Rewatched color Don Knotts' TAGS episodes

[vitoscotti]

Absolutely brilliant episodes. All of them in their own way. Wall to wall zaniness. No life lesson shtick here.

Though the funny scripts are ridiculous there's a unique depth to them relating to Barney. Lots of hints to his frailties and loneliness living in Raleigh. But the episodes always do a 180 from his pitifulness having him come out on top in the end. Couple times with some female opportunities to end his loneliness.

I really enjoy Andy, Barney and Warren together in the one episode. I'm bittersweet on the Barney color episodes thinking what would have been if Don Knotts would have stayed and we had many more of these classic hilarious Barney color TAGS episodes.

[Samme]

Yeah, they are great. I love them too. Everything falls back into place. Andy becomes Andy again. And they brought back the old writers for those episodes. Plus the episodes look great too. Aunt Bee's "I miss Barney" is one of the most heartfelt things ever said on the show. Now we miss all of them. And those episodes were brave to point out Barney's loneliness.

[SarahBellum]

A shame they couldn't have figured out a way for Barney to remain on TAGS beyond season 5. I know he was busy doing movies during that timeframe, but perhaps they could have used the MacMurray Method for his TAGS appearances. It would not have been necessary for him to appear in all episodes. There were several episodes during season 1-5 in which he did not appear.

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by SarahBellum

A shame they couldn't have figured out a way for Barney to remain on TAGS beyond season 5. I know he was busy doing movies during that timeframe, but perhaps they could have used the MacMurray Method for his TAGS appearances. It would not have been necessary for him to appear in all episodes. There were several episodes during season 1-5 in which he did not appear.

This has come up before, Don left the series over compensation issues, the movie explanation was just a cover story. Once Nabors got his own show the marketplace was set, to retain Don the production company was going to have to offer something of equivalent value. Don wanted an ownership percentage, Andy already has his deal with CBS and it wasn't contingent on Don being part of the cast so there was just no way he could be given that. Both Don and Andy admitted this in interviews given in their later years.

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by vitoscotti

Absolutely brilliant episodes. All of them in their own way. Wall to wall zaniness. No life lesson shtick here.

Though the funny scripts are ridiculous there's a unique depth to them relating to Barney. Lots of hints to his frailties and loneliness living in Raleigh. But the episodes always do a 180 from his pitifulness having him come out on top in the end. Couple times with some female opportunities to end his loneliness.

I really enjoy Andy, Barney and Warren together in the one episode. I'm bittersweet on the Barney color episodes thinking what would have been if Don Knotts would have stayed and we had many more of these classic hilarious Barney color TAGS episodes.

Well, I don't agree with your wall to wall zaniness statement, especially with respect to the first of the five episodes. The big takeaway from that episode was Thelma Lou's bombshell that she had wed. That was a real gut punch to Barney, nothing zany about that. I'm not saying that it wasn't a great episode, I think it's the best episode of the final three seasons, and I give the production company full credit. They really gave the viewer something different, the audience had followed that relationship for five years it was an absolute shock the way it all ended. I don't think anything like that had happened in any sitcom before. There was a life lesson there and a pretty significant one, Barney let the love of his life get away, due to indifference, arrogance, false pride, whatever, he would live with that for the rest of his days, be mindful of the things that are important in your life, don't take things for granted.

The second and third episodes are classic Barney episodes, these issues had been explored before but they never get tired. The fourth episode was good but it had that very baffling casting, a good episode. The final appearance of Barney was the highest rated episode of the series, I would love to know more about the behind the scenes of the episode, somehow it seems a little out of kilter. This is a Barney episode but he's not part of the pivotal kitchen scene, it almost seems like that he somehow became unavailable, I don't get it.

All five of these episodes are among the very best of the final three seasons, and at the very least I would like to see METV add them to the regular rerun package.

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by Samme

Yeah, they are great. I love them too. Everything falls back into place. Andy becomes Andy again. And they brought back the old writers for those episodes. Plus the episodes look great too. Aunt Bee's "I miss Barney" is one of the most heartfelt things ever said on the show. Now we miss all of them. And those episodes were brave to point out Barney's loneliness.

I recall that final scene with Aunt Bee on the porch, "I miss Barney", one of my favorite scenes, I think she summed up how the audience felt, it was really profound.

[stevea]

The second season six appearance, and the season seven episode set in Raleigh, were classic Barney scripts, where Andy manages to make him look good in the end.

I've really done an 180 on the Raleigh episode, which I used to think was silly. In fact, it's everything we expect in a Barney-centered episode.

[vitoscotti]

Ever notice how quick classic TAGS episodes fly by when watching? It's like poof they're near the end then over. Some of the episodes I may have watched over a hundred times over many years too.

[SarahBellum]

Originally Posted by Duster76

This has come up before, Don left the series over compensation issues, the movie explanation was just a cover story. Once Nabors got his own show the marketplace was set, to retain Don the production company was going to have to offer something of equivalent value. Don wanted an ownership percentage, Andy already has his deal with CBS and it wasn't contingent on Don being part of the cast so there was just no way he could be given that. Both Don and Andy admitted this in interviews given in their later years.

OK, thanks for the info. Since Don did make a few guest appearances on TAGS after season 5, there was apparently no animosity between he and Andy.

[biffbronson]

I like pretty much all of the color eps where Knotts returns. "Barney Hosts a Summit Meeting" may be my least favorite if I had to name one, but I really like the scene where Paul Fix's "old man McCabe" character goes off on Barney.

[vitoscotti]

Originally Posted by Duster76

Well, I don't agree with your wall to wall zaniness statement, especially with respect to the first of the five episodes. The big takeaway from that episode was Thelma Lou's bombshell that she had wed. That was a real gut punch to Barney, nothing zany about that.

Other than the bombshell that Thelma Lou was married the rest of the episode was hilariously zany. During the Barney shock Flossy slips in Thelma Lou's husband is a foreman on a wrecking crew. Right afterwards Barney's getting drunk at the punch bowl and Andy reminds him that there's no liquor in it.