The saying goes that lightning never strikes the same place twice, and it serves as an important reminder that no matter how hard we may try, nothing can recreate the particular exceptionality of an original experience.

Later in his career, Andy Griffith was seemingly presented with a fork in the road. Following the success of the reunion special Return to Mayberry, it seemed that television might be ready for a reboot of The Andy Griffith Show, with Griffith himself at the helm of the ship.

Instead, Griffith chose to start a new journey playing the character of Ben Matlock.

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So why did Griffith ultimately choose to leave Mayberry behind? Well, for starters, Griffith wasn't especially interested in dwelling on the past. He had already played Sheriff Andy Taylor for a number of years, and the idea of playing Ben Matlock seemed inviting and full of promise.

Moreover, with a new show, the opportunities for plots and character direction seemed endless. Returning to The Andy Griffith Show had the potential to simply feel like more of the same old song and dance.

"It's a new character," said Griffith during an interview with The Birmingham News. "To tell you the truth, I don't think we could make the old Mayberry show a success week after week. It was so hard to do the first one. I don't know that we could make it happen every time."

Ultimately, it seemed that Griffith made the right decision, as Matlock became one of the most successful crime shows of its age. We'll always love Andy Griffith, but we're grateful for the opportunity to love Ben Matlock, too.