inaugural singles party.
The guests are to include Andy and Helen along with Goober. Emmett very much wants to come too and is roundly snubbed by Howard as it's a singles only affair. This, of course, is also out of character for Howard who previously has been the poster child of kowtowing to mom while being overly polite and, well, boring. One of the funniest parts is how both he and Goober get roundly shutdown while attempting to find dates. When Andy and Helen arrive the awkwardness ramps up to good effect. Helen bears the brunt of it as she has to dance with everyone. As Helen fades and Andy attempts to make their exit. The unexpected occurs. Emmet arrives stag. Emmet turns out to be the real party king with his energetic surprising good dancing skills once more forcing the now tired out Helen to dance. Emmet, the uninvited, save the otherwise dud of a party!
This is a polarizing episode. Personally I find it funny and enjoyable because of the constant insertion of some wicked bits of humor. For instance, when explaining the awful art to Goober, Howard reiterates again about the "out of the way little shop this time with the "individual" (does this mean not heterosexua,l or simply a hippie?) who sold him the art underscoring Howard's klunky liberal personna that is still absolutely square underneath. In the epilogue Goober bursts in on Andy announcing there is to be another "bash" and this time Howard has secured two nurses as dates for them both. Andy seems pleased enough at the news to say he and Helen will come...then he hears the dates are being brought by their mother. LOL! Could this be worse than the previous party?
The guests are to include Andy and Helen along with Goober. Emmett very much wants to come too and is roundly snubbed by Howard as it's a singles only affair. This, of course, is also out of character for Howard who previously has been the poster child of kowtowing to mom while being overly polite and, well, boring. One of the funniest parts is how both he and Goober get roundly shutdown while attempting to find dates. When Andy and Helen arrive the awkwardness ramps up to good effect. Helen bears the brunt of it as she has to dance with everyone. As Helen fades and Andy attempts to make their exit. The unexpected occurs. Emmet arrives stag. Emmet turns out to be the real party king with his energetic surprising good dancing skills once more forcing the now tired out Helen to dance. Emmet, the uninvited, save the otherwise dud of a party!
This is a polarizing episode. Personally I find it funny and enjoyable because of the constant insertion of some wicked bits of humor. For instance, when explaining the awful art to Goober, Howard reiterates again about the "out of the way little shop this time with the "individual" (does this mean not heterosexua,l or simply a hippie?) who sold him the art underscoring Howard's klunky liberal personna that is still absolutely square underneath. In the epilogue Goober bursts in on Andy announcing there is to be another "bash" and this time Howard has secured two nurses as dates for them both. Andy seems pleased enough at the news to say he and Helen will come...then he hears the dates are being brought by their mother. LOL! Could this be worse than the previous party?