Was Barney a Nice Guy? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Duster76 · 02-05-2010, 10:50 PM

Could anyone but the very talented Don Knotts sell the character of Barney Fife to the audience. When you step back a few paces and look at Barney he really wasn't all that likeable as a person.

Barney was not just an incompetent police officer, he was dangerously incompetent. On more than one occasion he accidently discharged his firearm in a public place. I sure wouldn't want my kid or anyone else for that matter, within a thousand yards of this guy. He could kill someone.

Barney was a two-timer. How about going around with Juanita behind Thelma Lou's back! Let's face it, Thelma Lou could have done a lot better than Barney, he was lucky to get her.

Barnye had no sympathy for the shortcomings of others. Remember the episode about the jinx (can't remember his name), Barney ragged on him big time. Remember Thelma Lou's plain cousin (I think she was played by Mary Grace Canfield), what did Barney call her, "a dog". Remember how condescending he was to his own cousin (forget his name).

How many times did he embarrass Andy and more importantly Andy's love interest at the time, with that asinine gathering everybody up suprise party for Andy's getting married (when he wasn't). Wasn't that more about Barney being the first to know and not doing something nice for Andy.

Barney was self-indulgent, and vain to boot. With Barney it was always about Barney. What made Don Knotts so incredible was his ability to create this difficult to like character and bring him to life in such a way that we not only liked him, but rooted for him.

We saw what happened when a lesser actor tried to play the similar part of Warren the deputy, he failed miserably.

Madame X · 02-05-2010, 11:19 PM

Great points, Duster. I never thought of it that way. Barney was kind of a loser but Don Knotts made us love him anyway.

One bullet was one too many for a dangerous incompetent like Bernard P. Fife!

Tap Dancer · 02-07-2010, 02:55 PM

I really enjoyed your post!

When I saw the title, I thought, "Of course! Barney was a great guy!" But when you list all those things, he sounds like a real jerk.

And you're right about Don Knotts; he did an amazing job because for all of Barney's faults, we love him!

TMC · 04-07-2024, 01:39 AM

Andy Griffith: ''If you really lived with Barney [Fife], you'd kill him in the second week.''

A real-life Barney Fife would be...interesting, to say the least.

02-05-2010, 10:50 PM	#1
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,644	Was Barney a Nice Guy? Could anyone but the very talented Don Knotts sell the character of Barney Fife to the audience. When you step back a few paces and look at Barney he really wasn't all that likeable as a person. Barney was not just an incompetent police officer, he was dangerously incompetent. On more than one occasion he accidently discharged his firearm in a public place. I sure wouldn't want my kid or anyone else for that matter, within a thousand yards of this guy. He could kill someone. Barney was a two-timer. How about going around with Juanita behind Thelma Lou's back! Let's face it, Thelma Lou could have done a lot better than Barney, he was lucky to get her. Barnye had no sympathy for the shortcomings of others. Remember the episode about the jinx (can't remember his name), Barney ragged on him big time. Remember Thelma Lou's plain cousin (I think she was played by Mary Grace Canfield), what did Barney call her, "a dog". Remember how condescending he was to his own cousin (forget his name). How many times did he embarrass Andy and more importantly Andy's love interest at the time, with that asinine gathering everybody up suprise party for Andy's getting married (when he wasn't). Wasn't that more about Barney being the first to know and not doing something nice for Andy. Barney was self-indulgent, and vain to boot. With Barney it was always about Barney. What made Don Knotts so incredible was his ability to create this difficult to like character and bring him to life in such a way that we not only liked him, but rooted for him. We saw what happened when a lesser actor tried to play the similar part of Warren the deputy, he failed miserably.

02-05-2010, 11:19 PM	#2
Madame X Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,831	Great points, Duster. I never thought of it that way. Barney was kind of a loser but Don Knotts made us love him anyway. One bullet was one too many for a dangerous incompetent like Bernard P. Fife!

02-07-2010, 02:55 PM	#3
Tap Dancer Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 20, 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 754	I really enjoyed your post! When I saw the title, I thought, "Of course! Barney was a great guy!" But when you list all those things, he sounds like a real jerk. And you're right about Don Knotts; he did an amazing job because for all of Barney's faults, we love him!

04-07-2024, 01:39 AM	#4
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,422	Andy Griffith: ''If you really lived with Barney [Fife], you'd kill him in the second week.'' A real-life Barney Fife would be...interesting, to say the least.