The Andy Griffith show.

[Godbeatsantichrist]

The Andy Griffith show is pretty good. RIP to Andy who died last year. May God be with him. 

[InHisTime77]

One of the classics to be sure! The show seemed to lose something though when Don Knotts left.

[BBeck]

One of my favorite episodes is when Aunt Bea made some horrid home made pickles!

[Jean74]

Wholesome family entertainment to say the least!

[Hopegrace]

I loved watching this show with my dad.  It was a great show but I have not seen it for  years.

[Jesus Freak]

I love the show. I do have a question: do you think it lost its authenticity when it got colorized? I think while it did lose authenticity, it was changing with the times.

[Jaime]

It lost a whole lot when Barney left

[OldDad]

The story is that before filming for the fifth season began, Andy Griffith was talking about ending TAGS at the end of the fifth season. He was tired, felt the show had run it's course, and was ready to move on to other projects.

In those days, the networks and production companies did not own most shows - the advertisers did. General Foods had sponsored TAGS from the beginning, and they definitely wanted the show to continue. They negotiated a big pay raise for Andy, as well as more of an ownership stake in the program.

While all that was taking place behind the scenes, Don Knotts, along with several of the series' key writers and directors - believing that the show would be ended after the fifth season - started lining up their next jobs and opportunities. Knotts signed a big deal with Universal Studios that included his own production company and a five feature films contract. Many of the writers signed on with other studios to produce programs and write for movies.

After Andy's deal was done, he came back to Knotts and the other's to try to persuade them to stay with the program - but it was too late, they already had their deals in place.

The upshot was that seasons 6, 7, & 8 had new writers and directors, and the tone of the show changed considerably. Besides the fruitless search for a "replacement" for Barney Fife, the show became more of a typical sitcom - and Andy's character turned somewhat sour and grumpy, something he had never really shown when dealing with Barney, Gomer, or Floyd.

The result for me is that the first 5 seasons are ageless - they were beautifully written and filmed, perfectly cast, and will always be a shining example of comedy performance. The final 3 seasons, considerably less so - some of them are hard to watch.

[notreligus]

The replacement character for Barney, Warren Ferguson, just did not appeal to me.   Don Knotts, in my opinion, became the co-star to Andy, not just a supporting actor, and no one else was able to fill those shoes.   

[Jaime]

I always felt Barney was the star and Andy was the tag along.

[Laurel]

I've always loved the show and still watch it on TVLand.  It's truly fine family viewing with good life lessons about honesty and loyalty along with the humor. It's one of the few shows that regularly depicted  the characters in church.

[DaveW]

The replacement character for Barney, Warren Ferguson, just did not appeal to me.   Don Knotts, in my opinion, became the co-star to Andy, not just a supporting actor, and no one else was able to fill those shoes.

I totally agree!

[Mere Nick]

I love the show. I do have a question: do you think it lost its authenticity when it got colorized? I think while it did lose authenticity, it was changing with the times.

Barney left. 

[Mere Nick]

The replacement character for Barney, Warren Ferguson, just did not appeal to me.   Don Knotts, in my opinion, became the co-star to Andy, not just a supporting actor, and no one else was able to fill those shoes.   

Both needed to be there just like it was Abbott and Costello.