The Andy Griffith Show

The Andy Griffith Show

Format: Sitcom Created by: Sheldon Leonard

Starring: Andy Griffith, Ronny Howard, Don Knotts, Frances Bavier

Theme music composer: Earle Hagen Opening theme: "The Fishin' Hole"

Country of origin: United States

No. of seasons: 8 No. of episodes: 249 (List of episodes)

Production

Running time: 25-26 minutes per episode without ads

Broadcast

Original channel: CBS

Picture format: Black and white 1960-1965, Color 1965-1968

Full screen

Original run October 3, 1960 – April 1, 1968


The Andy Griffith Show is a sitcom about a fictional community called Mayberry, North Carolina. Andy Griffith (played by Andy Griffith......I've heard that somewhere haven't I????? Oh yeah Andy Griffith) is the community cop and he has a bumbling sidekick (Deputy) Barney Fife (Don Knotts). We know Don Knotts from Three's Company where he played the ...... again..... bumbling landlord/super. There was the other guy.....Norman Fell who played the part of Ralph Furley. (I didn't want to mislead people that there was only one landlord/super on Three's Company.) Back to the Andy Griffith Show. There is Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier) who is Andy's aunt and housekeeper. Opie (Ron Howard) is Andy's son. If your eyes were open you noticed that I said Ron Howard. Yes this is the multibillionaire movie producer that we hear about a lot. He also was Richie Cunningham on Happy Days. He's been on TV for a long time and then he became Mister Movie Producer. I'd call him Opie but I don't want to burn any bridges. I hear he is truly a nice guy and I don't want to insult him. Opie is billed as Ronny in the credits of The Andy Griffith Show.

The series was a big hit and never ranked below seventh in the Nielsen ratings. In it's final season it ranked number one. The show didn't win any awards in it's eight seasons. Knotts and Baver won a combined total of six Emmy Awards. There was a spin off show called The Danny Thomas Show. That show had a spin off show called Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. (1964). There was a seqel of the Andy Griffith Show called Mayberry R.F.D. (1968) and a reunion television movie called Return to Mayberry (1986). The Andy Griffith Show is still in reruns across the United States. You can get the complete series on DVD. You can also see the show on Neflix and other similar services.

The show was filmed at Desilu Studios. The outside shots were filmed at Forty Acres in Culver City, C.A. Other shots were filmed north of Beverly Hills at Franklin Canyon.

The show's theme music, "The Fishin' Hole", was created by Earle Hagen and Herbert Spencer. The lyrics were written by Everett Sloane. Hagen performed the whistling at the opening and closing of the Andy Griffith Show.



Barney, Andy, Aunt Bee, and Opie in "The Pickle Story"

















The Andy Griffith Show is about Sheriff Andy Taylor and his life in Mayberry. He is a fair and friendly cop that is loved by all, except for the criminals. Even the criminals have a healthy respect for him. Barney Fife, his deputy, messes up Andy's good work. The Main Street Barber Shop is Andy hangs out with is buddies. Andy dates a lot of women until a schoolteacher becomes his steady girlfriend. Okay that sounds awkward ...... The schoolteacher becomes his private teacher.....The schoolteacher becomes his main squeeze. ..... Okay nothing golden but I tried.

Andy like to fish with his son, when he can. He also likes to sit on the porch and talk with his aunt/housekeeper. Opie is a bit of a challenge to Andy but is generally a good kid. Aunt Bee's dating make Opie worry a bit.

Andy's friends include Floyd Lawson, the barber (Howard McNear), gas bar attendants, cousins Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors) and Goober Pyle (George Lindsey), and the local drunk, Otis Campbell (Hal Smith).

Other characters on the show include:

Clara Edwards (Hope Summers): a woman in town

Thelma Lou (Betty Lynn): Barney's girlfriend

Helen Crump (Aneta Corsaut): Andy's schoolteacher girlfriend

Ellie Walker (Elinor Donahue): Andy's girlfriend in 12 appearances

Howard Sprague (Jack Dodson): The County Clerk

Emmett Clark (Paul Hartman): handman

Warren Ferguson (Jack Burns): Barney's replacement deputy





Statue of Andy and Opie at the Andy Griffith Playhouse in Mount Airy.