Stories
How Ron Howard tackled the biggest challenge of his filmmaking career
"I was reluctant at first, to be honest," he said.
March 21, 2025, 9:48AM
Don Knotts was only possessive of one of his characters
This was one of the actor's favorite roles.
March 19, 2025, 11:54AM
Don Knotts had uncredited help from an old friend in crafting ''The Ghost and Mr. Chicken''
Here's how Andy Griffith pitched in!
March 17, 2025, 10:44AM
Andy Griffith once calculated what it would cost to give the Twelve Days of Christmas
"Plus sales tax."
December 18, 2024, 10:43AM
Ron Howard made an exit plan to grow out of kiddie roles
He said The Andy Griffith Show had his back early on, helping him go much further than the average child star.
March 23, 2021, 10:31AM
R.I.P. Kim Tyler, former child star of 'Please Don't Eat the Daisies' and 'The Andy Griffith Show'
He played Opie's chum Billy Gray.
March 23, 2021, 4:03PM
The Mayberry farmer was a Perry Mason medical examiner and Star Trek pioneer
Jon Lormer can be seen all over classic TV.
March 25, 2021, 10:13AM
Andy Griffith got his start earning $35 and performing at banks
The actor returned to North Carolina for a hero's welcome in 1958.
April 6, 2021, 10:56AM
Just once Denver Pyle wanted to play the guy who gets the girl
Aunt Bee was just another in a long line of ladies who rejected the veteran character actor onscreen.
April 14, 2021, 8:31AM
Stories from Andy Griffith's makeup artist inspired many hilarious events in Mayberry
"He was a wild, wonderful man," Andy once said.
April 27, 2021, 12:21PM
Andy Griffith hid a sweet tribute to his wife in the episode where Opie loves Helen
When Andy tells Opie about his first crush, he's really describing his first wife!
April 29, 2021, 8:55AM
Even celebrities couldn't resist doing impressions of Barney Fife
Guess which TV stars grew up doing Barney Fife impressions. Hint: One was later his costar.
May 10, 2021, 8:52AM
Hal Smith's happy home life was the complete opposite of Otis Campbell's Mayberry marriage
Married for more than 50 years, soulmates Hal and Louise Smith are all the proof we need that the saying is true: happy wife, happy life!
May 24, 2021, 9:13AM
Don Knotts met a real Barney Fife once directing a parade in his hometown
The Andy Griffith Show star even shared a funny exchange with the local sheriff who had to deal with the deputy.
June 1, 2021, 8:40AM
Nobody predicted the crazy bidding war for Aunt Bee's dusty 1966 Studebaker
Frances Bavier didn't learn to drive until the age of 50. After that, she only drove Studebakers.
June 8, 2021, 9:17AM
Barney Fife's bank robbery episodes reflected a real rise in heists in America
In 1965, the deputy found $250,000 from a bank heist. That year, bank robbery losses hit the highest levels yet recorded: $3.9 million.
June 10, 2021, 12:40PM
A much more mellow Don Rickles got invited to visit Mayberry
The insult comic got married the same year he appeared on The Andy Griffith Show, and he said his wife helped keep the sting in his nightclub act.
June 14, 2021, 1:48PM
A rare look at Andy's family life when The Andy Griffith Show premiered
"I'm the best old man in the world," Andy boasted in 1960.
June 16, 2021, 8:48AM
Mayberry's ''new doctor'' once shared advice on how to be a popular teen
The actor George Nader recommended tuning out "worthless opinions" in a teen etiquette column.
July 2, 2021, 11:05AM
Andy Griffith explained why it mattered that Don Knotts really was a worrier
Plus: Revisiting this very excitable Don Knotts interview will make your day.
July 6, 2021, 3:39PM
Andy Griffith was against adding this character to the show
He disagreed over a technical detail.
July 8, 2021, 10:49AM
Unfortunately, Annie Oakley star Gail Davis performed her last role ever as Sheriff Andy's sweetheart
The Andy Griffith Show cast her as ''the perfect female,'' but most directors believed the Western star ''was always going to be Annie Oakley.'' So she retired.
July 15, 2021, 9:00AM
Former child stars explained why it was so complicated growing up famous
"Parents of a child actor must be prepared to devote 100 percent of their time to the child."
July 20, 2021, 10:21AM
Quick! Someone tell everyone in Floyd's Barber Shop that Barbara Eden loved shy guys
The blonde TV bombshell appeared in Mayberry as a crushworthy manicurist. She claimed all men fit into one of these 5 categories.
July 20, 2021, 1:06PM
Andy changed Aunt Bee's name at the very first rehearsal of The Andy Griffith Show
The TV star stopped writers just in time from calling Aunt Bee by the wrong name.
July 27, 2021, 11:21AM
Meet the many different faces of Wally's Filling Station
Which Wally is your favorite?
August 10, 2021, 3:45PM
You can thank Grape-Nuts for the existence of The Andy Griffith Show
Post wanted a rural comedy to push its wholesome cereal.
August 12, 2021, 5:00PM
Did you know Andy Griffith cut out some love scenes between Andy and Helen?
We loved their love, but the TV sheriff once even nixed Andy and Helen's first near-kiss, writing it out of the script.
August 16, 2021, 1:43PM
Mayberry had no psychiatrists, but the Andy Griffith Show cast were into mental health
Don Knotts and Andy Griffith saw psychiatrists — and even ribbed Don's doctor on the sitcom.
September 16, 2021, 11:53AM
How Goober Pyle saved a life
George Lindsey saved the life of an Oscar winner, and didn't know until years later.
September 20, 2021, 4:47PM
R.I.P. Betty Lynn, who played Barney Fife's love Thelma Lou
She toured Asia during USO shows, became fast friends with Bette Davis, and retired to the real-life Mayberry.
October 18, 2021, 9:03AM
This old man of Mayberry had been playing an ''old man'' since his 20s!
Andy Clyde literally grew into the character he played in silent films.
November 1, 2021, 2:08PM
Beverly Tyler quit acting shortly after Barney Fife rejected her
The Hollywood beauty had a Cinderella story start to acting, which ended when she met her prince in the real world.
November 1, 2021, 4:17PM
Thelma Lou almost took this job in Mayberry after Barney Fife left the show
Producers offered Betty Lynn a new storyline to stay on The Andy Griffith Show after Don Knotts departed. This is the story they offered her and why she said no.
November 4, 2021, 4:07PM
The creators of The Andy Griffith Show debated how Andy should punish Opie
To spank or not to spank? That was the question after season two.
November 10, 2021, 5:18PM
Mary Lansing played more Mayberry characters than any other actress
Before she was Martha Clark, she was Mrs. Lukens, Mrs. Rodenbach and many more.
November 15, 2021, 3:37PM
The first Benji movie was the final screen role for three beloved classic TV stars, including the dog
Francis Bavier and Edgar Buchanan would never be seen again. The same goes for Higgins the dog.
November 29, 2021, 2:36PM
Even Opie throwing that rock into the pond took a little Hollywood magic
They only had three tries — and there was one big problem. Ron Howard could not throw that far.
December 8, 2021, 2:53PM
Andy Griffith explained why they called him Andy Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show
It had to do with his love life, yuh see?
January 5, 2022, 2:17PM
The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club helped keep Mayberry alive for future generations
What started in a fraternity house led to a reunion movie.
February 17, 2022, 11:02AM
Frances Bavier was the greatest actor on The Andy Griffith Show
The accomplished actor brought so much into her performance as Aunt Bee.
April 5, 2022, 3:58PM
Doug Jones was inspired to start acting by Barney Fife
The awkward deputy was a welcome sight to an awkward kid.
April 13, 2022, 2:51PM
This Mayberry moonshiner started acting after retiring
Charity Grace went from teaching high school kids to acting with Andy Griffith.
April 28, 2022, 3:40PM
Ernest T. Bass actor Howard Morris predicted Ron Howard would be a director
Morris observed little Ronny’s curiosity on the Mayberry set and knew the young star was destined for great things behind the camera.
May 16, 2022, 12:36PM
The actor behind Barney's cousin Virgil became one of Mayberry's biggest movie stars
Michael J. Pollard got nominated for an Oscar seven years after playing Don Knotts' awkward cousin.
May 27, 2022, 1:19PM
Of course Andy Griffith was the perfect high school boyfriend
Kids used to swoon over the future TV star’s teen romance in the halls.
June 14, 2022, 11:49AM
Before he was Floyd the Barber on 'Andy,' Howard McNear was Andy the Barber on 'Beaver'
He helped Wally become a man.
June 15, 2022, 10:39AM
Maggie Peterson originally auditioned for the part of Ellie Walker
We'll never know if the Darling girl would've made a better Ellie.
July 15, 2022, 10:20AM
Hollywood keeps trying to reboot this classic Don Knotts movie
One potential director described it as ''the most horrifying thing he'd ever seen''.
August 3, 2022, 11:59AM
Only three shows went out on the top of the ratings, and The Andy Griffith Show is one of them
The final season of the show resulted in the highest Nielsen ranking possible.
September 7, 2022, 2:15PM
Hal Smith faced a little backlash for playing Otis Campbell
"I enjoy making people happy as Otis."
September 19, 2022, 2:49PM
6 things you can do in the 'real-life' Mayberry
There is the show-version of Mayberry, the Mayberry in Virginia and Mount Airy... the 'real-life' Mayberry! Here's what you can do there!
September 20, 2022, 4:56PM
Frances Bavier struggled to turn Aunt Bee off while at home
When show business got tough, Bavier went shopping!
November 14, 2022, 4:04PM
Actor Richard Crenna was honored to direct several episodes of 'The Andy Griffith Show'
The actor said he was pleased and proud to receive the opportunity.
November 15, 2022, 11:00AM
How a former sitcom star made his directorial debut on The Andy Griffith Show's ''Christmas Story''
The former Fibber McGee became Andy Griffith's ace thanks to a ''hunch.''
November 25, 2022, 4:30PM
This Don Knotts movie was the first ever to be screened underwater
This premiere was o-fish-ally unique!
December 6, 2022, 3:00PM
Barney Fife once tried to set up Andy with the voice of Judy Jetson
Did you know the voice of the futuristic teenager appeared in Mayberry?
December 7, 2022, 11:17AM
This Rascal Flatts song pays tribute to the friendly, easy-going and relaxing town of Mayberry
This song made it to the top of the Billboard Hot Country charts in January of 2004, and peaked at 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart a month later.
February 6, 2023, 12:23PM
Allan Melvin quietly became ''one of TV's most recognizable faces''
The actor appeared regularly on major sitcoms from the 1950s to the 1980s, but he called his popularity ''a cult thing.''
March 1, 2023, 9:17AM
Nothing could keep Floyd the Barber out of Mayberry
Not even health complications kept Howard McNear away for long
May 10, 2023, 4:36PM
Elinor Donahue had to wear a fake ponytail for years on TV
The acting talent? Real. The hair? Fake.
June 27, 2023, 10:56AM
George Lindsey was almost typecast as a Western actor
Before Goober said "hey", Lindsey said "howdy", and had a hard time getting along with his horse co-stars.
July 10, 2023, 1:26PM