In the first episode of the series, Barney refers to Andy as "Cousin Andy" when he thanks Andy for selecting him as his new deputy. To the best of my knowledge, this is the only time during the series when there was any mention of the two of them being related. Was it ever brought up again, or did the writers conveniently decide not to pursue that angle any further after the first show?

This topic was only touched in the first episode. If you are a diehard fan like me, you'll always find little things that others may not take the time to notice.

Such the case with several characters having their name changes

Goober Beasley to Goober Pyle
Clara Edwards, Bertha Edwards, Clara Johnson etc.

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Hottest Men alive:
Dale Midkiff
Anthony Starke
Tim McGraw
Jonathan Crombie

Lumpy: Did you go out for anything, Dud?

Dudley: Well, I went out for football, but I got my finger stepped on, so my mother made me quit.

Eddie: Well listen-- I went out for basketball and I got my hair pulled, and my mother made ME quit.

Dudley: It's not that I was afraid of getting hurt or anything; it's just that-- well, it's kind o' hard to play the flute with a busted finger.

[Eddie and Lumpy suppress laughter]

Dale Midkiff is my man! :)

Class of 2002! :)

In the first episode of the series, Barney refers to Andy as "Cousin Andy" when he thanks Andy for selecting him as his new deputy. To the best of my knowledge, this is the only time during the series when there was any mention of the two of them being related. Was it ever brought up again, or did the writers conveniently decide not to pursue that angle any further after the first show?

And then by 1963 it's revealed that Barney has been a deputy for a full decade, starting in 1953.

In "Runaway Kid", Barney says he's been deputying for a year and a half.

And then by 1963 it's revealed that Barney has been a deputy for a full decade, starting in 1953.

The number of years Barney worked as a deputy is certainly a moving target. Season 5 episode 2, Barney's Physical from IMD Storyline description:

"Barney is more than a bit disappointed when he thinks everyone has forgotten the fifth anniversary of starting work as a Deputy Sheriff. They were just leading him on and have a cake and a nice gift waiting for him".

So let's peg Barney at 5 years as of season 5, do we have any idea how long Andy's been sheriff.

The number of years Barney worked as a deputy is certainly a moving target. Season 5 episode 2, Barney's Physical from IMD Storyline description:

"Barney is more than a bit disappointed when he thinks everyone has forgotten the fifth anniversary of starting work as a Deputy Sheriff. They were just leading him on and have a cake and a nice gift waiting for him".

So let's peg Barney at 5 years as of season 5, do we have any idea how long Andy's been sheriff.


That's like their high school graduation year changed from 1945 to 1948.

That's like their high school graduation year changed from 1945 to 1948.

My first impression of this inconsistency was to accept it as a continuity error one of many in the TAGS universe, but after giving it consideration I think it was intentional. Let's set the scene, in the first reunion episode Class Reunion. season 3 episode 19, the reunion is for the class of 45; the second reunion episode, The Return of Barney Fife season 6 episode 17 the reunion is for the class of 48. I think the production team wanted the viewers to think of these characters as 35ish as opposed to people closing in on 40.

My first impression of this inconsistency was to accept it as a continuity error one of many in the TAGS universe, but after giving it consideration I think it was intentional. Let's set the scene, in the first reunion episode Class Reunion. season 3 episode 19, the reunion is for the class of 45; the second reunion episode, The Return of Barney Fife season 6 episode 17 the reunion is for the class of 48. I think the production team wanted the viewers to think of these characters as 35ish as opposed to people closing in on 40.

Yes, I can see their motivation, there.

In the first episode of the series, Barney refers to Andy as "Cousin Andy" when he thanks Andy for selecting him as his new deputy. To the best of my knowledge, this is the only time during the series when there was any mention of the two of them being related. Was it ever brought up again, or did the writers conveniently decide not to pursue that angle any further after the first show?

Yes, it was mentioned again in season one episode Runaway Kid.