I have never really understood how 2 of my favorite TV character actors could so drastically change their on-screen personalities. Both Andy Griffith and Bill Bixby both went from fun loving, wildly enthusiastic and energetic, excited and joyfully spirited characters to the direct opposite, sullen, deadly serious, glum, joyless, unsmiling and just plain dead serious characterless characters. With Andy it was even worse because it was in the same series where he has his sudden personality change. With Bill he went from the joyful and extremely enthusiastic and fun loving character Tim in My Favorite Martian to the glum, ultra-serious, depressed deadly serious character he played in Courtship of Eddie's Father.

I always liked Andy and Bill for their fun loving characters they played but when they suddenly had their complete personality change it was quite disappointing and puzzling to watch, esp. as a kid back then.:(

That's why it's called acting, you can't expect an actor or actress to remain the same with every role. Also, the combination of Don Knotts leaving and Warren Ferguson being added to the show certainly didn't help matters for Andy any.

You're right, it is acting, but when you go from joy filled to half dead, it's a bit of a shock.

You're right, it is acting, but when you go from joy filled to half dead, it's a bit of a shock.

Seems like Andy tired of playing the "country boy" jokester that he was famous for playing.

Yeah, actors often want a change of pace. They also want to show their "range," to prove something to the audience and themselves. Plus, they always have interviews where everyone always asks a talented comedy actor "Do you think you'll ever do something serious?" over and over. Nobody ever really cares, it's just an easy question, asked by hacks. Like they ask single actors, when they're gonna get married. Nobody really cares.

I didn't think Bill was dead, depressed on Courtship. It was a different role and character on a different show. :confused: