I always thought that it was strange that Frances Bavier was not in the opening credits, only Andy, Ron Howard, and Don Knotts. I always thought Aunt Bee was just as important a character as Opie, at least.

Frances Bavier nearly turned down The Andy Griffith Show (https://www.metv.com/stories/frances-bavier-nearly-turned-down-the-andy-griffith-show)

Mayberry almost had a different matriarch.

I wonder who else would have been a good fit in that role if Bavier didn't take it? Maybe Shirley Booth - she had not yet been cast as Hazel. Or maybe Hope Summers.

I always thought that it was strange that Frances Bavier was not in the opening credits, only Andy, Ron Howard, and Don Knotts. I always thought Aunt Bee was just as important a character as Opie, at least.

Eventually she was in opening credits after Don Knotts left, but yes, she should have been from the beginning.

Eventually she was in opening credits after Don Knotts left, but yes, she should have been from the beginning.

She hated the star, the show and her character on the show. Probably afraid to list her in the opening credits, because she might just up and quit, or maybe having to be fired from the show for diva behavior.

Wasn't Elinor Donahue in the open credits?

I love METV, but those articles on their website! Let's take a closer look and see the way the reader is set up, here's the headline:

Frances Bavier nearly turned down The Andy Griffith Show

Mayberry almost had a different matriarch.

OK, let's now take a look at the only information in the article based on the source document used to develop the story:

"When the first Andy Griffith Show script arrived in her possession, Bavier initially scoffed at the way it was written. "But people simply don't talk like that," she told TV Graphic in 1966".

That's it! The source document doesn't indicate she was considering turning down anything, she merely question the way the dialogue was written. I don't believe she was referencing the script "The New Housekeeper", the episode that introduced the Aunt Bee character, but was in fact she was referencing the part she played in the backdoor pilot on The Danny Thomas Show (Danny Meets Andy Griffith). Her character in the pilot was named Henrietta Perkins, and the character did have a bit of an uneducated way of speaking (for example she used the words ain't and gotta).

A couple of housekeeping issues:

SarahBellum asked and speculated on who might have been cast if Frances hadn't taken the role, I think Danny and Sheldon might have suggested Mary Treen, who played Rose in the first episode.

Willbo asked if Elinor Donahue was in the opening credits, I believe the answer is yes but only for one episode (that's a story in and of itself).

Eventually she was in opening credits after Don Knotts left, but yes, she should have been from the beginning.

She was probably considered as recurring at the beginning. Her importance increased as time went on.

Wasn't Elinor Donahue in the open credits?

Yes, as was mentioned in another post--at least once. Since the show openings (and closings) have been altered since the original airings, who know what it originally showed?

In her TV archive interviews, Elinor mentioned she considered that her work in season 1 was subpar, and the show let her go by mutual agreement.

She considered her work in the Christmas episode to be her best appearance, and relates her singing part made her extremely nervous. The director said, let just rehearse it, and rolled film without her knowledge, for a perfect take.

Sorry, TMI!

Wasn't Elinor Donahue in the open credits?

I believe she was in the opening credits for some but not all of the episodes in which she appeared. And I think a few times she was just announced in opening but with no graphic.

Frances should have been in from the beginning, but Elinor did have a higher profile as an actress because of FKB and probably had a better agent. Frances was very important to the show and I don't believe she was anywhere near as bad as usually described. Some people on the show liked her and never complained. It's just a little thing to focus on, because there isn't much else other than how great she was in the role. Also TV was just coming out of the fifties, where it was insanely bad and unfair at giving proper credit to all the actors.

I agree that Frances should have always been in the opening credits from the beginning. She was a main cast member as the first episode centered around her character. I thought Ron Howard and Frances had really good chemistry together and it showed through in this episode.

Credits are negotiated well before the series goes into production. It appears a lot of finetuning took place after the backdoor pilot was shot. That's not that unusual, parts can get recast, character treatments changed and characters can be added. I suspect the part of the housekeeper may have been developed after the pilot. The opening credits were probably already set. Frances was probably ecstatic at just being cast in a series, alone in life, 58 years old, the potential of having a steady paycheck coming in for a working actress must have been a great relief. Opening credits are nice, but not as nice as having money for a roof over her head and food on the table.

Googling Frances Bavier quotes she was a deeply troubled woman.

Troubled in what way?

Credits are negotiated well before the series goes into production. It appears a lot of finetuning took place after the backdoor pilot was shot. That's not that unusual, parts can get recast, character treatments changed and characters can be added. I suspect the part of the housekeeper may have been developed after the pilot. The opening credits were probably already set. Frances was probably ecstatic at just being cast in a series, alone in life, 58 years old, the potential of having a steady paycheck coming in for a working actress must have been a great relief. Opening credits are nice, but not as nice as having money for a roof over her head and food on the table.

Great assessment. IIRC in the backdoor pilot she had only a small part, just a few lines, nothing to do with her future character.

Great assessment. IIRC in the backdoor pilot she had only a small part, just a few lines, nothing to do with her future character.

Is this "backdoor pilot" the episode of The Danny Thomas Show where Andy and Mayberry are introduced?

Is this "backdoor pilot" the episode of The Danny Thomas Show where Andy and Mayberry are introduced?

Yes, in the pilot she played a character named Henrietta Perkins, she had one scene. The name of that episode is "Danny Meets Andy Griffith" (Season 7, Episode 20).

Yes, in the pilot she played a character named Henrietta Perkins, she had one scene. The name of that episode is "Danny Meets Andy Griffith" (Season 7, Episode 20).

Thanks for the information. Wanted to make sure I hadn't missed any other pilot for TAGS. I've seen this episode of The Danny Thomas Show. But it's been a long time and I didn't remember Bavier being in it.

Eventually she was in opening credits after Don Knotts left, but yes, she should have been from the beginning.

Frances Bavier on Don Knotts: "I don't think I said more than five words to him" during the entire run of The Andy Griffith Show (https://www.metv.com/stories/frances-bavier-on-don-knotts-i-dont-think-i-said-more-than-five-words-to-him-during-their-time-on-the-andy-griffith-show)

Aunt Bee gives us the real scoop.

Frances Bavier nearly turned down The Andy Griffith Show (https://www.metv.com/stories/frances-bavier-nearly-turned-down-the-andy-griffith-show)

Mayberry almost had a different matriarch.

Frances Bavier wasn't Andy Griffith's choice for Aunt Bee (https://www.metv.com/stories/frances-bavier-wasnt-andy-griffiths-choice-for-aunt-bee)

Griffith was told to be nicer to Bavier.

Frances Bavier wasn't Andy Griffith's choice for Aunt Bee (https://www.metv.com/stories/frances-bavier-wasnt-andy-griffiths-choice-for-aunt-bee)

Griffith was told to be nicer to Bavier.

Another smoke and mirrors article courtesy of the METV staff.

"Frances Bavier wasn't Andy Griffith's choice for Aunt Bee"

Don't bother reading the article if you're interested in who was Andy's choice to play Aunt Bee (it's not there), or to find out when Andy Griffith made such a comment (he didn't). This in fact is nothing more than Rance Howard speculating, here's the quote:

"I think she was Sheldon Leonard's choice [for the role of Aunt Bee]," said the elder Howard. "And she may not have been Andy's choice."

But "Griffith was told to be nicer to Bavier", makes it sound like one of the other producers or maybe a director went to Andy, here' that quote again from Rance:

"I remember we were walking back from a table reading on our way to the soundstage," said Rance Howard. "And I heard Jim [Nabors] say, not loudly, but he said, 'Andy, she's a good actress. You be nice to her.' And Andy had no reply for that."

If I had to guess I would think this happened during the filming of "The Rumor" season 4 episode 29, Howard had a bit part in a scene that included Jim and Frances. If Andy had wanted Frances off the series, she would have been fired, period. Andy was the star, but Andy wore two hats and one was an owners hat, Frances was popular with the fans and she was helping make him a lot of money. He may not have liked her, it sounded like she was a royal pain to work with but he kept her on.