The Andy Griffith Show is one of the most beloved sitcoms ever to be broadcast into our living rooms. The series ran for 249 episodes over eight seasons, starring the iconic Andy Griffith as Sheriff Andy Taylor, Frances Bavier as his Aunt Bee Taylor, Don Knotts as the oafish Deputy Barney Fife, and a young Ron Howard as Andy’s son Opie. Today, this TV classic is considered not just one of the greatest shows of the 1960s, but of all time. But despite the show’s enduring popularity, there are still a few interesting tidbits that may surprise even the most avid fans. Here are five fun facts about The Andy Griffith Show.
Don Knotts wasn’t an original cast member
The pilot episode of The Andy Griffith Showwas originally broadcast as an episode of TheDanny Thomas Show, a sitcom that ran from 1953 to 1964. The pilot featured appearances from Griffith, Bavier, and Howard, but Knotts’ Barney Fife was notably missing. In fact, Knotts was sitting at home watching television when he saw the pilot starring his friend Andy. According to Griffith, Knotts called up after the episode aired and said, “Andy, you’re going to be a sheriff, you’ll need yourself a deputy.” Just like that, the character of Barney Fife was born.
Interestingly enough, rumor has it Knotts was only initially offered a one-episode contract. However, after witnessing the on-screen chemistry between the two friends, executive producer Sheldon Leonard changed his mind and offered Knotts a series regular contract. Knotts went on to portray Fife throughout the first five seasons of the show before leaving to explore new career opportunities, though he reprised his role as Fife in later projects.
Its theme song does have lyrics
While the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, was created exclusively for the show, it was inspired by Andy Griffith’s birthplace of Mount Airy, North Carolina. In fact, people and places in and around Mount Airy were frequently referenced within the fictional world of The Andy Griffith Show. Take for example the fictional town of Mount Pilot, which was located near Mayberry in the show. Its name was taken from the very real town of Pilot Mountain, which is located about 12 miles down the road from the real-life Mount Airy.
Today, the residents of Mount Airy have embraced this legacy and transformed the town into a must-see destination for fans of the series. Locations from the show that were once entirely fictional have been transformed into real-life institutions, such as Floyd’s City Barber Shop and the Old Mayberry Jail. Visitors can even take a squad car tour in a vintage police cruiser just like Sheriff Taylor drove or pop into the Andy Griffith Museum to check out some memorabilia from the show.
Its setting was based on Griffith’s hometown
While the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, was created exclusively for the show, it was inspired by Andy Griffith’s birthplace of Mount Airy, North Carolina. In fact, people and places in and around Mount Airy were frequently referenced within the fictional world of The Andy Griffith Show. Take for example the fictional town of Mount Pilot, which was located near Mayberry in the show. Its name was taken from the very real town of Pilot Mountain, which is located about 12 miles down the road from the real-life Mount Airy.
Today, the residents of Mount Airy have embraced this legacy and transformed the town into a must-see destination for fans of the series. Locations from the show that were once entirely fictional have been transformed into real-life institutions, such as Floyd’s City Barber Shop and the Old Mayberry Jail. Visitors can even take a squad car tour in a vintage police cruiser just like Sheriff Taylor drove or pop into the Andy Griffith Museum to check out some memorabilia from the show.
It was rated the Number One show when it ended
TV shows have a tendency to overstay their welcome and end up becoming less popular in later seasons. But this fate didn’t befall The Andy Griffith Show, which is one of only three shows in history to end its run at the top of the Nielsen ratings charts, a feat it shares with I Love Lucy and Seinfeld.
During its entire eight-season run, The Andy Griffith Show maintained a top-seven spot in the ratings, even during later seasons after the beloved Don Knotts left the program. When the final episode aired on April 1, 1968, The Andy Griffith Show was sitting firmly in the No. 1 spot on the charts. In fact, during its final season, the show was viewed by an estimated audience of around 15.6 million viewers, beating out The Lucy Show; Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (an Andy Griffith spin-off); and Gunsmoke, as well as every other program on television at the time.
A spin-off ran for 3 seasons
Although The Andy Griffith Show came to a close in 1968, it wasn’t the last we saw of those characters. During the show’s final season, producers began work on a spin-off called Mayberry R.F.D. (Rural Free Delivery). In fact, The Andy Griffith Show introduced new characters such as Sam Jones and his son Mike during its final season, with the idea that they’d become the main focus of Mayberry R.F.D. The final episode of The Andy Griffith Show was even titled “Mayberry R.F.D.,” serving as the de facto pilot for the new spin-off.
With Griffith staying on as executive producer and appearing in a few early episodes, Mayberry R.F.D. first hit the air in 1968. The inaugural episode — titled “Andy and Helen Get Married” — featured appearances by Griffith, Knotts, and Howard. It went on to enjoy a 78-episode run over the course of three seasons before the series finale aired in 1971. But that still wasn’t all: A made-for-TV reunion movie called Return to Mayberry was produced in 1986. Sixteen original Andy Griffith cast members reprised their roles for the movie, which centers on Andy Taylor as he returns home to visit his son Opie and help his friend Barney Fife run for sheriff.
We love that show. The kids like it too. They prefer the old shows. Thank you for a great read.