I've been watching the Andy Griffith Show again on a weekly basis for the past several months, something I haven't done since the '90's. I'm now up to season 2. My favorite moments now happen when I see Andy laughing at Barney's reactions, either with other people or with Andy himself. You can see Andy is actually enjoying himself and Barney's character whey they're acting together. This is such a stark change from the sour, grouchy, always serious, always snapping at everybody, and ever dour personality that took over Andy in the color years. Andy during the later years I don't believe even smiled, he was either angry at the "stupid" townsfolk (which was his new attitude toward the townfolk) or he was fed up with the regulars that surrounded him. The joy for Andy in doing the series obviously left when Barney left.

If Andy Griffith ‘scharacter evolved into a grouch during the show’s color years, how did it remain so popular?

If Andy Griffith ‘scharacter evolved into a grouch during the show’s color years, how did it remain so popular?

There was like 5 channels total in the late 1960's.

Because, although Barney was gone and fans missed him, they still liked the show and enjoyed watching it. And because of that it was the number one rated show on TV in its last season.