I’ll never forget seeing him on some game - type panel program, with Cloris Leachman. The host asked them about spanking kids, and unsuspecting ol Ernie mildly opined that he thought there were times when children should be spanked. I thought Cloris was going to tear him limb from limb. She started ranting about child abuse, parents who spank their kids are criminals, monsters, etc. (paraphrasing here) Poor old Ernie tried to explain that he wasn’t talking about beating children, but occasionally needing to spank them, but he didn’t stand a chance against that old bag Cloris; she was having none of it.
Played a real bad guy in “Hannie Caulder”
I’m guessing this was a more recent show when this happened as nobody batted an eye about spanking in the 70s or even 80s too much.
Sounds like Cloris Leachman needs a whupping.