CBS's "Mayberry" Is a Sweet Reunion of Old Friends

Louisville, KY, Courier-Journal ^ | 11-11-03 | Dorsey, Tom

[Theodore R.]

There were lots of wistful moments when CBS celebrated its 75th anniversary recently, but none more nostalgic than when Andy Griffith came on stage.

"The Andy Griffith Show" has been showing in continuous reruns since it first appeared 43 years ago.

[Austin Willard Wright]

I can't think of a better opportunity than now to post this link from Mayberry in Star Trek.

[Cincinatus]

There were 249 episodes, with hardly a clunker in the whole bunch

Well, even as a die-hard Andy Griffith fan, I know this is simply not true. After Don Knotts left the show, the quality of the series went rapidly downhill (it "jumped the shark").

The easiest test I know of is to look at the opening scene -- if the episode is in black-and-white, I stay tuned, nearly always to the furtherence of my enjoyment. If it's in color, change the channel.

[Austin Willard Wright]

Ah...but the color episodes had Floyd in best acting form. Also, Goober did have a priceless Gary Grant imitation.

[billbears]

if the episode is in black-and-white, I stay tuned, nearly always to the furtherence of my enjoyment. If it's in color, change the channel

Second that bump. And Lord help you if have to watch a Mayberry RFD episode. I love Andy but almost everything in color from Mayberry is a little lower on the scale

Mayberry bump

[stainlessbanner]

I've been waiting for this 'un. I agree on the color scale, billbears!

[Treebeard]

I loved the Darlin family episodes. My grandpa looked like Briscoe and, although his house was a little nicer, we sure did pick a lot of good music on that porch ...30 some years ago.

Damn.

[Constitution Day]

I agree with that. Never liked Mayberry RFD at ALL, either!

[Treebeard]

Judyjudyjudyjudyjudy

[sox_the_cat]

The black and white shows are great. I just got a DVD last month and it has six episodes on it. My favorite episode with Rafe Hollister is on it.

[DanTheAdmin]

That was great! Thanks.

[azhenfud]

Never could leave the set with the AGS on - couldn't stand the set with RFD on. I never knew why - guess I felt some "innocence" was lost going from B&W to color, as the "war" was becoming increasingly reported in color.

[HeadOn]

I got a bunch of b/w DVDs as well... Did yours have some funky substitute theme song? That almost ruins it for me. I want the "Watering Hole" whistle... Must be a copyright thing.

[SamAdams76]

I agree with Andy Griffith on the state of modern sitcoms. They are utterly unwatchable. The characters are loud, unlikeable, obnoxious and without any class at all. Even the ones that were critical successes (such as "Cosby Show" and "Cheers") were mostly unoriginal and stilted affairs.

The last time I watched sitcoms was back in the 1970s with shows like "Welcome Back Kotter", "Chico And The Man", and "What's Happening." Already, the genre was headed downhill fast. The last sitcom I actually enjoyed was "All In The Family." And that was a LONG time ago.

I watched "Andy Griffith" as a kid and I always looked forward to that show. The article states that the shows still run even today. Where at? I'd like to check them out sometime.

[martin_fierro]

It never fails.

Every Sweeps Week, CBS looks wistfully back ... to the days when it used to have quality programming.

[sox_the_cat]

No , it had six episodes all with the original theme song. I've seen a couple others out there but I haven't picked those up yet.

[Kirkwood]

I agree also on the color episodes being of lesser quality, but still superior to 99% of what passes for entertainment today.

My favorite episode was the sourpuss old man who felt left out at Christmas, got himself arrested, and gave away presents to a family down on their luck.

[stainlessbanner]

Is that the original theme song? I have a Hillbillies DVD that does the same thing.

[Wright is right!]

"I watched "Andy Griffith" as a kid and I always looked forward to that show. The article states that the shows still run even today. Where at? I'd like to check them out sometime."

Nick At Nite runs a bunch of them, usually two at a time in the evenings. Google "Nick at Nite", then go to their website for a schedule.

Note that the article says that this show was "thrown together on the cheap." Guess why? Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding, we have a winner! This is one of the shows See BS had to hurriedly concoct to fill the time gap created by the demise of "The Reagans." There are three MORE hours they still have to fill. And other shows will get shuffled into different time slots...four hours is a lot of time to fill. At the last minute.

Michael

[Cincinatus]

I have two favorite episodes. The best of all time is the one in which Barney buys a war surplus motorcycle -- and proceeds to terrorize the whole town (Aunt Bee: "You know, I saw this movie once where soldiers strung a wire across the road and when the Nazis came through ... FPFFFFHPT!!") The next best one was Aunt Bee's pickle making (Barney: "Do we actually have to eat those kerosene cucumbers?") Classic stuff!