The Warren Commission

[tdr]

While most fans of TAGS agree there were 2 distinct periods in its 8-year run-- that is, the first 5 years in B&W with Barney Fife, then the last 3 years in color without Barney-- it is notable what the show and its PTB seemed to learn after the unsuccessful attempt to 'replace' Barney with an identical character of a different name and face. That is essentially what they did with Warren, the new deputy. He first comes on and arrests Aunt Bea and other ladies for having a drawing at a charity bizarre, which he claims is gambling, and he won't relent until Andy has catch him with his own pitchfork. And he is convinced he has ESP and disturbs Andy further, and such things. All these are just what Barney would be doing in those situations, in spite of AG telling Jack Burns they would not give him "Don Knotts material." The tension does come through with the discomfort and exasperation seen on screen, so it's little wonder they decided to let Burns go and just realize they can't create another Barney.

This worked to advantage as they added new characters those last 2-3 years. Needing another foil to Andy, they added a very different one-- Howard Sprague. He was also in city government in a position which brought he and Andy into contact often (even though that wasn't seen before), and being the shy 35-year-old who was still trying to grow up in many ways, this gave a lot of room for things that were routine for most Mayberry men, but new adventures for him-- like fishing, bowling, joining a lodge, even dating.

Then Howard McNear had to leave permanently, so Floyd the barber was gone. Apparently they knew they couldn't create another Floyd either, so he was replaced by Emmitt the fix-it man, using the same shop, and it still being a place of gathering and loose talk as much as business. But Emmitt was married, and though he was also a jokester and had his pride, like Floyd, he came across differently, more flippant and cutting.

Finally, as they prepared to replace Andy himself, who was not going to continue while the show would be rechristened, again they got a similar character but with notable differences. Sam Jones was also in local government, and he was also a widower with a son. But he was a farmer who had to be concerned about his land and livelihood, which were more dependent on natural elements, than upon Barney or Goober fouling up and crossing up his job as the local protector (protector more of peoples' dignity than of criminal activity).

So... Warren as the new deputy did not work out, but did show that the same character cannot be replaced by a different face. New characters require new idiocyncracies. And that's how TAGS survived, and even shot up to #1, while losing its main comic character, and then survived more years as anther show without its main straight man.

[comedyfreak]

Excellently summed up, and I agree. I really didn't care for Warren. I remember watching Mayberry RFD as a kid, it had a very catchy tune.

[AB]

I didn't like Warren that well either, not just because he was a replacement, but because his character wasn't that entertaining.

[Scoobiedoo30]

Why did you not like Warren

[Mr. Television]

Warren was just annoying.

[Scoobiedoo30]

I agree

[brgmgb]

Good summary of what happened on the show.

I, too, never cared for Warren. He was very annoying. Did he just disappear from the show, or did they explain why he no longer was around?

Howard Sprague came on the show when he took his job as clerk. Andy did have contact with other government employees over the run of the show - most of the time it was the mayor. But they did explain in that first episode with Howard that Howard & Andy went to school with each other, but Andy didn't really know him that well. But that didn't stop Andy from trying to fix Howard up with the nurse. At least they explained how this brand new character all of a sudden became a part of Andy's life.

Emmitt bought or opened the Fix-It Shop when he appeared on the show. But I always thought he was in the shop next to the barber shop - they one that said TV Repairs in the window. But I agree that the set sure looks like the barber shop. Another barber did move into town after Floyd left the show. In the episode where Goober tried the computer dating service, he makes a comment about going to get a haircut at the new barber.

Out of all of the characters on the show, Sam Jones was the best to base a new show around. I assume he was brought on the show just for that purpose. He was elected as a County Commissioner, wasn't he? Is that how they explained him being around town more?

[Scoobiedoo30]

I think when Barney Left The Andy Griffith Show it should have just been Andy.

[cinderfella]

Originally Posted by brgmgb

Good summary of what happened on the show.

I, too, never cared for Warren. He was very annoying. Did he just disappear from the show, or did they explain why he no longer was around?

I believe Warren just disappeared - like so many others (Ellie, Peggy, Mary Simpson, etc.) He appeared in 11 episodes thru the 6th season. His last episode was "Wyatt Earp Rides Again".

[Mikado]

once Andy left the show, so did I

[TMC]

Originally Posted by tdr

While most fans of TAGS agree there were 2 distinct periods in its 8-year run-- that is, the first 5 years in B&W with Barney Fife, then the last 3 years in color without Barney-- it is notable what the show and its PTB seemed to learn after the unsuccessful attempt to 'replace' Barney with an identical character of a different name and face. That is essentially what they did with Warren, the new deputy. He first comes on and arrests Aunt Bea and other ladies for having a drawing at a charity bizarre, which he claims is gambling, and he won't relent until Andy has catch him with his own pitchfork. And he is convinced he has ESP and disturbs Andy further, and such things. All these are just what Barney would be doing in those situations, in spite of AG telling Jack Burns they would not give him "Don Knotts material." The tension does come through with the discomfort and exasperation seen on screen, so it's little wonder they decided to let Burns go and just realize they can't create another Barney.

This worked to advantage as they added new characters those last 2-3 years. Needing another foil to Andy, they added a very different one-- Howard Sprague. He was also in city government in a position which brought he and Andy into contact often (even though that wasn't seen before), and being the shy 35-year-old who was still trying to grow up in many ways, this gave a lot of room for things that were routine for most Mayberry men, but new adventures for him-- like fishing, bowling, joining a lodge, even dating.

Then Howard McNear had to leave permanently, so Floyd the barber was gone. Apparently they knew they couldn't create another Floyd either, so he was replaced by Emmitt the fix-it man, using the same shop, and it still being a place of gathering and loose talk as much as business. But Emmitt was married, and though he was also a jokester and had his pride, like Floyd, he came across differently, more flippant and cutting.

Finally, as they prepared to replace Andy himself, who was not going to continue while the show would be rechristened, again they got a similar character but with notable differences. Sam Jones was also in local government, and he was also a widower with a son. But he was a farmer who had to be concerned about his land and livelihood, which were more dependent on natural elements, than upon Barney or Goober fouling up and crossing up his job as the local protector (protector more of peoples' dignity than of criminal activity).

So... Warren as the new deputy did not work out, but did show that the same character cannot be replaced by a different face. New characters require new idiocyncracies. And that's how TAGS survived, and even shot up to #1, while losing its main comic character, and then survived more years as anther show without its main straight man.

Andy Griffith said ''The Andy Griffith Show'' gave Don Knotts-style material to Jack Burns

Nobody could replace Barney Fife.