Jack Burns' flopping on TAGS, why?

[senor boogie woogi]

Hola!

They had an article on TV Party about a TV show called "Fridays" which was basically a clone for Saturday Night Live on ABC. I saw it as a kid and thought it was funny. The lead writer and announcer for the show was no other than Jack Burns. Burns has an impressive resume, was a member of Second City out of Chicago and was comedy partners with Avery Schrieber and George Carlin.

What happened to him on Andy? He was not funny, and he was extremely annoying with that Huh, Huh, huh bit. I would think that the relationship between Andy Griffith and Burns got bad, and/or a writer or the whole cabal had it out for him and wanted him gone.

I think Jerry Van Dyke would of been a better replacement.

So what happened with Jack Burns and TAGS?

Senor

[pilotguy]

Originally Posted by senor boogie woogi

Hola!

They had an article on TV Party about a TV show called "Fridays" which was basically a clone for Saturday Night Live on ABC. I saw it as a kid and thought it was funny. The lead writer and announcer for the show was no other than Jack Burns. Burns has an impressive resume, was a member of Second City out of Chicago and was comedy partners with Avery Schrieber and George Carlin.

What happened to him on Andy? He was not funny, and he was extremely annoying with that Huh, Huh, huh bit. I would think that the relationship between Andy Griffith and Burns got bad, and/or a writer or the whole cabal had it out for him and wanted him gone.

I think Jerry Van Dyke would of been a better replacement.

So what happened with Jack Burns and TAGS?

Senor

I think that a big part of the problem was that Jack Burns' character was basically a loud, obnoxious "In Your Face" big-city type of guy....and that kind of a character just didn't fit in Mayberry! Burns did the same kind of character in those great comedy routines with Avery Schreiber as a cab driver (and Burns as his loudmouthed passenger)....and Burns used to get on Schreiber's nerves!

Don Knotts' Barney was a blowhard and braggart, but he was a LOVEABLE blowhard and braggart....Burns didn't have that "loveable" quality.

While Jerry Van Dyke was busy starring in "My Mother, The Car" around the time of Don Knotts' departure from the Andy Griffith series, I agree with you that Van Dyke COULD have worked as a replacement for Barney. In fact, Craig T. Nelson and Jerry Van Dyke had almost an "Andy-Barney"-type relationship on "Coach".

Jerry Van Dyke could have continued that loveable quality that Don Knotts had, but I think that he could have also made HIS deputy a different kind of sidekick for Andy, and not just a copy of Barney.

[nerrad]

huh huh huh huh huh huh huh. Are there any recent pictures of Warren (Jack Burns)? I've never seen what he looks like today.

[Americansportzfan]

Jack Burn's role was doomed before it started. The problem was NO ONE could replace Barney. Anyone who tried was always going to be compared to him and there just wasn't a more endearing character than loveable ol' Barn. I don't think anyone could've filled those shoes. Barney is one of the most well known characters in TV history.

[bfuller07]

I use to love that "Friday's" series you were talking about at the top of the thread, didn't know Jack Burns had anything to do with it.

[snl 70s show fan]

i liked firdays too i know alot of snl fans didnt but i thought it was pretty funny for a clone ,btw the ep of snl that jack burns hosted is on the snl second season dvd

[tv star collector]

Jack Burns was also a writer on Hee Haw and even made a few guest
appearances there. George "Goober" Lindsey was a regular at about the same
time.

[Steverino]

Wow, I cant imagine a more opposite style of comedy than Jack's 'Chicago cabbie' writing for rural heehaw-ers.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by pilotguy

I think that a big part of the problem was that Jack Burns' character was basically a loud, obnoxious "In Your Face" big-city type of guy....and that kind of a character just didn't fit in Mayberry! Burns did the same kind of character in those great comedy routines with Avery Schreiber as a cab driver (and Burns as his loudmouthed passenger)....and Burns used to get on Schreiber's nerves!

Don Knotts' Barney was a blowhard and braggart, but he was a LOVEABLE blowhard and braggart....Burns didn't have that "loveable" quality.

While Jerry Van Dyke was busy starring in "My Mother, The Car" around the time of Don Knotts' departure from the Andy Griffith series, I agree with you that Van Dyke COULD have worked as a replacement for Barney. In fact, Craig T. Nelson and Jerry Van Dyke had almost an "Andy-Barney"-type relationship on "Coach".

Jerry Van Dyke could have continued that loveable quality that Don Knotts had, but I think that he could have also made HIS deputy a different kind of sidekick for Andy, and not just a copy of Barney.

Exactly, it was from (finally) watching Coach and seeing the chemistry Craig T. Nelson and Jerry Van Dyke had, that might have been possible on AGS, with Andy and Jerry already being friends, Andy's annoyance would be softened by the real friendship, something he didn't have with Burns.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by Americansportzfan

Jack Burn's role was doomed before it started. The problem was NO ONE could replace Barney. Anyone who tried was always going to be compared to him and there just wasn't a more endearing character than loveable ol' Barn. I don't think anyone could've filled those shoes. Barney is one of the most well known characters in TV history.

Certainly not with scripts for Barney imply passed to Warren... they should have kept him a little more low key until they could develop a workable direction for him.

[hifijohn]

The character was beyond annoying Im surprised he lasted as long as he did.

[biffbronson]

Just 11 episodes total, believe it or not.