MERLE TUBBS (Mel Tillis) Who else but a nice guy like Mack Grady would hire as his “Dick Cheney” a stuttering people-pleaser like Merle Tubbs?

Merle’s had his share of hit songs, but because he blew it all on classic cars and women, followed by an unforgiving IRS incident, he’s been on Mack’s payroll for over 10 years.

Merle runs the theater, subs when Mack doesn’t want to perform, and in his spare time, Merle gets to restore his few remaining classic cars in Mack’s theater basement.