“I Thought Don Was Awful!” Andy Griffith on Don Knotts' Acting in Three's Company - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 08-02-2023, 02:17 AM

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We'll celebrate going over 4 million views on the channel with another episode focusing on something or someone from The Andy Griffith Show. Griffith thought Knotts was awful on Three's Company and he told him so. Kind of a surprising statement by Andy Griffith. But he explains why he felt that way.

TheLittleFaerie · 08-02-2023, 03:53 AM

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Originally Posted by TMC

I always wished Andy Griffin had made an appearance on Three's Company as like an old friend of Mr. Furley's lol

I guess the one similarity between Ralph Furley and Barney Fife was they both have huge egos, and Barney did fancy himself a ladies' man also.

Also about women liking him, Cindy's aunt seemed to be totally into him when they went to visit Cindy's family's farm.

BestTVever · 08-02-2023, 07:52 AM

First of all, how in the world did the creator of the video never see Threes Company? He did not live in the United States from 1977 to 1984? That's hard to believe he never saw an episode.
But I get what Andy was saying. Don was on another kind of show and his character on Threes Company was so over the top. After several years you would almost forget serious acting again.
The episode Double Trouble is a great example. That script is so ridiculous that most actors could never pull it off with credibility. But Don and John pull it off and its funny. Its so over the top. Its very Lucielle Ball where few actors would dare to go. Andy just needed to remember there are many types of comedy.

ClarenceAlabama · 08-02-2023, 10:34 AM

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Originally Posted by BestTVever

First of all, how in the world did the creator of the video never see Threes Company? He did not live in the United States from 1977 to 1984? That's hard to believe he never saw an episode.
But I get what Andy was saying. Don was on another kind of show and his character on Threes Company was so over the top. After several years you would almost forget serious acting again.
The episode Double Trouble is a great example. That script is so ridiculous that most actors could never pull it off with credibility. But Don and John pull it off and its funny. Its so over the top. Its very Lucielle Ball where few actors would dare to go. Andy just needed to remember there are many types of comedy.

Double Trouble is my all time favorite episode. They took that script and turned it into comedy gold.

BestTVever · 08-02-2023, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClarenceAlabama

Double Trouble is my all time favorite episode. They took that script and turned it into comedy gold.

I cant imagine anyone else pulling it off. Jack running back and forth with a cowboy hat on and off and then hiding behind the couch. Mr Furley talking to Jack each time as Jack and his brother Austin. Mr Furley was such a gullible character which is why I think Andy did not appreciate it. However, he really had to go over the top with Double Trouble which is why they got him drunk. Like I said, only John and Don could have pulled off such a silly and ridiculous script. But it worked brilliantly.

PaperClips · 08-02-2023, 01:48 PM

It's Cheap to go after another person's acting.

rusty spike · 08-02-2023, 03:45 PM

AG had his opinion and the rest of us have ours. I thought Mr. Furley was right for TC and Don was indeed a terrific addition to the cast. At least TC decided to be a comedy despite recycled scripts whereas AG turned his character into a curmudgeon the last three seasons of TAGS.

I also am a fan of TAGS. However, there were times that both Andy and Barney characters got on my nerves.

Superswiper · 08-03-2023, 11:07 PM

Well, I can't say I agree. Mr. Furley was one of my favorite characters in Three's Company. His introduction was like the best thing about the Ropers getting their own spin-off, because had that not happened, Mr. Furley would have never been on the show.

CJMD03 · 08-21-2023, 01:07 AM

Furley was supposed to be “awful.” TAGS wasn’t exactly Shakespeare, you know….

biffbronson · 08-22-2023, 11:35 AM

I'm in agreement with you guys, Knotts was right for the role and did a pretty fine job with it, even if the scripts did call for some over-the-top stuff.

These big TV celebrities like Andy certainly weren't shy about voicing strong opinions regarding other series. Lucille Ball for example liked Three's Company but disliked All In the Family.

08-02-2023, 07:52 AM	#3
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,939	First of all, how in the world did the creator of the video never see Threes Company? He did not live in the United States from 1977 to 1984? That's hard to believe he never saw an episode. But I get what Andy was saying. Don was on another kind of show and his character on Threes Company was so over the top. After several years you would almost forget serious acting again. The episode Double Trouble is a great example. That script is so ridiculous that most actors could never pull it off with credibility. But Don and John pull it off and its funny. Its so over the top. Its very Lucielle Ball where few actors would dare to go. Andy just needed to remember there are many types of comedy.

08-02-2023, 01:48 PM	#6
PaperClips Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 09, 2021 Posts: 316	It's Cheap to go after another person's acting.

08-02-2023, 03:45 PM	#7
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	AG had his opinion and the rest of us have ours. I thought Mr. Furley was right for TC and Don was indeed a terrific addition to the cast. At least TC decided to be a comedy despite recycled scripts whereas AG turned his character into a curmudgeon the last three seasons of TAGS. I also am a fan of TAGS. However, there were times that both Andy and Barney characters got on my nerves.

08-03-2023, 11:07 PM	#8
Superswiper Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 14, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 192	Well, I can't say I agree. Mr. Furley was one of my favorite characters in Three's Company. His introduction was like the best thing about the Ropers getting their own spin-off, because had that not happened, Mr. Furley would have never been on the show.

08-21-2023, 01:07 AM	#9
CJMD03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2018 Posts: 457	Furley was supposed to be “awful.” TAGS wasn’t exactly Shakespeare, you know….

08-22-2023, 11:35 AM	#10
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,549	I'm in agreement with you guys, Knotts was right for the role and did a pretty fine job with it, even if the scripts did call for some over-the-top stuff. These big TV celebrities like Andy certainly weren't shy about voicing strong opinions regarding other series. Lucille Ball for example liked Three's Company but disliked All In the Family.