They both had five great seasons. Then key cast members either died (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031124428/http://www.jumptheshark.com/lifedeth.htm#death) (Floyd (https://mayberry.fandom.com/wiki/Floyd_Lawson), Aunt Clara (https://bewitched.fandom.com/wiki/Alice_Pearce), Alice Pearce (https://bewitched.fandom.com/wiki/Alice_Pearce)'s Gladys (https://bewitched.fandom.com/wiki/Gladys_Kravitz)) or left (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031124428/http://www.jumptheshark.com/xsl.htm) (Barney (https://mayberry.fandom.com/wiki/Barney_Fife), Dick York (https://bewitched.fandom.com/wiki/Dick_York)'s Darrin (https://bewitched.fandom.com/wiki/Darrin_Stephens)). The replacements were awful (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/ReplacementScrappy/LiveActionTV), and the shows went downhill (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/SeasonalRot/LiveActionTV) fast.

Yes and no. I wouldn't call Floyd or Clara key members of the cast.

The biggest similarity between the two shows is the exit of a critical cast member, Dick York and Don Knotts. From a quality perspective both series were devastated, neither series ever came close to the level they were at prior to the departure of Dick or Don. That said there are clear differences, Bewitched nosedived over its final three seasons losing most of its audience, The Andy Griffith Show didn't. The highest rated season of TAGS was the final season, while in seasons 6 and 7 the series finished the year number 6 and number 3 in popularity. Another difference, Montgomery was still giving the show everything she had, but Griffith's performance was nothing short of bizarre. He seemed half asleep in many of the episodes, while at other times he seemed enraged. The Andy Taylor of seasons 6-8 was the oddest lead character in sitcom history.

A couple of other points Howard McNear (Floyd) did not die during the series run, he left after 7 seasons because of declining health. I agree with Chocolate Moose, I would not classify Clara or Floyd as key cast members. I would add Gladys to that list as well. In addition, I thought Alice Ghostley and Sandra Gould were good casting decisions, were they as good as the original cast members, no, but to describe them as awful is way over the top. The same goes for McNear's replacement, Paul Hartman, was he as good as McNear, no, but I'd hardly describe his performance as awful.

The same goes for McNear's replacement, Paul Hartman, was he as good as McNear, no, but I'd hardly describe his performance as awful.Most would. Emmett is widely hated by Andy Griffith fans, up there with Warren except he didn't last long.

Not a big Emmett fan but it was not because of his performance. I just did not care for the character. They could have at least had him be another barber. That was the men's gathering place. Making the fix it shop a gathering place did not make sense.

RFD really messed with the character. One episode he was turning 50. He was actually 73 IRL. He definitely did not look 50. Another episode had him retiring, at least temporarily. Not many people retire at 50. Sorry, I forgot I was in the Bewitched thread. I guess Emmett could have been a warlock.

Not a big Emmett fan but it was not because of his performance. I just did not care for the character. They could have at least had him be another barber. That was the men's gathering place. Making the fix it shop a gathering place did not make sense.

RFD really messed with the character. One episode he was turning 50. He was actually 73 IRL. He definitely did not look 50. Another episode had him retiring, at least temporarily. Not many people retire at 50. Sorry, I forgot I was in the Bewitched thread. I guess Emmett could have been a warlock.

I think Andy changed the overall direction of the show after the Warren debacle. For example, he decided the replacement character for Barney should not be a deputy to avoid comparisons to Barney. He also seemed to decide that the show would focus on the situation not on comedy. I haven't seen the color episodes in years but as I remember them most really weren't funny, there might be a stray laugh or two but those moments seemed more of an exception than anything else. When they developed the character for Emmett they didn't want him seen as a replacement for Floyd, and the character was developed in an environment long on situation and short on comedy.

"RFD really messed with the character. One episode he was turning 50"

That is ridiculous!

RFD was really little more than seasons 9,10,11 of TAGS minus Andy, Opie and Helen who were replaced by Sam, Mike and Millie. It was the most unimaginative series in history in that regards.

RFD was really little more than seasons 9,10,11 of TAGS minus Andy, Opie and Helen who were replaced by Sam, Mike and Millie. It was the most unimaginative series in history in that regards.

I agree with your assessment that Mayberry RFD was basically a continuation of The Andy Griffith Show, same show with the change of a few cast members.