Although Andy Taylor was both a father to Opie and the protector of Mayberry, that didn't mean that he had zero time for a little bit of romance. In fact, Sheriff Taylor had some heartwarming relationships with quite a few lovely ladies throughout the original run of The Andy Griffith Show.

But after so many relationships, fans of the series couldn't help but wonder: Would Andy Taylor ever settle down and get married?

Only Andy Griffith knew the truth. Griffith was the hand that steered the ship that was The Andy Griffith Show, in more ways than one. In addition to his work behind the scenes, Griffith also acted in The Andy Griffith Show throughout the eight years that the series ran on the air.

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During an interview with the Associated Press, Griffith confessed that he didn't think his character would ever wed.

"I don't think the show works as well in a family situation - with Andy given a wife and a house," said the actor. "That's better for Lucy, Danny Thomas, and the other shows where there is a headline performer: Everything revolves around him, and he controls and executes every show. In our case, we have others— Don Knotts, Aunt Bee, and the boy, and there's a balance. Andy is only incidentally in many of our shows. If we married him, it would completely change the show."

Of course, Sheriff Taylor would eventually wed his longtime girlfriend, Helen Crump, in the spinoff series, Mayberry R.F.D.

While Griffith was a pioneer in the television industry, he wasn't too welcoming to change.

"We've spent two good years doing just about the same thing," said Griffith, "and while we'd all like to explore new areas, I don't think we ought to change. All of us still love the show, and the public likes it - I'd like to keep on for another five years."