jarrodmcdonald-1 I've been watching episodes on Amazon Prime and some of them really bother me. I've been focusing on seasons 6-8, because I prefer the color episodes after Don Knotts departed. I think the show goes from being 'The Misadventures of Barney Fife' to 'Mayberry U.S.A.' and with the stories opened up to include the other townsfolk a bit more, we see a slight diversity in story lines played out away from Andy's work. But the plots are so heavy-handed in the way characters must conform to society's expectation of their so-called roles. The one with Goober's girlfriend pumping gas and being more successful while he's away really bothered me. Incredibly sexist and backward writing-- they made a point of Andy sensing a problem with her success and with Goober returning and not being happy or proud of her skills. She had to feel guilty that if she continued being successful in a man's world no man would want her or she would have no time for a man, and never get married. Since all young females have to get married or at least should want to get married, she has to give up her new career and go back to being a waitress so Goober can reclaim his job and place in their narrow-minded community. Stories like these obviously appealed greatly to audiences at the time and hence, the on- going popularity of the program and its consistently high ratings. But it's ridiculous to think the girl should have to give up that job to be happy. Why didn't she have to give up her job serving food in order to get married and be happy? Because it was expected for her to do more of a domestic type job instead of being out there pumping gas. There are other episodes I find equally annoying-- I think the philosophy of the show is against non-conformity and is constantly trying to bolster the idea that people should not ascribe to being great; rather they should just give in and accept the humdrum lot in life a town like Mayberry will give them. I think it's a mistake for people to look at The Andy Griffith Show with weird rose-colored glasses and hold it up as espousing the values of a simpler, better time. It's really holding up the values of a sexist time. I still find (most of) the performances good and charming, but the stories and societal attitudes being presented within the stories are potentially damaging and very problematic.

bkoganbing Andy Griffith starred as a small town sheriff who also married a few people as justice of the peace. There were more marriages in Mayberry than crime, the kind of idyllic small town that America so prizes.Sheriff Andy Taylor's immediate family were his son Opie played by young Ron Howard and his Aunt Bea who was played by Frances Bavier. Andy was a widower and his great aunt provided the female mother figure in the home for Opie.In law enforcement Andy was aided and abetted by his deputy Barney Fife played by Don Knotts. The situations with Griffith and Knotts provided the base of the humor there with Knotts getting so officious and Andy just solving problems with humor and a kind word.Gradually we met the rest of Mayberry people like Howard McNear the barber, George Lindsey the gas station owner, Jack Dotson the town clerk. Charles Watts was the mayor and when he died Mayberry got a new mayor in Parley Baer.And there was Gomer Pyle and Jim Nabors proved so popular that he got a series of his own when he joined the Marines. My favorite was Hal Smith as Otis Campbell the town drunk. He was by far the jail's steadiest customer. Griffith just let him check in and lock himself in to sleep off a toot.The show lost something when Don Knotts left for the big screen and Jim Nabors got his own show. For the second half of its run it was never the same.Still for the richness in characters from small town America you could never beat the Andy Griffith Show.

c-computerkid The Andy Griffith Show is widely considered one of the best sitcoms of all time, a "classic." But while many so-called classics don't hold up after several decades, The Andy Griffith Show certainly survives. With its simple but memorable theme song, it'd be surprising if it didn't.The series focuses on the life on Mayberry Sheriff Andy Taylor (Griffith) who raises his son Opie (Ronny Howard) as a single father. To help him with housekeeping, he calls upon Aunt Bee (Francis Bavier). Meanwhile, Andy deals with criminals and everyday problems of Mayberry's citizens. Wild deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts) and spaced-out barber Floyd (Howard McNear) also tag along.Too many sitcoms of the 60s suffer from hackneyed, uninspired writing. That's simply not the case with TAGS. In fact, one could rightly call the show the first character-based sitcom in television history; that is, to understand the humor you have to understand the characters.The production values here are excellent: the simple sets work flawlessly, character development is prioritized, and the acting is usually spot-on. Best of all, TAGS is wholesome without feeling forced or mawkish--something I can't say for others like Leave It to Beaver or Father Knows Best.Throughout the first five seasons, comedy is effortlessly balanced with drama in a way I've only seen a few sitcoms accomplish. The blend is, like good coffee for coffee lovers, truly addictive.There are a few flaws here, especially after Barney leaves in season 5. The show loses its comedic flair, and it appears the writers were trying to find a Barney replacement. We suffered through the hopelessly bland Howard Sprague, annoyingly clingy Warren, and frustratingly limited Gomer Pyle, who somehow did enough to warrant his own spin-off. And I do feel the writers had Opie grow up too fast, dating girls at just 13 (though certainly Disney Channel and Nickelodeon have done worse).Even with these flaws, it's hard to imagine too many 60s series better than TAGS. It's among the best depictions of American rural life and holds up surprisingly well.

hfan77 I remember The Andy Griffith Show well from its days as a Monday night staple on CBS to long-running reruns since the network first reran the show in daytime under the title Andy of Mayberry. To me, it was a very down home piece of life in a small southern town that is definitely the best known rural show of all-time.Griffith's folksy appeal was one key to the show's success. But the main reason the show became a hit was Don Knotts portrayal of deputy Barney Fife. His hyper tense mannerisms and comedic timing have made the character one of the funniest in sitcom history. When he left the show after five years, I felt the show jumped the shark. His replacement, Jack Burns wasn't as good as Knotts and he had a much shorter run.The show was also the spring board to Ron Howard's career. he started at age six as Opie and grew into his teens when Griffith quit the show in 1968. Also, there was Frances Bavier as Aunt Bee, best known for her cooking. The show also became the launching pad for Jim Nabors' career. After a season as Gomer Pyle, he got his own show, Gomer Pyle, USMC.The Andy Griffith Show is a true cult classic and a show that will never leave reruns on cable or local channels. From the whistled theme song to the closing credits, viewers can get a slice of small town life via Mayberry each day.