The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show
TV-G | 03 October 1960 (USA)

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SEASON & EPISODES
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  • Reviews
    Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.
    Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.
    WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.
    Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
    thearkansastraveler Now I know why my dad watches every day. So do I. Wholesome healthy funny TV.
    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.
    Louis Bremen As a child I probably watched most of the episodes 7 or 8 times. I'm older and maybe a little jaded by now. The show seems too 'nice' to me.But it occurred to me that changing the premises and the characters to be more modern makes it watchable again. My premise is that it's still a comedy but Andy is a corrupt lawman who runs a county for the mob and each episode is his testimony at his RICO/murder trial. So he's trying to spin the events as innocently as possible. --Opie is actually Andy's 18 year old, 6'5"/300 lbs. brain damaged thug son.(Sonny Corleone's temper with Fredo's brain.) --Barney, is Andy's twitchy hit-man / bodyguard (that's why his pistol is always going off 'accidentally'). --Aunt Bea, Andy's frumpy gay Uncle Burt. --Floyd (a.k.a.- The Barber) Andy's eyes and ears on the street, handles the bookmaking / loan sharking. --Andy's various girlfriends are actually undercover FBI/ATF agents (Where do they go? They just disappear, who tipped Andy off? Maybe Ellie Walker saw something and had to flee and change her identity). --Thelma Lou-Barney's loyal girlfriend disappeared after Season 5. Barney's on death row at the end of Season 5 after Thelma Lou turns on him and entered witness protection. So the way to look at each episode as not being as innocent and charming as it seems. It's 'Justified' without Hugo Award winning actor Nick Searcy to carry the cast. Nick. Searcy. PS-Like I said, I really do love the show but since I know every plot and gag by heart, I can enjoy it on different levels.
    S.R. Dipaling The power of this show's influence says something: more than three decades after it went off the air and went syndicated,this show still inspires a faithful amount of following. And while maybe the core viewer fan-ship rests among Babyboomers,I think that anyone who has fatigue from current television can get into this one.You know the story: laid-back Sheriff Andy Taylor(Andy Griffith,somewhat fresh off a Broadway,stand-up and movie career)is the sheriff of restful Mayberry,North CArolina. He raises his young,likable son Opie(Ronny Howard,before he was a director named Ron)with the help of matronly and pleasant Aunt Bee(Frances Beaver). His deputy is loserish authority-addict Barney Fife(Don KNotts,R.I.P.,who made quite the career playing variations off this character),and there's hardly ever a true legal unrest to speak of. Still,that doesn't mean there aren't conflicts that need resolving,and Sheriff Taylor is (mostly)up for the challenge.A great stable of side characters,including Gomer(JIm Nabors,pre-USMC),Floyd the Barber,Goober,Howard the Drunk,Thelma Lou,Betty and the DArlings(A rustic,pre-Hee Haw singing group)filled out this show marvelously. The true legacy of any television program is how long after the fans are able to still come back and watch reruns of shows that they've seen before,sometimes NUMEROUS times. That being the case,this show's legacy is firmly implanted in the American landscape. CAtch on TVland,Hallmark or locally and see for yourself.