Howard Sprague is a fictional character on the CBS television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, and its spin-off Mayberry R.F.D..

His mother even tries to thwart a double date he has with Andy Taylor, Helen Crump, and a nurse, by feigning heart palpitations.

[2][4]: 480  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.

[1]: 98 Howard's brief love interest/fiancée on The Andy Griffith Show was Millie Swanson (Arlene Golonka),[1]: 96  a character who later dated Sam Jones (Ken Berry) on the spin-off series Mayberry R.F.D.

[8] He also proved to be an excellent bowler, after joining Emmett Clark's bowling team and astonishing everyone by scoring a perfect game.

First he appeared on the "Colonel Tim's Talent Time" television show performing his stand-up comedy act, which consisted of personal affronts to his neighbors and "one-horse" jokes about Mayberry, causing him to be temporarily snubbed by the townsfolk.