“The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” was a popular spy TV show in the 1960s. It was all about secret agents fighting bad guys. In 1966, they made an episode called “The My Friend the Gorilla Affair.” Joyce Jillson was a guest star. She played a character named Bernice. This particular episode often appears on lists of the show’s worst. Many fans did not like this one.
Jillson’s character, Bernice, worked at a department store. She gets mixed up in a spy adventure. The story involves a trained gorilla. This gorilla is central to the bad guys’ plans. The whole plot is pretty silly, even for a spy show. The episode features a lot of slapstick comedy. People run around a lot. There’s a lot of physical humor.
Jillson was known for her comedic timing. She brings her skills to this role. She plays Bernice as a bit ditzy. She is easily confused and often surprised. This was a style she was known for. The character gets caught up in the action. She finds herself in some ridiculous situations.
In one scene, Bernice is chased by the gorilla. She hides in a dressing room. It’s meant to be funny. The gorilla is not very scary, though. It looks more like a man in a suit. The show’s low budget is pretty clear. This fact might explain why the episode is not well-regarded.
Jillson does her best with the material. Her character is meant to add humor to the episode. She screams and runs around. She makes funny faces. Bernice is not a spy. She’s an ordinary person in a crazy situation. It’s all about the contrast between her and the spies.
The episode also features the show’s main stars. They are the agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin. They are trying to stop the bad guys. They are trying to figure out the gorilla’s role. The two agents are much more serious than Bernice. The agents are suave and competent. Bernice often gets in their way.
“The My Friend the Gorilla Affair” is a strange episode. It stands out from the rest of the series. It is more comedic than usual. The episode’s plot is very far-fetched. Critics were not kind. Audiences didn’t love it either.
