I don't recall seeing this asked before so I'll give it a go. Does anyone know the reason why Barney at times would refer to Andy as "Ange"? Was it something in the script, or ad-libbed by Don or was it maybe what Don did actually call Andy in real life?

Even though it may seem silly, I cannot stand when he calls him that. Not sure why it does, but it just bugs me. So that's why I was wondering about it's origin. One of the very few things I didn't like about a show I love. Watch it everyday.

Thanks for any info

Interesting Barney is the only one who calls Andy "Ange". Wonder how many exact times he does it? Found this after some searching. I think it shows how much Knott's truly thought highly of Griffith.

Barney often calls Andy “Ange” on the show as his nickname, but what’s really interesting is that Knotts also called Griffith that in real life. Just combine “Andy” and “Griffith!”

From what I've read it just spilled over from real life. It's natural and comes out of affection. I like it. In my life I've always liked when someone calls me the shortened version of my name. Only the people I'm closest to have done it and I like it much better than the longer version. So, I always notice and them saying it that way makes me feel good. I'd bet Andy liked being called Ange very much or he would have told Don not to say it. That type of thing is a small but genuine pleasure in life. It's not a silly form of your name, and tells you someone really cares about you.

I just remembered that Don's son remembered Don calling Andy that sometimes when the families got together.

Interesting Barney is the only one who calls Andy "Ange". Wonder how many exact times he does it? Found this after some searching. I think it shows how much Knott's truly thought highly of Griffith.

Barney often calls Andy “Ange” on the show as his nickname, but what’s really interesting is that Knotts also called Griffith that in real life. Just combine “Andy” and “Griffith!”

Thank you for the info. :)

Ok , that does make sense and kind of thought it might be something like that. I still really don't know why it bugs me, but after this it might not be as bad. As I mentioned I know it's a silly thing that it even does��

From what I've read it just spilled over from real life. It's natural and comes out of affection. I like it. In my life I've always liked when someone calls me the shortened version of my name. Only the people I'm closest to have done it and I like it much better than the longer version. So, I always notice and them saying it that way makes me feel good. I'd bet Andy liked being called Ange very much or he would have told Don not to say it. That type of thing is a small but genuine pleasure in life. It's not a silly form of your name, and tells you someone really cares about you.

I just remembered that Don's son remembered Don calling Andy that sometimes when the families got together.

Makes sense and thank you.

Interesting Barney is the only one who calls Andy "Ange". Wonder how many exact times he does it? Found this after some searching. I think it shows how much Knott's truly thought highly of Griffith.

Barney often calls Andy “Ange” on the show as his nickname, but what’s really interesting is that Knotts also called Griffith that in real life. Just combine “Andy” and “Griffith!”

Barney says "Ange" a lot in the season 5 episodes, to the point where, as a first time viewer, I thought, what is he saying? and then why is he saying it? It made me double check to see that the character was called Andy Taylor - but it just makes no sense for Barney to call Andy Taylor, "Ange" unless it's short for "angel" which Andy had to be, sometimes, to put up with Barney. It does (sort of) make sense to call Andy Griffith, "Ange," as a nickname.

I think the name may have had some cultural cachet at the time. Sinatra played Angelo in From Here to Eternity in 1953, there was a male Angie in Marty in 1955. Both movies won Best Picture.

From what I've read it just spilled over from real life. It's natural and comes out of affection. I like it. In my life I've always liked when someone calls me the shortened version of my name. Only the people I'm closest to have done it and I like it much better than the longer version. So, I always notice and them saying it that way makes me feel good. I'd bet Andy liked being called Ange very much or he would have told Don not to say it. That type of thing is a small but genuine pleasure in life. It's not a silly form of your name, and tells you someone really cares about you.

I just remembered that Don's son remembered Don calling Andy that sometimes when the families got together.

Funny enough Andy had a name for Don: Jess. Don's real name was Jesse Donald Knotts and he hated being called Jesse. To tease him a bit Andy would call him Jess and that nickname would be referenced on Matlock with Don's character on that show being called Les in reference to that nickname.

Also as others have said Don's name for Andy Ange was taking the An in Andy and the G in Griffith to make Ange. It's referenced in the first biography of the show The Andy Griffith Story.

It always sounded funny, I thought "Ange" was short for Angie, a woman's name lol