I just recieved my complete series set in the mail yesterday and for the first time since it aired (when I just half-watched it) I actually watched it. Here now, my thoughts.

It was pretty good. It sort of put right what had once gone wrong, in that it brought Barney back to Mayberry and made him Deputy again (for a while acting Sheriff). And it also reunited Barney and Thelma Lou. Of course, it also brought back Andy, who in the end of the movie becomes Sheriff again.

I wished Gomer had mentioned the marines just once, though. He didn't have to, but it would have been nice. It was also nice seeing Gomer and Goober together again, since during the show's run, they were barely together (maybe twice, once on TAGS and once on GP).

What was really great was seeing a reunion, which to me was practically new, but having a lot of the actors who have since passed on, such as Don Knotts, Aneta Corsaut, Jack Dodson, Hal Smith and Howard Morris.

Of course there was no mention of Sam Jones, Floyd Lawson and a couple other characters who were absent in the reunion. Also, there was no mention of Andy, Jr. who was introduced in a second season episode of "Mayberry, R.F.D." when Andy and Helen return to make Sam the boy's godfather.

And though I never liked Aunt Bee, it was sad seeing Andy visit her grave. It hit me then that Aunt Bee was dead and wasn't going to see Opie become a father and Andy a grandfather.

So, in the end, it patched up what happened in the series. Barney leaving Mayberry and a few years later, Andy leaving Mayberry.

It was one of the better sitcom reunions made into a TV movie.

yea; I taped it back when it was on; back in 86?87? and it WAS good! I remember reading at the time that it was NBCs highest rated TV movie that year; and it's easy to see why. I've watched it a few times over the years; but not in a while though.
I also liked that they had the Darlings again. (although I don't remember if they were played by the same people-Maggie Peterson as Charlene, Denver Pyle as Brisco, and THE DILLIARDS as "the boys". Were they the same?)
Although I've heard that some people didn't like it. In fact; I asked a guy that I was working with when it was on; if he liked it and he said "It sucked"! (and those were his exact words)
I remember when it was on; I hadn't seen "TAGS" in a long time. A local station in my area had just started rerunning it; but it was on in the afternoons; and I was working and didn't have my VCR yet.

I also remember reading at the time that NBC wanted to do a sequel to it; but unfortunetaly they couldn't get everyone back together. Also, Andy was just starting to do "MATLOCK" and I think he didn't really want to play Andy Taylor again.


I wish they'd release it on a seperate DVD.

yea; I taped it back when it was on; back in 86?87? and it WAS good! I remember reading at the time that it was NBCs highest rated TV movie that year; and it's easy to see why. I've watched it a few times over the years; but not in a while though.
I also liked that they had the Darlings again. (although I don't remember if they were played by the same people-Maggie Peterson as Charlene, Denver Pyle as Brisco, and THE DILLIARDS as "the boys". Were they the same?)
Although I've heard that some people didn't like it. In fact; I asked a guy that I was working with when it was on; if he liked it and he said "It sucked"! (and those were his exact words)
I remember when it was on; I hadn't seen "TAGS" in a long time. A local station in my area had just started rerunning it; but it was on in the afternoons; and I was working and didn't have my VCR yet.

I also remember reading at the time that NBC wanted to do a sequel to it; but unfortunetaly they couldn't get everyone back together. Also, Andy was just starting to do "MATLOCK" and I think he didn't really want to play Andy Taylor again.


I wish they'd release it on a seperate DVD.
I don't know about the rest of the Darlings but Denver Pyle was on it.

And this is REALLY ironic:The executive producers were Dean Hargrove(who went on to create "Matlock")and -believe it or not,but its 100%true:Fred Silverman.Yes,the SAME Fred Silverman who ruined "Happy Days"-sort of-and got rid of all the "rural shows"on CBS in the 1970's.Silverman with Dean Hargrove was also the executive producer(later Dean Hargrove left,and Andy Griffith became the new executive producer)of "Matlock",.

Yes, the Darlings were all played by the original actors. In fact, I can't recall
any TV series reunion show that had more of the original cast than "Return to
Mayberry." And, yes, I thought it was a great TV-movie. I really enjoyed it.