The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show
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The Andy Griffith Show

"Nip it in the bud!"

7.6
Yr 1960
Rt 25m
Status Ended
Comedy Family
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Series Brief

Overview

The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom first televised on CBS between October 3, 1960 and April 1, 1968. Andy Griffith portrays the widowed sheriff of the fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina. His life is complicated by an inept, but well-meaning deputy, Barney Fife, a spinster aunt and housekeeper, Aunt Bee, and a precocious young son, Opie. Local ne'er-do-wells, bumbling pals, and temperamental girlfriends further complicate his life. Andy Griffith stated in a Today Show interview, with respect to the time period of the show: "Well, though we never said it, and though it was shot in the '60s, it had a feeling of the '30s. It was when we were doing it, of a time gone by." The series never placed lower than seventh in the Nielsen ratings and ended its final season at number one. It has been ranked by TV Guide as the 9th-best show in American television history. Though neither Griffith nor the show won awards during its eight-season run, series co-stars Knotts and Bavier accumulated a combined total of six Emmy Awards. The show, a semi-spin-off from an episode of The Danny Thomas Show titled "Danny Meets Andy Griffith", spawned its own spin-off series, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., a sequel series, Mayberry R.F.D., and a reunion telemovie, Return to Mayberry. The show's enduring popularity has generated a good deal of show-related merchandise. Reruns currently air on TV Land, and the complete series is available on DVD. All eight seasons are also now available by streaming video services such as Netflix.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 90 /100

The Andy Griffith Show enjoyed overwhelming popularity and acclaim throughout its eight-season run, solidifying its place as one of the most celebrated sitcoms in television history. Never finishing outside the Nielsen Top 10, the series concluded its run as the top-rated program in the country—a feat accomplished by only two other shows. It earned prominent industry honors, including Emmy recognition, a spot on the Writers Guild of America's 101 Best Written TV Series, and a top-ten ranking on TV Guide's list of the greatest shows of all time.

Set in the small town of Mayberry, North Carolina, the series resonated with audiences by focusing on a close-knit community where traditional values and mutual care were central. Critics note that Sheriff Andy and the town's colorful residents offered wide primetime appeal during a era marked by cultural turbulence and shifting societal norms. While modern assessments note that the show relies on simplistic storylines and dated humor, it continues to be praised for delivering enduring lessons on responsibility, kindness, and accountability.

While retroactively criticized by some for occasionally leaning into rigid traditionalism and puritanical themes, the show's overall reputation remains overwhelmingly positive. Its combination of memorable characters, heartwarming writing, and high ratings throughout its entire run cemented it as a landmark of classic American television.

“offers timeless lessons about responsibility, kindness, and the consequences of your behavior”

“Never once during its eight-season run did the series finish outside the Nielsen Top 10, and its final season the show ended as the No. 1 watched show in America.”

“the highest rated comedy series in the country which was reflected in that year’s Emmy nominations for Outstanding Humor Program”

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 4
Longest run 249 eps
Howard McNear
Howard McNear
as Floyd Lawson
80 episodes
Hope Summers
Hope Summers
as Clara Edwards
32 episodes
Andy Griffith
Andy Griffith
as Andy Taylor
249 episodes
Ron Howard
Ron Howard
as Opie Taylor
249 episodes
Frances Bavier
Frances Bavier
as Aunt Bee Taylor
249 episodes
Don Knotts
Don Knotts
as Barney Fife
164 episodes
Aneta Corsaut
Aneta Corsaut
as Helen Crump
67 episodes
Jim Nabors
Jim Nabors
as Gomer Pyle
23 episodes
Show 67 more
Jack Dodson as Howard Sprague 38 episodes Parley Baer as Mayor Roy Stoner 7 episodes George Dunn as Pete 3 episodes Elinor Donahue as Ellie Walker 12 episodes Joyce Jameson as Skippy 3 episodes Denver Pyle as Briscoe Darling 6 episodes Olan Soule as John Masters 5 episodes Betty Lynn as Thelma Lou 26 episodes Hal Smith as Otis Campbell 32 episodes Joanna Moore as Peggy 'Peg' McMillan 4 episodes Clint Howard as Leon 5 episodes William Keene as Reverend Tucker 6 episodes Howard Morris as Ernest T. Bass 7 episodes George Lindsey as Goober 86 episodes James Seay as Agent Bowton 4 episodes Ken Berry as Sam Jones 4 episodes Ken Lynch as Capt. Barker 4 episodes Phil Chambers as Jason, the Hotel Clerk 4 episodes Jean Carson as Daphne 4 episodes Allan Melvin as Clyde Plaunt / Fred Plummer / Escaped Prisoner / Clarence "Doc" Malloy/ Neal/ Hotel Detective Bardoli 10 episodes Frank Ferguson as Sam Lindsey 5 episodes Sheldon Collins as Arnold Bailey 9 episodes Jack Burns as Warren Ferguson 11 episodes Joseph Crehan as Councilman 4 episodes Tom Jacobs as Townsman (uncredited) 4 episodes Dennis Rush as Howie Pruitt 8 episodes Maggie Peterson as Charlene Darling-Wash 6 episodes Cheerio Meredith as Emma Brand 6 episodes Byron Foulger as Fred 4 episodes Forrest Lewis as Willie Jack 6 episodes Maudie Prickett as Mrs. Larch 5 episodes Mabel Albertson as Mrs. Sprague 4 episodes Doug Dillard as Doug Darling 6 episodes Rodney Dillard as Rodney Darling 6 episodes Mitch Jayne as Mitch Darling 6 episodes Dean Webb as Dean Darling 6 episodes Rance Howard as Treasury agent 4 episodes Dick Elliott as Mayor Pike 10 episodes Keith Thibodeaux as Johnny Paul Jason 10 episodes Dub Taylor as Billy Ray Talbot 4 episodes Joseph Hamilton as Choney Latham (as Joe Hamilton) 9 episodes Dabbs Greer as Mr. Sims 4 episodes Willis Bouchey as Fletch Roberts 4 episodes Robert McQuain as Joe Waters 13 episodes Mary Lansing as Mrs. Rodenbach 13 episodes Colin Male as Announcer (voice) (uncredited) 8 episodes Mathew McCue as Spectator 4 episodes Joy Ellison as Mary Wiggins 5 episodes Jack Prince as Rafe Hollister 6 episodes Amzie Strickland as Myra Tucker 5 episodes Warren Parker as Mr. Meldrim 5 episodes Josie Lloyd as Lydia Crosswaithe 4 episodes Burt Mustin as Jud Fletcher 14 episodes Sam Edwards as Tom Bedlow 5 episodes Alberta Nelson as Flora Malherbe 4 episodes Roy Engel as Luther 8 episodes Frank Warren as Art Crowley 4 episodes Sherwood Keith as Sam 5 episodes Charles Thompson as Asa Breeney 7 episodes Ronda Jeter as Karen Burgess 7 episodes Norman Leavitt as Wally 6 episodes Janet Stewart as Mrs. Ambrose 6 episodes George Cisar as Cyrus Tankersley 5 episodes Lovyss Bradley as Townswoman (uncredited) 6 episodes Ruth Thom as Ella Carson 5 episodes Paul Hartman as Emmett Clark 16 episodes Barbara Perry as Mary Lee Becktel 4 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Director
Gene Reynolds Coby Ruskin Lawrence Dobkin Aaron Ruben Earl Bellamy Sheldon Leonard Richard Crenna Jeffrey Hayden Bob Sweeney Theodore J. Flicker
Production Supervisor
W. Argyle Nelson
Wardrobe Master
Ann Helfgott
Music
Earle Hagen
Creator
Danny Thomas Sheldon Leonard
Producer
Danny Thomas Aaron Ruben Jay Sandrich
Writer
Jack Elinson Sam Bobrick Aaron Ruben James Fritzell
Set Decoration
Robert Priestley
Sound Engineer
David Forrest
Executive Producer
Sheldon Leonard
Makeup Artist
Lee Greenway
Supervising Editor
Joseph Gluck
Assistant Director
Bruce Bilson
Production Manager
Frank E. Myers
Producer's Assistant
Ronald Jacobs
Signal Match

Similarity

Where The Andy Griffith Show overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

sheriff small town north carolina jail courthouse widower aunt nephew relationship americana small town sheriff sitcom wisdom justice of the peace father son relationship enthusiastic
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
October 03, 1960
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
25 minutes
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
167