Did Don Knotts say these lines as Barney Fife on TAGS, or as Les Calhoun on Matlock?

Just about any line from Don Knotts can somehow be associated with Barney Fife, no matter what character he was portraying!

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Generally speaking, when classic TV fans hear or see the name Don Knotts, a small town deputy comes to mind. 

The character of Barney Fife ultimately defined Knotts' career. Paired with Griffith, the duo is one of the funniest in television history.

Though Griffith made his name on TAGS, he had another smash-hit show in the Eighties. The legal drama Matlock, in which Griffith played lawyer Ben Matlock, was the "best role he ever had on TV.

Why not pair a great show with an iconic, succesful and proven duo? That's exactly what Matlock did in 1988, when Don Knotts moved in next door to Ben Matlock, as Les Calhoun. 

The duo brought back iconic recreations from The Andy Griffith Show and Don Knotts, though he was playing a new character, couldn't help but sound just like Deputy Fife, from his manner of speech to the words he spoke. 

Below are several lines from Knotts, either as Barney Fife in TAGS or as Les Calhoun on Matlock

Can you tell what show these Don Knotts lines are from? 

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  1. What show is this Don Knotts line from? "What you ought to do is get your blue suit clean, pack your swimming trunks, catch the sun bird special to that Miami Beach."
  2. What show is this Don Knotts line from? "I'm going to go out and get some wheels! You know, a car! I saw your car... and let's just say, it's not an action car."
  3. What show is this Don Knotts line from? "Oh, this filter hasn't been changed in a blue moon"
  4. What show is this Don Knotts line from? "Anxiety magnifies fearsome objects."
  5. What show is this Don Knotts line from? "My electricity is out and my water isn't running. Well it runs a little but mostly it just hisses."
  6. What show is this Don Knotts line from? "I don't like to go into them knitting stores, they look at me so funny."
  7. What show is this Don Knotts line from? "If I leave my Rudy Vallée records to my sweet niece Shirlene, then I've got to leave my Nelson Eddy records to her whiny sister."
  8. What show is this Don Knotts line from? "Nutrition money. Boy, the things kids get away with these days."
  9. What show is this Don Knotts line from? "How I vote brother is my business. When a man walks into that booth, he's alone with his conscience and nobody gets to ask him how he voted."
  10. What show is this Don Knotts line from? "You want cereal to be crisp and crunchy. You want cookies to be soft and chewy."

Did Don Knotts say these lines as Barney Fife on TAGS, or as Les Calhoun on Matlock?

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44 Comments

purplegirl20 14 months ago
9/10 Missed number 4, I don't remember that line from Andy Griffith.
revonr purplegirl20 6 months ago
Andy's Vacation
RGB purplegirl20 5 months ago
9/10 also missed #4. I also don't recall that line fitting with Barney's personality / character. Andy's vacation, huh. I'll have to go back and watch that episode to satisfy my curiosity.
JHP 15 months ago
ya know something?

fife hardly ever SAID anything....yell...yell...yell ( I guess to some - who believed the canned laughter - he was soooooooo funny - I say NOT!)

fife was Gilligan with 6 lbs of Ralph Kramden
Brysonsmom 15 months ago
Perfect score for me on this one! Love both shows! I always thought it was so great to see the original Andy and Barney back together on Matlock! Testimony to their real life friendship.
Riff60 16 months ago
5/10 I really whiffed this on this one
TownOfMayberry 16 months ago
Too easy for a Mayberry expert.

You got 10 out of 10

Now, could you tell which lines weren't Barney Fife, or did the Mayberry deputy have too much of an influence on you?
McGillahooala 16 months ago
9/10. Never watched Matlock
JHP McGillahooala 15 months ago
there isn't enuf caffeine in the world for me to watch matlock
BorisK 16 months ago
7/10 and I never watched MATLOCK.
Wendy57 16 months ago
10/10
I think that I know my Barney, but, never watched Matlock much.
Just couldn’t take Andy & Barney out of Mayberry in my mind.
frenchman71 16 months ago
9/10. Got #3 wrong. I pretty much know every line uttered by Barney on TAGS. But I only watched about maybe 8 episodes of "Matlock".
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