"The Andy Griffith Show" (1960) TV series 1960-1968

Creator:

Sheldon Leonard

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Release Date:

3 October 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

Widower Sheriff Andy and his son Opie live with Andy's Aunt Bee in Mayberry NC. With virtually no crimes to solve...

Plot Keywords:

Sheriff | Widower | Aunt | Town Drunk | Actor Name In Title

Awards:

Won 6 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 4 of 182)

Andy Griffith	...	Sheriff Andy Taylor (249 episodes, 1960-1968)
Ron Howard	...	Opie Taylor (210 episodes, 1960-1968)
Frances Bavier	...	Aunt Bee Taylor (175 episodes, 1960-1968)
Don Knotts	...	Deputy Barney Fife / ... (141 episodes, 1960-1968)

Also Known As:

Andy of Mayberry (USA) (rerun title)

Runtime:

30 min (249 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (1960-1965) | Color (1965-1968)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) (video rating) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Trivia:

In two episodes of the second season, Andy Griffith's hand is heavily bandaged. Griffith had broken his hand by punching a wall. On the show, the bandage was explained by Sheriff Taylor saying he hurt his hand apprehending some criminals.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first couple of seasons there is window to the left of the entrance (as seen from the street outside) but inside the Sheriff's office there is no window. In later seasons this error was corrected.

Quotes:

[the Darlings are discussing the song they are going to play at Charlene's wedding]
Briscoe Darling: How 'bout "Don't Hit Your Grandma with a Great Big Stick"?
Charlene Darling: No, Paw, That one makes me cry!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Boston Legal: A Whiff and a Prayer (#2.4)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Fishin' Hole Theme

Andy Griffith is America's Giovanni Guareschi

The Andy Griffith show is one of the best television programmes I have seen. It presents a very gentle, humorous look on small-town America, that hasn't been equalled.

The earlier episodes are better than the later ones. I suppose the transition point is when they went from being in black-and-white to colour. Unlike Guareschi's books, the good sheriff does not have a Peppone to ply his wits against, though Barney Fife comes pretty close sometimes, albeit unwittingly.

The episodes are done with great sensitivity and betray a great acumen in human character. It is unfortunate that such programming is no longer produced in America---it cannot be because of a lack of talent.

The Andy Griffith show demonstrates that human nature is essentially the same. Not only is Mayberry amazingly similar to Don Camillo's village, but people have the same kind of obsessions, desires and fears everywhere. This is truly an American classic, and one wishes that it were better known to foreign audiences.