Stories

Andy Griffith said that television was often misleading "The man who can't put himself over on TV is just lost," Griffith said. July 22, 2024, 11:18AM
Andy Griffith only met Jim Nabors because he was the last to leave from one of his parties Nabors wore out his welcome and won himself a job. July 22, 2024, 9:57AM
Andy Griffith addressed rumors that he based Andy Taylor off of his own father Did Griffith model the character after his own dad? July 16, 2024, 4:41PM
Sheriff Taylor was not Andy Griffith's favorite character on The Andy Griffith Show Griffith had a different person in mind. July 16, 2024, 3:47PM
Oddly enough, Andy Griffith fans weren't interested in writing to Aunt Bee for cooking advice Aunt Bee and Frances Bavier were both excellent cooks. July 16, 2024, 9:50AM
Even as Don Knotts was leaving The Andy Griffith Show, he was talking about starring in a new series with Andy Griffith A door was closing, but Knotts and Griffith were intent on opening up a window. July 15, 2024, 3:46PM
Don Knotts wasn't an overnight success, and he loved it Knotts wasn't interested in fleeting fame. July 15, 2024, 3:10PM
What was Ron Howard's high school experience like? The stars... They're just (not really) like us. July 2, 2024, 10:06AM
10 fascinating little details you never noticed in ''Mayberry Goes Hollywood'' This early favorite had ties to Superman, Kojak and Italian opera. July 1, 2024, 2:29PM
Fans of The Andy Griffith Show would see Hal Smith in public and ask him if he was sober "I don't know if they think I'm an actor or a drunk," he said. June 28, 2024, 4:55PM
Ron Howard on The Andy Griffith Show's improvised moments Howard reveals the candid nature of some of our favorite scenes. June 28, 2024, 1:58PM
Ron Howard shares what scared him most about writing his memoir It wasn't that time Opie accidentally killed that bird! June 26, 2024, 1:24PM
Ron Howard reveals his favorite Muppet after directing Jim Henson documentary While the answer is predictable, the reasons are worth a read! June 26, 2024, 10:15AM
Andy Griffith was once described as the ''hippest hillbilly'' Who knew there was such a thing? June 21, 2024, 12:30PM
Ernest T. Bass: Why the mountain madman was only in a few episodes An Ernest T-spoon was plenty! June 21, 2024, 11:04AM
A dose of reality brought Don Knotts perspective after his first Emmy win He was recognized at the Emmys but not on the golf course! June 13, 2024, 11:41AM
Ron Howard: Andy Griffith ''didn't like The Beverly Hillbillies'' He also wasn't a fan of Petticoat Junction! June 12, 2024, 2:26PM
Don Knotts said that most child actors were ''a pain in the neck'' He held Ron Howard in high esteem, though. June 12, 2024, 11:12AM
Andy Griffith said ''The Andy Griffith Show'' gave Don Knotts-style material to Jack Burns Nobody could replace Barney Fife. June 11, 2024, 9:49AM
George Lindsey was nearly cast as Gomer Pyle before Andy Griffith insisted on Jim Nabors A story of what could've been! June 10, 2024, 11:28AM
Aneta Corsaut graduated from ''mean teacher'' to love interest on The Andy Griffith Show Corsaut couldn't have cared less whether or not she and Andy tied the knot! June 10, 2024, 11:12AM
Jim Nabors didn't mind being thought of as Gomer Pyle Nabors loved his Andy Griffith character. June 7, 2024, 3:38PM
Carol Burnett sent Jim Nabors a fan letter and he didn't believe it was real Nabors assumed someone was playing a prank on him when he received a letter addressed to him from Carol Burnett. June 7, 2024, 10:31AM
Don Knotts: Andy Griffith ''was a conscientious, tireless worker'' Knotts was nuts about the show! June 5, 2024, 1:50PM
Ron Howard changed a line in this season 2 episode of The Andy Griffith Show An early Opie opus. June 5, 2024, 10:00AM
Here's the real reason Andy Griffith never had a wife on The Andy Griffith Show Who had time for a relationship when Barney was in the picture? May 23, 2024, 9:36AM
Did playing Otis hurt Hal Smith's career? The veteran character actor opened up about it in 1970. May 21, 2024, 9:50AM
Andy Griffith said that The Andy Griffith Show was more complicated than people assumed "Everybody thinks they know about the Griffith Show, but they don't." May 17, 2024, 4:33PM
Andy Griffith on why he didn't like to attend fan conventions Griffith didn't like to dwell. May 17, 2024, 10:31AM
Andy Griffith said that Andy Taylor was ''too good'' of a person Andy Taylor was a wonderful character, but difficult to write for. May 16, 2024, 10:02AM
Don Knotts: ''I ruined a lot of takes laughing with'' this actor It might not be who you expect! May 15, 2024, 2:36PM
Andy Griffith said he was "closer to Don [Knotts]" than anyone else The funniest duo, on-screen and off. May 10, 2024, 10:49AM
Don Knotts said that he became a writer ''out of necessity'' Knotts was an amazing writer, but it wasn't his first love like comedy was. May 9, 2024, 4:47PM
Don Knotts knew that Andy Griffith was going to be a star when they met Knotts had a good feeling about Griffith. May 9, 2024, 4:46PM
Andy Griffith on Jim Nabors' nightclub act Apparently, the act was a real mystery to Griffith. May 9, 2024, 3:12PM
Jim Nabors reveals the one skill that eluded his talent He could sing, he could act, he could do seemingly anything! May 9, 2024, 12:58PM
Ron Howard wasn't worried about being typecasted as Opie Taylor Howard wasn't worried about his "Opie" image. May 9, 2024, 9:42AM
Don Knotts said the Barney Fife character came to him in a dream "A number of things were swimming around in me, of course, that led up to the dream," said Knotts. May 6, 2024, 11:42AM
The '91 Andy Griffith Show episode rankings revisited Tell us how you'd rank 'em! May 3, 2024, 12:26PM
Originally, Andy Griffith was going to leave ''The Andy Griffith Show'' after three years At first, Griffith had a much shorter timeline for the series. May 3, 2024, 11:03AM
Andy Griffith revealed that the last thing he said to George Lindsey was ''I love you'' Griffith and Lindsey had a friendship to last the ages. May 2, 2024, 4:40PM
George Lindsey was a pretty stern teacher before he was goofy Goober Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show What if Goober was your history teacher? May 2, 2024, 2:46PM
Andy Griffith, Don Knotts and Jim Nabors made 'Return to Mayberry' with heart, not nostalgia A testament to timeless humor and enduring friendship. May 1, 2024, 2:30PM
Jim Nabors loved returning to his most iconic role Nabors was proud to come back to Gomer Pyle in the made-for-TV reunion. May 1, 2024, 11:07AM
George Lindsey wanted everyone to know that he was not a ''country comedian'' "I don't think I'm a 'country comedian.' I think I am a comedian with an accent," May 1, 2024, 10:20AM
The Andy Griffith Show's Howard McNear described himself as a ''second banana'' Floyd the Barber knew how to serve his audience. April 30, 2024, 10:46AM
Aunt Bee was much nicer than the real Frances Bavier, at least according to her In the actress' words. April 30, 2024, 10:34AM
Andy Griffith's Mayberry: How a backlot came to life Behind-the-scenes of TV's most iconic small town. April 29, 2024, 9:51AM
Ken Curtis' childhood was more ''Opie'' than ''Festus'' "The prisoners ate the same as mother cooked for us, so it was mighty good," April 26, 2024, 11:55AM
Don Knotts' insight into humor's ever-changing landscape "Comedians are in a tough position now" April 25, 2024, 2:51PM
Unveiling Andy Griffith's hidden business acumen: Ownership and negotiation in Mayberry He was a great sheriff and an even better businessman. April 25, 2024, 1:40PM
Don Knotts revealed that one of the best bits of ''The Ghost and Mr. Chicken'' was actually created by Andy Griffith The Andy Griffith Show was more than just a television series. April 23, 2024, 11:52AM
Howard McNear reflects on his time as Doc in radio's ''Gunsmoke'' McNear defended radio even when it wasn't fashionable! April 23, 2024, 10:25AM
Here's the one trait Howard McNear had in common with Floyd the Barber The actor and his character may not have been so different! April 23, 2024, 9:43AM
Ron Howard reflected on George Lucas' generosity amidst tough Hollywood negotiations The Star Wars filmmaker made sure there was always room for humanity. April 22, 2024, 12:05PM
The threat of being drafted loomed over Ron Howard in the beginning of Happy Days The show could've meant deferment for the young star April 22, 2024, 10:31AM
Andy Griffith Show memories led Don Knotts to ''The Ghost and Mr. Chicken'' Here's how the iconic show informed the hit movie! April 19, 2024, 1:10PM
Andy Griffith said that ''The Andy Griffith Show'' modeled its comedic technique after radio Like many series before it, The Andy Griffith Show took inspiration from radio. April 19, 2024, 11:17AM
Don Knotts' son reveals the most intense phase of his father's career 1970 was a rough year! April 17, 2024, 3:37PM
The last-ditch effort to save The Don Knotts Show A behind-the-scenes look at the ill-fated show's decline April 17, 2024, 11:58AM
Jim Henson's daughter calls Ron Howard a ''creative match'' to her father "Ron Howard is both a creative and personality match for my father, unlike anyone else we could have contemplated." April 16, 2024, 1:39PM
Ron Howard came to the defense of Jake Lloyd after the Phantom Menace backlash Howard was well into his directing career at that point, but he still remembered being under the microscope as a child star. April 10, 2024, 11:48AM
Putting the ''aww'' in ''audition'': How Ron Howard won his first role He was 3 and tried out for an 8-year-old character! April 8, 2024, 11:19AM
Andy Griffith: ''If you really lived with Barney [Fife], you'd kill him in the second week.'' A real-life Barney Fife would be...interesting, to say the least. April 5, 2024, 1:00PM
Frances Bavier wasn't Andy Griffith's choice for Aunt Bee Griffith was told to be nicer to Bavier. April 2, 2024, 9:36AM
Andy Griffith was "hanging around" this female costar every other day "They were trying to really keep it on the down low and they didn't think anybody knew— but everybody knew." April 1, 2024, 11:16AM
Don Knotts: "If I had known that Andy intended to go on with [The Andy Griffith Show], of course I would've stayed." Knotts might have been prepared to be Barney Fife forever. March 29, 2024, 1:07PM
Here's how one of Ron Howard's childhood bullies became one of his best friends Howard was Opie, through and through. March 26, 2024, 10:20AM
Even as a child on ''The Andy Griffith Show,'' Ron Howard had aspirations of becoming a director Howard knew exactly what he wanted. March 25, 2024, 1:06PM
Despite his talent for comedy, it was always Don Knotts' dream to play a serious character "I doubt that I'll ever get that chance." March 25, 2024, 9:55AM
A Florida town once made Don Knotts an honorary deputy While making an appearance to promote his film, Knotts was given the award of a lifetime. March 22, 2024, 1:48PM
The real reason why Don Knotts wasn't in the pilot episode of The Andy Griffith Show Simply put, there wasn't a Barney, yet. March 19, 2024, 11:07AM
Andy Griffith once said that the best thing that he and Don Knotts did together was nothing at all The actors were simple men — and it made them famous. March 18, 2024, 10:25AM
Don Knotts was always willing to play Barney Fife again, if Andy Griffith asked Knotts couldn't say no to Griffith. March 18, 2024, 9:54AM
Betty Lynn revealed she had ''a little crush'' on Andy Griffith No wonder Barney was always the jealous type. March 14, 2024, 1:30PM
Frances Bavier on Don Knotts: ''I don't think I said more than five words to him'' during the entire run of The Andy Griffith Show Aunt Bee gives us the real scoop. March 12, 2024, 3:32PM
Jim Nabors got a letter from Ron Howard more than 50 years after they met It seems Gomer and Opie kept in touch! March 12, 2024, 11:10AM
Tim Conway said Barney Fife was ''one of the greatest, funniest, and truest personalities ever seen on the screen'' The movie pair held each other in high regard. March 11, 2024, 2:13PM
Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, and Ron Howard had a little ''Andy Griffith Show'' reunion at a wedding Mayberry now, Mayberry forever! March 8, 2024, 1:11PM
Here's how The Andy Griffith Show shaped Matlock Character-based comedy was the golden rule. March 8, 2024, 10:28AM
Don Knotts revealed why he actually preferred being the second banana to a television star Knotts explained why there was some value in being the sidekick. March 6, 2024, 1:55PM
Don Knotts dated a star from Little House on the Prairie. Here's why it didn't work out Can you guess which actress it was? March 6, 2024, 9:27AM
Andy Griffith and Johnny Cash starred in a TV movie with an infamous real-life lawyer James Neal was involved in some of the biggest trials of the '80s March 5, 2024, 10:03AM
''The Andy Griffith Show'' theme song's secret weapon was its simplicity The tune we love to whistle. March 5, 2024, 9:36AM
Andy Griffith didn't like watching the first season of The Andy Griffith Show, and changed because of Howard McNear The real reason Andy Taylor changed between Season One and Season Two March 5, 2024, 9:34AM
Ron Howard did an Andy Griffith impression after a very successful first date with his now-wife They say every man will become his father, and for Opie, it was no different. February 29, 2024, 1:11PM
A young Ron Howard came up with a ''Flintstones'' episode while on a car ride with his father As if Howard wasn't already successful enough. February 23, 2024, 4:38PM
Don Knotts' financial feud with Andy Griffith: The real reason Barney left Mayberry? Why did Knotts leave for Hollywood? February 22, 2024, 10:30AM
Ron Howard and Betty Lynn cried when Don Knotts left Mayberry Tears flowed when the actor left the show. February 22, 2024, 8:54AM
Andy Griffith said that ''The Andy Griffith Show'' would have had a very different future if Sheriff Taylor had been the show's comedic relief What if Sheriff Taylor had been the Barney Fife of the series? February 20, 2024, 3:00PM
Clint Howard was so darn cute in his little cowboy outfit that they had to cast him on ''The Andy Griffith Show'' It began with a cowboy hat and a dream. February 20, 2024, 11:33AM
Ron Howard had as normal an upbringing as possible The young actor had a great support system around him. February 20, 2024, 10:35AM
Ron Howard loved being a child actor, but he also wouldn't recommend it to anyone else Child acting is not for the faint of heart. February 16, 2024, 11:42AM
Frances Bavier was ''adopted'' by her Andy Griffith Show family Bavier's chosen family loved her just as much as they loved Aunt Bee. February 15, 2024, 3:40PM
The first movie Ron Howard directed featured an impressive record Howard impressed everyone with his feature directorial debut. February 15, 2024, 12:42PM
About that time Don Knotts was ''Man of the Year'' at a college fraternity We already knew Don Knotts was the man, but his former frat gave him the title of "Man of the Year." February 14, 2024, 3:05PM
Andy Griffith performed on stage for the first time because he was the victim of a practical joke It was the actor's first taste of fame — even if it was only in front of his classmates. February 14, 2024, 9:20AM
Andy Griffith coached his cast to speak with a North Carolina accent Some of the actors were quicker to pick up on the drawl than others. February 14, 2024, 9:09AM
Don Knotts admitted that he preferred ''The Andy Griffith Show'' to ''Three's Company'' Knotts would take Barney Fife over anyone, any day. February 13, 2024, 3:38PM
Andy Griffith went home to brush up on his accent whenever he had the chance Griffith had to go down home to brush up on his accent. February 12, 2024, 1:23PM