Andy Griffith rejected Don Knotts' proposal to be a permanent team

We could've had "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken AND Mr. Griffith"!

July 31, 2024, 2:33PM By MeTV Staff

CBS Television Distribution

Creative counterparts elevate some of the greatest performers of all time. Sure, plenty of truly incredible solo acts strike out on their own to great success. But, history is filled with teams so close they're only separated by an ampersand. Abbott & Costello, Laurel & Hardy, Martin & Lewis... These duos were each buoyed by their partnerships. Time shows us that most of the pairings were greater than the sum of their parts.

It makes sense, then, for actors and comedians to buddy up to conquer the world. After all, look at the heights of fame those aforementioned acts reached! But not every duo is meant to be a permanent pair, as Don Knotts learned during the production of The Andy Griffith Show.

Barney Fife, and Other Characters I Have Known is the 1999 memoir written by comedy legend Don Knotts with assistance from author Robert Metz. In it, Knotts reflects on his life and career, taking readers through every phase of his lengthy stint on TV and in the movies. Unlike some more image-obsessed autobiographies Barney Fife... doesn't shy away from the bumps in the road encountered in any Hollywood career. Knotts truly tells all, including a harsh rejection he had to cope with at the height of it all.

Knotts has nothing but praise for his onscreen partner, noting the obvious chemistry he and Andy Griffith shared in front of the camera. While the two didn't spend very much time socializing after the long hours on set each day, they were clearly a match made in comedy heaven. That's why Knotts figured to make it a pact that they'd work together on everything.

"We worked together so well," Knotts wrote, "I once asked Andy if he'd like to team up for good." Fans everywhere could've been thrilled at The Shakiest Gun(s) in the West, starring two of their favorites, instead of just Knotts. Or how great would The Apple Dumpling Gang have been if it was Knotts and Griffith united at the top of the billing?

But it was not meant to be.

"He [Griffith] politely and understandably declined. An actor with Andy's range could never consider tying himself to a comedy team."

It's a shame because the duo did some of their best work as a pair.