Would the show have been better or worse if Don Knotts had stayed on instead of doing movies.

If he made movies when the show was on hiatus and stayed on tags there'd be a ton more classic tags episodes.

All the color episodes when he returned are classics.

He was still immensely talented for more years.

He had pretty much lost it by the time he was on Threes Company.

I would have loved to see Don stay, he really was a tremendous talent, and never quite returned to form. He and Andy were just perfect together, true classic performers in the greatest show of all time!

The main thing that would've been better was Andy Griffith's performance. That would have helped, but I think the show was due to start going downhill. Especially with Aaron Ruben leaving. The humor was gonna get broader. They would have to bring in new characters to get fresh stories and I don't see what direction they could have gone, other than a steady girlfriend for Goober. Maybe a boyfriend for Aunt Bee, but I didn't see any who really worked well with her other than Edgar Buchanan, and he was busy on Petticoat Junction.

I would like to have seen Andy marry Helen, Barney to have
married Thelma Lou and for them to adopt a boy, around Opie's age. That
would make for good storylines. Aunt Bee to become mayor. Goober to
fall in love and marry, Juanita from the diner. Howard to romance a mystery
woman, that would be revealed as Sarah, the operator! Any other
scenarios?