What to make of this?

[Mayberry'sBadBoy]

Was over at the IMDB and found this in the TAGS trivia section

Even though Andy did not get along well with Frances Bavier, according to George Lindsey, in an interview shortly before his death, most of the cast and crew did not get along well with Andy, because he was considered to be extremely abrasive and had a major ego problem. Something that Andy's daughter, Dixie, confirmed also existed in his personal life.

I don't really know what to make of this. On the one hand Andy Griffith could be tempermental (He did punch a hole in the wall during an argument with his wife) but I also know that most of the people who worked with Andy on TAGS liked working with him and had great respect for him and everything George Lindsey says should be taken with a grain of salt. I highly doubt Andy had an ego problem like William Shatner, but I also think he could be a bit abrasive at times.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Mayberry'sBadBoy

Was over at the IMDB and found this in the TAGS trivia section

Even though Andy did not get along well with Frances Bavier, according to George Lindsey, in an interview shortly before his death, most of the cast and crew did not get along well with Andy, because he was considered to be extremely abrasive and had a major ego problem. Something that Andy's daughter, Dixie, confirmed also existed in his personal life.

I don't really know what to make of this. On the one hand Andy Griffith could be tempermental (He did punch a hole in the wall during an argument with his wife) but I also know that most of the people who worked with Andy on TAGS liked working with him and had great respect for him and everything George Lindsey says should be taken with a grain of salt. I highly doubt Andy had an ego problem like William Shatner, but I also think he could be a bit abrasive at times.

I'd like to see his actual interview and not what someone posted over at IMBD. Anyone can put anything over there. I've heard that Andy can have an ego but I've never heard a bad thing said about him from the cast of TAGS. Most of what I heard came from the Matlock set. I doubt George actually said it.

[biffbronson]

Here's a question: If "most" of the TAGS cast had trouble getting along with Andy, why then did actors like Don Knotts, Betty Lynn, Aneta Corsaut, Jack Dodson, and Arlene Golonka all later agree to appearing on Matlock? Further evidence to question the comment's credibility.

[MichaelKeith]

Excellent point, biffbronson, about the cast of TAGS appearing on Matlock.

Speaking of Matlock, has anyone read or heard anything about that set? Andy went through a lot of supporting players on this show but on camera, they all seemed to get along. I really liked Clarence Gilyard and Nancy Stafford as well as Brynn Thayer. I wonder what they thought of working with him?

[Yong Fang]

Griffith was having marriage problems with his wife by the late 1960s and divorced her in 1972. This was his first wife of three. I have read that Griffith was seen by his cast members as a good guy, who was very professional, but it was his dang show and it was done his way, and like any job, probably sometimes did not want to work, got testy and annoyed. Acting on a TV show is a job like most others, one has to deal with other people, deadlines, hassles, with pressure on the "star" to make a good production week after week.

For some reason after the color episodes Griffith was not happy with the production, More than likely because Don Knotts left the show, and he and Knotts were really best friends in real life, and again, for whatever reason, Griffith was tired of doing the show, he must have been, because he left when it was #1 in the ratings. Sort of ironic since around 1971 or so, he was in the "New Andy Griffith Show" which was very similar to the old show down to being in a town in North Carolina as a public official (but this time with a living wife and more kids).

Frances Bavier it has been widely acknowledged and reported to be a difficult person to work with, and she would occasionally have tantrums on the set. I read from another actor on TAGS that everyone had to be very sensitive and careful around Frances. Again, ironically, Bavier was the one who stayed with the franchise the longest, from 1960 to 1971 when she left RFD. She became a recluse who lived alone (she was never married), was reported to have been a "cat lady". Once Griffith and Ron Howard went and knocked on her door, and she basically told the both of them to get lost.

I made a post about a year ago which got no responses about what I call "Evil Andy", where Griffith in the 1970's-80's played villains and bad people, and the guy was just chilling in these roles. The man had range.

In the end, Griffith had a good relationship with many of the cast members. Best friends with Knotts, good friends with Ron Howard, George Lindsey and Jim Nabors. Was Griffith a jerk? Yes he was. But so is every other human being.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

Griffith was having marriage problems with his wife by the late 1960s and divorced her in 1972. This was his first wife of three. I have read that Griffith was seen by his cast members as a good guy, who was very professional, but it was his dang show and it was done his way, and like any job, probably sometimes did not want to work, got testy and annoyed. Acting on a TV show is a job like most others, one has to deal with other people, deadlines, hassles, with pressure on the "star" to make a good production week after week.

For some reason after the color episodes Griffith was not happy with the production, More than likely because Don Knotts left the show, and he and Knotts were really best friends in real life, and again, for whatever reason, Griffith was tired of doing the show, he must have been, because he left when it was #1 in the ratings. Sort of ironic since around 1971 or so, he was in the "New Andy Griffith Show" which was very similar to the old show down to being in a town in North Carolina as a public official (but this time with a living wife and more kids).

Frances Bavier it has been widely acknowledged and reported to be a difficult person to work with, and she would occasionally have tantrums on the set. I read from another actor on TAGS that everyone had to be very sensitive and careful around Frances. Again, ironically, Bavier was the one who stayed with the franchise the longest, from 1960 to 1971 when she left RFD. She became a recluse who lived alone (she was never married), was reported to have been a "cat lady". Once Griffith and Ron Howard went and knocked on her door, and she basically told the both of them to get lost.

I made a post about a year ago which got no responses about what I call "Evil Andy", where Griffith in the 1970's-80's played villains and bad people, and the guy was just chilling in these roles. The man had range.

In the end, Griffith had a good relationship with many of the cast members. Best friends with Knotts, good friends with Ron Howard, George Lindsey and Jim Nabors. Was Griffith a jerk? Yes he was. But so is every other human being.

Excellent perspective on Andy Griffith, the man.

I'm seeing the Matlock episodes for the first time, by the way, great to see Griffith finally back on top of his television game, great show.

[kclj520]

I have to say, I am sure Andy had an ego, as we all do from time to time. There is no way that this show would have been as genuinely great as it is for so long (color episodes not my favorite, but B&W were Golden Years!) without everyone getting along well. There are photos from years later with Andy, Don, and Betty, among others, and everyone seems genuinely happy. I am sure like anyone who works together for a long time, there were disagreements and frustrations, but they came together to create genuine magic!