Actors to replace Barney - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

GentlemanJim · 07-19-2020, 01:43 PM

There have been "what if" threads speculating what would have become of the show had Don Knotts stayed around after season 5. And even some speculation as to whether Jerry Van Dyke might have been a candidate to replace him, before the ill fated decision to cast Jack Burns as Warren Ferguson.

But does anyone have any other suggestions for actors that may have filled the role of deputy better than Jack Burns?

I was watching McHale's Navy last night, pondering if Joe Flynn could have broken free of his "leadbottom" reputation, when what appears to me to be the obvious choice came to mind. Carl Ballantine.

Any other thoughts?

OH Nuts! · 07-19-2020, 03:22 PM

Jerry Van Dyke would have made a good Barney, but I gotta say Don Knotts nailed the part!

GentlemanJim · 07-19-2020, 03:38 PM

But does anyone have any other suggestions for actors that may have filled the role of deputy

OH Nuts! · 07-19-2020, 03:55 PM

Art Carney, Ken Osmond. But really...it’s hard to imagine another Barney besides Don Knotts...although others would have done a good job.

GentlemanJim · 07-19-2020, 04:34 PM

I can envision that Art Carney would have done very well.

OH Nuts! · 07-19-2020, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

I can envision that Art Carney would have done very well.

Yup me too. Do you have anyone in mind yourself?

GentlemanJim · 07-19-2020, 07:54 PM

I think that the actor who played 'Gruber' on McHale's Navy could have done well,

Perhaps Shug Fisher would have worked out too, but they would have had to make the character a little more easy going for this to work. But I think he would have played well off of several of the other regular characters.

Chocolate Moose · 07-21-2020, 11:55 AM

I don't see any of them actually

Greenbeans · 07-21-2020, 04:53 PM

The problem with replacing Barney is coming up with a character the viewers will accept who is nothing like Barney. No actor is going to want to be hired to do a Don Knotts imitation and the public would hate them for trying Hence, Jack Burns.

Jack Burns was terrible because he was unlikeable (for me anyway), but I get the new deputy had to be different than Barney.

I would have considered bringing in an older, beloved character actor to play someone who was down on his luck and Andy gave him a chance as deputy. It would have gotten some sympathy from the audience Jack Burns never achieved.

Samme · 07-21-2020, 06:55 PM

I think a direct replacement for Barney was probably impossible and just got too much comparison and resentment. Jack Burns was proof of that. I liked Jerry Van Dyke on Coach, but he couldn't have been likeable enough or that annoying for TAGS. Jack Dodson was essentiaily a replacement for Jack Burns and Don, and did a better job than probably anyone else could have. Don was so perfect that he just could not have been equaled.

Road Dog · 07-31-2020, 11:15 AM

Bob Denver might have done well as Andy's sidekick since he did so well as the Skipper's sidekick.

Johnny be good! · 11-17-2020, 10:22 AM

There should have been another deputy that had his own personality.

rusty spike · 11-17-2020, 12:27 PM

I think Andy was the problem to any deputy replacement. He was extremely miffed that Don was moving onto bigger and better things and he was stuck doing the same gig despite being the "star".

There's been many good suggestions for the new bumbling deputy, but the big question would have been if these actors could work with Andy. TAGS was his show and I don't think Andy was going to let well known (possibly beloved) actors come on his show and steal his thunder.

After the departure of Knotts, I see Andy doing his best to be so ornery and unlikable. I think perhaps he was hoping that viewers would become teed off and stop watching the show so TAGS would get cancelled. Yes, I think Andy was miserable doing the show without Don.

Cbalducc · 11-18-2020, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty spike

I think Andy was the problem to any deputy replacement. He was extremely miffed that Don was moving onto bigger and better things and he was stuck doing the same gig despite being the "star".

I wouldn’t call Knotts’s movie career “bigger and better things”. Were any of his movies actually comedy classics?

vitoscotti · 11-23-2020, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty spike

I think Andy was the problem to any deputy replacement. He was extremely miffed that Don was moving onto bigger and better things.

I haven't heard one shred of evidence Griffith was angry with Knotts, or vice versa. Knotts said he thought the show was ending and he had a movie opportunity. Griffth gave his blessing. Griffith apparently told the cast early about this ending point that obviously didn't occur. And, Knotts was kind of a quiet guy, so he didn't press the issue.

He came back numerous times as a guest in the color episodes. And even used a lot of TAGS regular repeat actors in all of his movies who went back and forth from TAGS, MRFD, and Knott's movies. I don't see any bad blood or villains here if you go by Griffin's, Knott's, and fellow cast own words.

07-19-2020, 01:43 PM	#1
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	Actors to replace Barney There have been "what if" threads speculating what would have become of the show had Don Knotts stayed around after season 5. And even some speculation as to whether Jerry Van Dyke might have been a candidate to replace him, before the ill fated decision to cast Jack Burns as Warren Ferguson. But does anyone have any other suggestions for actors that may have filled the role of deputy better than Jack Burns? I was watching McHale's Navy last night, pondering if Joe Flynn could have broken free of his "leadbottom" reputation, when what appears to me to be the obvious choice came to mind. Carl Ballantine. Any other thoughts?

07-21-2020, 11:55 AM	#8
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,888	I don't see any of them actually
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

11-17-2020, 10:22 AM	#12
Johnny be good! Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2007 Location: Westland, Michigan Posts: 1,633	There should have been another deputy that had his own personality.
	__________________ Alex Bogue

07-19-2020, 03:22 PM	#2
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Jerry Van Dyke would have made a good Barney, but I gotta say Don Knotts nailed the part!

07-19-2020, 03:38 PM	#3
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	But does anyone have any other suggestions for actors that may have filled the role of deputy

07-19-2020, 03:55 PM	#4
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Art Carney, Ken Osmond. But really...it’s hard to imagine another Barney besides Don Knotts...although others would have done a good job.

07-19-2020, 04:34 PM	#5
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	I can envision that Art Carney would have done very well.

07-19-2020, 07:54 PM	#7
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	I think that the actor who played 'Gruber' on McHale's Navy could have done well, Perhaps Shug Fisher would have worked out too, but they would have had to make the character a little more easy going for this to work. But I think he would have played well off of several of the other regular characters.

07-21-2020, 04:53 PM	#9
Greenbeans Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 13, 2018 Posts: 197	The problem with replacing Barney is coming up with a character the viewers will accept who is nothing like Barney. No actor is going to want to be hired to do a Don Knotts imitation and the public would hate them for trying Hence, Jack Burns. Jack Burns was terrible because he was unlikeable (for me anyway), but I get the new deputy had to be different than Barney. I would have considered bringing in an older, beloved character actor to play someone who was down on his luck and Andy gave him a chance as deputy. It would have gotten some sympathy from the audience Jack Burns never achieved.

07-21-2020, 06:55 PM	#10
Samme Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 676	I think a direct replacement for Barney was probably impossible and just got too much comparison and resentment. Jack Burns was proof of that. I liked Jerry Van Dyke on Coach, but he couldn't have been likeable enough or that annoying for TAGS. Jack Dodson was essentiaily a replacement for Jack Burns and Don, and did a better job than probably anyone else could have. Don was so perfect that he just could not have been equaled.

07-31-2020, 11:15 AM	#11
Road Dog Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 30, 2004 Posts: 94	Bob Denver might have done well as Andy's sidekick since he did so well as the Skipper's sidekick.

11-17-2020, 12:27 PM	#13
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	I think Andy was the problem to any deputy replacement. He was extremely miffed that Don was moving onto bigger and better things and he was stuck doing the same gig despite being the "star". There's been many good suggestions for the new bumbling deputy, but the big question would have been if these actors could work with Andy. TAGS was his show and I don't think Andy was going to let well known (possibly beloved) actors come on his show and steal his thunder. After the departure of Knotts, I see Andy doing his best to be so ornery and unlikable. I think perhaps he was hoping that viewers would become teed off and stop watching the show so TAGS would get cancelled. Yes, I think Andy was miserable doing the show without Don.