A question came up on one of the other boards asking why aren't seasons 6-8 shown in rerun packages. We all know the reason, the last three seasons aren't very good, and subsequently the Nielsen rating on these episodes are much lower than the Nielsen's for the other 5 seasons. My question, could a different approach work, instead of attempting to show season 6-8 in order, how about culling out the best episodes of the last three seasons and add them to a package of, the first 5 and the best of the rest. I came up with 22 episodes, anyone want to add to the list, or delete some (I think we need to get to about 26 so any suggestions:

162. "Malcolm at the Crossroads"
163. "Aunt Bee, the Swinger"
176. "The Return of Barney Fife"
177. "The Legend of Barney Fife"
183. "Eat Your Heart Out"
185 "The County Clerk"
188. "The Battle of Mayberry"
197. "Politics Begin at Home"
200. "Big Fish in a Small Town"
202. "Otis the Deputy"
207. "A Visit to Barney Fife"
208. "Barney Comes to Mayberry"
211. "Floyd's Barbershop"
212. "The Statue"
216. "Howard, the Comedian"
219. "Goober's Contest"
231. "Howard and Millie"
234. "Howard's New Life"
239. "The Church Benefactors"
240. "Barney Hosts a Summit Meeting"
243. "Helen's Past"
246. "Sam for Town Council"

All 5 Barney episodes (although the Summit episode is not that good, and a lot of Howard-centric episodes)

A question came up on one of the other boards asking why aren't seasons 6-8 shown in rerun packages. We all know the reason, the last three seasons aren't very good, and subsequently the Nielsen rating on these episodes are much lower than the Nielsen's for the other 5 seasons. My question, could a different approach work, instead of attempting to show season 6-8 in order, how about culling out the best episodes of the last three seasons and add them to a package of, the first 5 and the best of the rest. I came up with 22 episodes, anyone want to add to the list, or delete some (I think we need to get to about 26 so any suggestions:

162. "Malcolm at the Crossroads"
163. "Aunt Bee, the Swinger"
176. "The Return of Barney Fife"
177. "The Legend of Barney Fife"
183. "Eat Your Heart Out"
185 "The County Clerk"
188. "The Battle of Mayberry"
197. "Politics Begin at Home"
200. "Big Fish in a Small Town"
202. "Otis the Deputy"
207. "A Visit to Barney Fife"
208. "Barney Comes to Mayberry"
211. "Floyd's Barbershop"
212. "The Statue"
216. "Howard, the Comedian"
219. "Goober's Contest"
231. "Howard and Millie"
234. "Howard's New Life"
239. "The Church Benefactors"
240. "Barney Hosts a Summit Meeting"
243. "Helen's Past"
246. "Sam for Town Council"

All 5 Barney episodes (although the Summit episode is not that good, and a lot of Howard-centric episodes)

I honestly can't think of a color episode that I would trade for any from the black and white seasons, so it is difficult to come up with 20 plus color episodes I even find entertaining. They definitely don't hold up to repeated viewings like the first 5 seasons do. Adding Sam. Howard and Emmett added nothing to the show. You have about the best list anyone is going to have. You have all the Barney returns ones and some decent enough Howard ones. I would drop the Sam Jones ones, that was the show fully transitioning into Mayberry RFD which they did slowly and somewhat subtly. Once Ken Berry showed up it was obvious that was the end for TAGS.

I honestly can't think of a color episode that I would trade for any from the black and white seasons, so it is difficult to come up with 20 plus color episodes I even find entertaining. They definitely don't hold up to repeated viewings like the first 5 seasons do. Adding Sam. Howard and Emmett added nothing to the show. You have about the best list anyone is going to have. You have all the Barney returns ones and some decent enough Howard ones. I would drop the Sam Jones ones, that was the show fully transitioning into Mayberry RFD which they did slowly and somewhat subtly. Once Ken Berry showed up it was obvious that was the end for TAGS.

Agreed, those 22 episodes are probably more than enough of the color episodes.

;)