Where To Watch
Don Knotts preferred the schedule of The Andy Griffith Show to his variety show past
The dependable calendar was a reward after years of hard, topsy-turvy work.
For whatever reason, understanding the mechanics of television doesn't make the show any less magical. Knowing how the sausage is made doesn't make the TV dinner less tasty. Getting into the minutia of our favorite series only enhances their power. When we peek behind the curtain, we see the effort that goes into these shows, which gives us a greater appreciation for how well they come together.
So, it shouldn't be any surprise that such fascination surrounds the nuts and bolts of The Andy Griffith Show. The series is iconic for many reasons. The characters are fantastic, with every actor elevating their role. The writing was superb, wrapping laughs inside of a warmth unseen on TV at the time. The comedy made audiences tune in, the heart made them return for decades to come. The setting, too, was one-of-a-kind. There still hasn't been a show that has successfully replicated Mayberry's authentic small-town feeling.
Everyone involved was aware of all these special qualities right away. In his 1999 memoir, Barney Fife, and Other Characters I Have Known, Don Knotts praised each person responsible for contributing to The Andy Griffith Show. Interestingly, Knotts also praised the show's schedule, which was very different from the variety show pace he was used to.
"On top of all these good things, I was happy to be leaving the variety-show format behind and heading into film. The Andy Griffith Show would be filmed with one camera just like a movie," Knotts wrote.
"Our schedule was laid out like this: at nine on Thursday morning, the cast would read down the script for the following week. We would then read aloud the script for the week after that. This would be followed by a discussion with Sheldon Leonard, Aaron Ruben, and the director regarding possible changes in the script. The cast would then be dismissed. Aaron Ruben, the director, and Andy would spend the rest of the afternoon on rewrites. We would spend the entire day on Friday rehearsing on the set. We learned our lines on the weekend and began shooting at eight o'clock on Monday morning. We filmed for three full days— Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday."
Plenty went into creating this legendary series, but it all started with amicable working conditions. Especially compared to the chaotic world of variety shows, the structured setting lets the cream rise to the top.
Watch The Andy Griffith Show on MeTV!
Weeknights at 8 & 8:30, Sundays at 12 & 6 PM
*available in most MeTV markets
Related
3 Comments
little surprised that creator/producer sheldon leonard never cast himself in any griffith/knotts episodes. he was a good actor, mostly remembered these days as the bartender who tossed jimmy stewart out on his duff on christmas eve as his angel pal clarence tried explaining what it took for an angel to earn his wings. i think sheldon leonard was a pal of danny thomas and that’s how he got his start as an actor (?)
