Frances Bavier left the show after the second season, and she missed several episodes that season.

Instead of the next-to-last 2nd season episode they did (in which Bavier appeared) (an episode where Howard leaves his mynah bird for Mike to watch), they could have had Aunt Bee marry the sea captain she spurned in the first season.

Not a good show, the less episodes the better. One show featured the upcoming 50th birthday of Emmett who was actually in his early sixties when the show was made and looked about 70. In the show, Emmett was all filled with angst about turning 50 and then found about about Cary Grant being over 60 and Millie was hot for him so he calmed down. Talk about moronic, who in their right brain thought Emmett was only 50? Paul Hartmann (Emmett) must have talked them into doing it to please his vanity.

Another example of a Mayberry RFD wretched show I recently saw: Howard wants a real sheriff back in Mayberry instead of the part time deputy - moron Goober. So to prove his point he puts on a women's stocking pulls it over his head, gets a fake gun and robs the bank. The terrified woman gives him money but when he tries to get away his car won't start and the woman id's Howard as the robber. Goober puts him in jail as a big crowd of people follow them to jail but Sam intervenes and somehow persuades Goober to let him out. And he keeps his city clerk job after this?? He doesn't have to apologize to the terrifed teller? He's not even booked?? The headlines don't blare out that the city clerk robbed the bank ?? Nice writing guys, I wonder how many drinks they had to come up with this drivel.

The show was running on fumes creatively at that point, though the ratings were still good. There are a lot of people who complain about the color episodes of TAGS, but the alternative - RFD - is much worse. Aside from Ken Berry, Arlene Golonka, and Frances Bavier (when she bothered to show up), was anyone else really worth watching?

Out of 78 episodes, there were a few that were mildly entertaining. Mostly it was just a continuation of the TAGS color episodes. That final TAGS was the single worst episode of both shows.

Although the story is that Frances Bavier's health was declining, she probably just got sick of the whole thing. She missed a lot of the 2nd season, and then called it quits.

And even with all the valid criticisms of this show from the replies,I still would watch this show over ANYTHING on the air today.

You said it, omg65. It was a good family show, and a good series for children especially. I get tired of Emmett, Howard, and Goober, but there were still many decent scripts and lots of fun episodes.

Some of my favorites are the "culture shock" episodes, like when Howard's nephew comes to visit and turns out to be 100% hippie, or when Millie creates havoc by wearing a long skirt -- in the mini era.

And even with all the valid criticisms of this show from the replies,I still would watch this show over ANYTHING on the air today.


It has to be better than Family Affair! I must be a masochist to watch that show every week.

Frances Bavier left the show after the second season, and she missed several episodes that season.

Instead of the next-to-last 2nd season episode they did (in which Bavier appeared) (an episode where Howard leaves his mynah bird for Mike to watch), they could have had Aunt Bee marry the sea captain she spurned in the first season.

That would have been a good epilogue and send off for Aunt Bee.

Not a good show, the less episodes the better. One show featured the upcoming 50th birthday of Emmett who was actually in his early sixties when the show was made and looked about 70. In the show, Emmett was all filled with angst about turning 50 and then found about about Cary Grant being over 60 and Millie was hot for him so he calmed down. Talk about moronic, who in their right brain thought Emmett was only 50? Paul Hartmann (Emmett) must have talked them into doing it to please his vanity.

Good point.

A mere 10 episodes later, Emmett decides to retire because he finished paying off his mortgage on his run down shack~ his house is shown and it's in good repair and looks to be quite modern. Makes no sense as 50 year olds usually haven't saved enough to live comfortably on their savings. This episode and his birthday party would have been more credible had they had Emmett celebrating his 60th birthday.

Two funny chuckles about Emmett's retirement. He goes to Washington DC for a one-day vacation and he takes the sole light bulb when moving out of the shop and that irks Howard, the landlord, to no end.

Not a good show, the less episodes the better. One show featured the upcoming 50th birthday of Emmett who was actually in his early sixties when the show was made and looked about 70. In the show, Emmett was all filled with angst about turning 50 and then found about about Cary Grant being over 60 and Millie was hot for him so he calmed down. Talk about moronic, who in their right brain thought Emmett was only 50? Paul Hartmann (Emmett) must have talked them into doing it to please his vanity.

This episode is ridiculous. I believe Paul Hartman was in his early 70's when that episode was made and he looked it. Emmett was never a favorite of mine.

As a whole, I enjoyed the series. The episodes that featured Emmett were not good. They must have gotten different writers between the Emmett turning 50 and his retirement episodes.

As a whole, I enjoy the series. The episodes that featured Emmett were not good. They must have gotten different writers between the Emmett turning 50 and his retirement episodes.

Paul Hartman was good at playing annoying characters. He was very irritating in a Hazel episode.

I vaguely remember him being in a Green Acres episode, too, but I don't remember anything about it.