Bear with me. I have a great respect for Andy Griffith, and consider his 1960s series [arguably] the best TV show of all time. Today's news got to me, so I'm gonna post a few more videos; these are a little on the rare side, and some of you may not have seen them before.
Don Knotts left TAGS at the end of its 5th season ('64 - '65), and Jim Nabors left a year earlier for his USMC spin-off. Viewers wanted a reunion of the popular trio, so CBS brought them together for a variety special that aired in
October 1965, THE ANDY GRIFFITH-DON KNOTTS-JIM NABORS SHOW. Since the sitcom didn't give Don a send-off episode, Andy & Don put together this sketch reworking some favorite bits from TAGS episodes, and a chance to display their professional respect and deep friendship for each other.
Not counting 1986's RETURN TO MAYBERRY television movie, the premiere episode of MAYBERRY R.F.D. was the last time viewers of the original series saw Andy Taylor & Barney Fife together...
MAYBERRY R.F.D. Andy and Helen Get Married (1968)Just starting out as a comedian, here's a 1953 nightclub audio recording of Andy doing his Grammy-winning performance of...
What It Was, Was Football (1953)Again not counting the 1986 TV-movie, Andy & Helen Taylor make their last visit to Mayberry for the christening of Andy Jr...
MAYBERRY R.F.D. Andy’s Baby (1969)Finally, a classic episode of THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. In this, the character of 'Helen Scobey' is played by my friend Margaret Kerry. Ms. Kerry costarred in
THE NEW 3 STOOGES (1965), in several of the live-action wraparounds and voiceovers for about 1/2 of the cartoons.
THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW Andy Forecloses (1961)