Why were parents almost never mentioned? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 07-15-2014, 04:14 PM

I wonder why the show never mentioned Andy or Barney's parents? Why not make Aunt Bea the mother of Andy? Barney's parentage was also never mentioned, although in the Pilot episode, Barney stated that Andy was his cousin, which mean that either their mothers were sisters or one parent was a son/daughter?

No one in Mayberry was married except for Otis Campbell the town drunk. Andy was a widower, Barney basically had a girlfriend (Thelma Lou) and a lover (Juanita). I don't think Bea ever married. Floyd was a widower (I think) because he had a daughter in Mt Pilot. The Darlings, except for the hot Charlene were not married. Ernest T. Bass was not married, but dragged off the lovely Rowena in the middle of the night from Mrs. Wie-Leeeeeeee's social.

Gomer.....well. I think Goober had girlfriends.

No real point. Saw for the first time in my life the pilot of Mayberry RFD when Andy was married, and Helen looked beautiful. Aneta Cordaut was hot too, but almost everyone disliked Helen.

Willbo · 07-16-2014, 09:08 AM

Emmett was married.

GrtGzu · 07-16-2014, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willbo

Emmett was married.

So was the Mayor...remember the Bedjacket eppy? And that guy Barney syuspected of growing maryjane - his wife was having a baby....and the couple who kept fighting with each other (Mornin' Darlin!, Mornin' Honey!) and there was whole family taht got put in jail during Christmas cuz they couldn't pay their rent...and the guy who Andy let go for a couple of days cuz he had to get his bean crop in - he was married and had a family too...

comedyfreak · 07-17-2014, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

I wonder why the show never mentioned Andy or Barney's parents? Why not make Aunt Bea the mother of Andy?

She was already his Aunt, she raised Andy. She came to stay to help raise Opie after Andy's housekeeper got married and went away. It's assumed that Andy's parents died, since she raised him from a child.

Will Dockery · 07-21-2014, 06:44 AM

Don't forget Howard and his mother!

Retro4Life · 07-21-2014, 10:37 AM

I just saw an episode where Barney claimed his mother taught him how to knit and crochet. He also described his landlady as being 'like a mother' to him.

But I have wondered why they never went into Andy's parents as much. We can only assume they died quite young. He says that Aunt Bee raised him, so he had to be under 10 when both of them died, unless there was a 'deadbeat dad' situation or something.

Mr. Television · 07-21-2014, 11:22 AM

I could have swore on one episode they did show Barney's mother for like a second. It was probably in the first season but I think I saw it sometime this year. I think it was more for laughs though. lol

Samme · 07-21-2014, 12:01 PM

Yeah, they did show his mother for a short scene in the first season. In one episode they implied that Barney's father had died, and in another he mentioned buying his parents a septic tank, so it was whatever fit the scene. Most of their parents would've been alive, but probably the bottom line it was another character to cast and maybe get wrong and they had more than enough characters for the show. They did have Howard's mother for awhile. Casting Barney's mother would have been pretty tough, although Jeanette Nolan was perfect and did a great job in one of Don's movies.

07-15-2014, 04:14 PM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Why were parents almost never mentioned? I wonder why the show never mentioned Andy or Barney's parents? Why not make Aunt Bea the mother of Andy? Barney's parentage was also never mentioned, although in the Pilot episode, Barney stated that Andy was his cousin, which mean that either their mothers were sisters or one parent was a son/daughter? No one in Mayberry was married except for Otis Campbell the town drunk. Andy was a widower, Barney basically had a girlfriend (Thelma Lou) and a lover (Juanita). I don't think Bea ever married. Floyd was a widower (I think) because he had a daughter in Mt Pilot. The Darlings, except for the hot Charlene were not married. Ernest T. Bass was not married, but dragged off the lovely Rowena in the middle of the night from Mrs. Wie-Leeeeeeee's social. Gomer.....well. I think Goober had girlfriends. No real point. Saw for the first time in my life the pilot of Mayberry RFD when Andy was married, and Helen looked beautiful. Aneta Cordaut was hot too, but almost everyone disliked Helen.

07-21-2014, 10:37 AM	#6
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I just saw an episode where Barney claimed his mother taught him how to knit and crochet. He also described his landlady as being 'like a mother' to him. But I have wondered why they never went into Andy's parents as much. We can only assume they died quite young. He says that Aunt Bee raised him, so he had to be under 10 when both of them died, unless there was a 'deadbeat dad' situation or something.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

07-21-2014, 11:22 AM	#7
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I could have swore on one episode they did show Barney's mother for like a second. It was probably in the first season but I think I saw it sometime this year. I think it was more for laughs though. lol
	__________________ Sonny

07-16-2014, 09:08 AM	#2
Willbo Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2012 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 861	Emmett was married.

07-21-2014, 06:44 AM	#5
Will Dockery Shadowville All-Stars Senior Member Join Date: Oct 31, 2006 Location: Shadowville Posts: 1,448	Don't forget Howard and his mother!

07-21-2014, 12:01 PM	#8
Samme Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 676	Yeah, they did show his mother for a short scene in the first season. In one episode they implied that Barney's father had died, and in another he mentioned buying his parents a septic tank, so it was whatever fit the scene. Most of their parents would've been alive, but probably the bottom line it was another character to cast and maybe get wrong and they had more than enough characters for the show. They did have Howard's mother for awhile. Casting Barney's mother would have been pretty tough, although Jeanette Nolan was perfect and did a great job in one of Don's movies.