The Andy Griffith Show

A classic family show I can watch with the family. This 1960’s classic family comedy centers on the relationship between a father (Andy Taylor - the Sheriff) and his son (Opie Taylor) who was 5 years old when the show started in 1960. The actor portraying little Opie was Ron Howard. He did a fantastic job as a young child actor. He was very cute and funny. It is fun to watch the show over it’s 8 year run and see Opie grow up into a 13 year old young teen. Andy Griffith himself gave a great performance as Sheriff Andy Taylor. In the first season he was a little too much “awe shucks” and seemed to mature a bit in Season 2 and fit his role as father, Sheriff, and town leader perfectly while retaining the shy country charm that made this character famous. Don Knotts portrayed Andy’s deputy Barney Fife for the first 5 seasons (which were the best and most popular seasons of the show). Don Knotts was perfect for this role. Over confident, glory-hound, bumbling, yet he was a great friend to Andy and Opie. Knotts left the show after the 5th season to pursue a bigger acting career in movies, but appeared now and then on the show in cameo roles as Barney Fife. Francis Bavier portrayed Andy’s Aunt Bee (Beatrice Taylor) and was great in this role. The many characters appearing as regulars on the show were the memorable town folks, such as Floyd the barber, Gomer Pile, Goober Pile, Howard Sprague, and the town drunk Ottis Campbell. Even some of Opie’s childhood friends had regular appearances. These characters gave the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina the feel of a real American small town. I highly recommend this show to anyone. Especially those wanting to escape the constant bombardment of sjw messaging that is in nearly every show made over the last 5 to 10 years.

Andy was the lackadaisical Sheriff with his sidekick, Blarney. Aint Bee was a bull dike. Opie was completely lame.