The Change in Andy's Character

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by APPLEI

those are all very good points!

becoming a partner in a business?? is that the episode about the chinese restaurant where aunt bee believes a message from a fortune cookie as the gospel truth and nearly has a nervous breakdown?

i forgot about aunt bee flying solo in a plane! great episode!

but remember that episode where aunt bee doe's the commerical for furniture polish?

or the episode where aunt bee becomes attached to the WIG like a security blanket? she was very childlike in that episode

the episode where aunt bee wins a trip to mexico was'nt one of my favorites!
aunt bee and her two friends acted like spoiled children!

I admit that I can watch /any/ episode of AGS and enjoy it, but these outlandish and unrealistic stories with Aunt Bea and Howard usually can bring on the cringes, I almost feel embarrassed for the actors, and in a different way, for the writers... like, what were they thinking?

I could no more imagine Aunt Bea flying an airplane or really any of that other stuff than I could my grandmother, the surreal qualities were a mistake as a direction for the show to go in, a "bigger is better" kind of thing.

Ah well, enough ranting for now...

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Two episodes that really brought out Andy's mean streak are:
"Keeper Of The Flame" & The one where Opie found the wallet with $50.00 in it. Andy really let Opie have it in both of these episodes. Speaking of "Keeper Of The Flame", Everett Sloane who played Jubal Foster has another connection to the series. What is it?

Everett Sloane, who was Orson Welles' sidekick in so many of his masterpieces, including Citizen Kane, Magnificent Ambersons, and Lady From Shanghai... fantastic actor.

[biffbronson]

Aunt Bee, not "Bea." Common mistake for that particular character!

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by biffbronson

Aunt Bee, not "Bea." Common mistake for that particular character!

Thanks, I'll try to remember that!

[selleckfan4ever]

I really disliked the way "Aunt Bee"kept going on &on about the freezer &was being so stuborn &then when she got a new freezer (even if I think she was happy about it)Still argued with him that he could have gotten it cheaper!She wouldnt give up &admit ahe was wrong!

[selleckfan4ever]

but then he kind of "backed down"&went with it when the other policeman thought it was for car safety,until the police left&then he was back at Goober!I didnt like how Andy could be so sneaky sometimes

[Yong Fang]

It is "Bea", short for Beatrice.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

It is "Bea", short for Beatrice.

Well, that does seem logical.

[tdr]

Like many here indicate, my favorite seasons are 2 through 5; although I think even as season 5 progressed, we can begin to sense some of the frustrations of Andy Griffith, who has agreed to continue the show for a few more years, but already doesn't like what he has set up, knowing he inadvertently connived at Don Knotts' departure. This is especially seen in "Opie Flunks Arithmetic," where Andy goes berserk over the idea that Opie's recent poor showing in math may mean keeping him from getting into college. The situation presented is not unimportant, but it seems almost too real that Andy Taylor, the good-natured yet competent small town law man and family man, would snap like that. And it might make knowledgeable fans of the show uncomfortable because we know that is, in fact, Andy Griffith's disposition; that is, he shows us the real Andy, not the 'good old boy' character we want to see.

One easily overlooked tradition of the show does remain through all 8 seasons, and it's one I like-- that in every season opener Opie is the "featured character." And generally IMHO that is one thing that does make seasons 6,7, and 8 better-- when Opie is more prominent. I especially like "The Ball Game," finding out the truth of "The Battle of Mayberry," and "Goodbye, Dolly."

[TMC]

Andy Griffith didn't like watching the first season of The Andy Griffith Show, and changed because of Howard McNear

The real reason Andy Taylor changed between Season One and Season Two.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by Vince 887

I was wondering why Andy went from a happy go lucky charecter to basically becoming grouchy by the time the episodes were filmed in color?

I think he was really getting burned out on the Andy Taylor role.

[TMC]

Andy Griffith subtly evolved in his iconic role as Sheriff Andy Taylor— here's how Howard McNear helped!

Delve into Andy Griffith's transformation as an actor and how his portrayal of Sheriff Andy Taylor grew!

[TMC]

We all remember Mayberry's wise Sheriff Andy Taylor, but the main character on classic TV show "The Andy Griffith Show" wasn't always the same man. Join Pop Culture Historian Dave Sundstrom as he talks about Andy's surprising evolution.