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Don Knotts said television was ''in a rut'' in the late 1960s
After he left the industry to pursue motion pictures, Knotts saw a big change in television.
Television has changed over time, which is obvious, but many always refer to the '60s as one of the best decades that produced quality television productions. Many of the shows from that decade are considered classics, and reruns could be seen on MeTV for the ultimate memorable television experience.
Every week, from 1960 to 1968, new episodes of The Andy Griffith Show appeared on our television screens, making us laugh and wish there was some way we could all move to Mayberry.
Don Knotts played everyone's favorite deputy, Barney Fife. At the time, fans probably couldn't imagine the series without Knotts' character, but it happened. The actor left the show after the fifth season in 1965 to flourish in a different area — motion pictures.
He left the show because he was under the impression that it would end after five seasons, but Griffith decided to continue. Knotts already signed a five-film contract with Universal Studios.
It's a story we've heard several times. However, in an interview with Pensacola News Journal in 1966, the actor gave his thoughts on the then-current state of television after he left the industry to pursue films.
"The big change in TV today is that they have gone mostly to half-hour situation comedies," he said. "I think TV could be better, but it is in a rut."
You're probably thinking, "Well, wasn't he on a half-hour situational comedy himself?" Yes, he was. Knotts was perhaps referring to the lack of shows in various genres. For example, some people could say the same about the '50s. Although there were a few sitcoms and dramas on then, Westerns pretty much took over.
Knotts also explained why he preferred to stay in movie production, even though he excelled in television.
"I rather make it by the motion picture route. You have more time to develop, and in the long run, it is easier on you. TV is a grind from dawn to night," he added.
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64 Comments
Loved the b/w Andy Griffith show; I can't say I liked the episodes once Don Knotts left.
don was great in years 2 /5 , after that so so, his movies , ghost & MR CHICKEN WAS OK , the incredible mr limpett, come on , awful!
60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's all produced good comedy shows. Nobody griped and complained about what was said & took everything in stride & laughed! Imagine that...laughing.
I have always liked the 60's shows better than the 70's.
By the late 60's TV shows was full of campy tv shows and rural tv so when the early 70's arrived there was the great rural purge which Mayberry RFD was one of its victims and social issues began to dominate.
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I wonder what he thought of tv in the 90s & early 2000s. It's not in a rut, it's in a huge hole.
I think it's both....a huge ruthole
Well BARN - I'd sat KNOTT! Just because you yelling at your boss got old (HAHA) or anyone or had a laugh track after any thing you did. He would scratch his ear and get a laugh track (what a great comedic actor).
Green Acres and Bev Hillbillies and so many more were great funny shows...Don is a KNOTThead!! As the show went on he was getting more and more moronic and irritating. I got a question for the readers - who didn't BARN yell at? And then came Warren - by far a can of night crawlers in the sun or a rich man's jerry van dyke.
The answer is there wasn't.
And if he would have done his frigging duty instead of yakking to Juanita (on a county funded phone) he would be semi-ok. PeeeeU
Now as I remember - there was a show,,,it was called Laugh In? Maybe I could be wrong - like from '68 to '73?
Green Acres and Bev Hillbillies and so many more were great funny shows...Don is a KNOTThead!! As the show went on he was getting more and more moronic and irritating. I got a question for the readers - who didn't BARN yell at? And then came Warren - by far a can of night crawlers in the sun or a rich man's jerry van dyke.
The answer is there wasn't.
And if he would have done his frigging duty instead of yakking to Juanita (on a county funded phone) he would be semi-ok. PeeeeU
Now as I remember - there was a show,,,it was called Laugh In? Maybe I could be wrong - like from '68 to '73?
The Andy Griffith Show used laugh tracks bc the show wasnt Infront of a live studio audience. Not everything Don was in was laugh tracked and he did several appearances on other comedy/variety shows. It's pretty single minded to go and comment on every single comment on this article you must have a lot of time on your hands. Other actors on TAGS had laugh tracks also, and we're just as funny.
Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In--that is a show that I would love to see rerunning on a retro-formatted network such as MeTV. Sketch comedies and variety shows--you just don't find those on TV these days.
So then EVERY thing that DK did was funny? Gees. Again he could scratch his ear and that would be funny. We agree to differ - case closed. DK as BARN was marginally funny
Do you hate Don that bad?? He was hilarious way beyond the Andy Griffith Show have you never watched his Weatherman or Sportscaster Skits? His Movies Like Ghost and Mr Chicken were Great as well.
Where is the MeTV comments moderator????
Very sad that these comments go unchecked.
It’s obvious that some of the commenters aren’t too familiar with Social Media etiquette or acceptable language.
Very sad that these comments go unchecked.
It’s obvious that some of the commenters aren’t too familiar with Social Media etiquette or acceptable language.
the darlings ? ERP!
too much talent and waaaay too much beauty for TAGS - Emma Watson is a hottie:)
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all I say/ hear is "NAUGHTY NAUGHTY Deputy!" shaking her umbrella - NOW that deserves a laugh track for sure
Only time they were all together! Jim & Don shared no scenes in RTM!
TV was in a rut at that time. Mindless sitcoms and cookie-cutter Westerns and Detective shows, for the most part.
😉
Wait a 'sec, why wouldn't sitcoms be mindless, westerns formulaic, and detective series repeatedly catching the bad guy.
Escapism (known as classic TV) has provided relaxation and company to many through the decades. It's notable because of familiar and fun characters. And a tiny bit of moral tales. Why the bad guy always gets caught, the western dude learns a lesson and predicaments which create comedy.
I could see Don Knotts getting tired of his role. But the medium was probably an irreplaceable reflection of the times (it terms of kindness and good character).
Wait a 'sec, why wouldn't sitcoms be mindless, westerns formulaic, and detective series repeatedly catching the bad guy.
Escapism (known as classic TV) has provided relaxation and company to many through the decades. It's notable because of familiar and fun characters. And a tiny bit of moral tales. Why the bad guy always gets caught, the western dude learns a lesson and predicaments which create comedy.
I could see Don Knotts getting tired of his role. But the medium was probably an irreplaceable reflection of the times (it terms of kindness and good character).
Escape tv shows was used to escape the horrors of the Vietnam War and the major civil unrest of 1968 with the deaths of MLK and RFK.
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It seems Don Knotts made the right decision that worked for him. Enjoyed him on TAGS, and the roles he played in movies as well.
There a lot of comedys, cop shows, and dramas from the 60's, 70's, and 80's that I like that I wish MeTv would air. But that is okay. I can watch them on Decades, H&I, Cozi TV, Antenna TV, and GeTv. A lot of good show on those channels. Like MeTv
Yep, and many of those can be seen cheaply on Frhdly TV! I get all the best PLUS unlimited DVR for only $9 a month! Alert: 77 Sunset Strip runs today on Decades!
I wish Antenna TV played the theme songs on the end of the shows like MeTV does.
Yep, I hate it when they scrunch the credits! Sometimes it continues into the next show!
I hate that too. I also like to read the screen credits .
now c'mon...they do that to fit their a-wipe ads unless you got bi-nocs close to your chair
Blame commercials. a lot of content is lost because of them.
Since MeTV picked up All In the Family, it is the first time I've heard that show's closing theme in ages. Get TV cut that part when they aired the show.
I love shows from the 60's and 70's. I love the comedys, drama, and cop show. Also some from the early 80's.
I love the 1950's shows too, like "Honeymooners" and a lot of
westerns.
westerns.
Dd furley ever shoot himself in the PO-PO or in the foot?
DK's Quote: "The big change in TV today is that they have gone mostly to half-hour situation comedies," he said. "I think TV could be better, but it is in a rut."
MeTV's Story: "He left the show because he was under the impression that it would end after five seasons, but Griffith decided to continue. Knotts already signed a five-film contract with Universal Studios."
IMO, Don Knotts could be trusted to give an honest opinion, and that's what he was being asked for. The problem is, times change. He'd reached his peak as Barney and he knew it. Universal Studio, was giving him a chance to do comedy features and to put him in the starring role. So "IF" television was falling into a rut, it's because in that day, his fellow actors made their money through those (wonderful) sitcoms too. So they could move on too. Came to a point in their careers however, when movie roles got scarce (for their age). So what did they end up on, but Westerns. No problem, no worries. Viewers love the genre. But let's not knock the medium. There were in fact 1 hour dramas being developed (more of them we'd like to see here on MeTV of course). But, let's face it, the money from movies was richer, publicity more obvious.
If television was such a rut, why did he end up on Three's Company as Mr. Furley, hardly a stellar character to be remembered by.
Well, because, "retirement" bites.
MeTV's Story: "He left the show because he was under the impression that it would end after five seasons, but Griffith decided to continue. Knotts already signed a five-film contract with Universal Studios."
IMO, Don Knotts could be trusted to give an honest opinion, and that's what he was being asked for. The problem is, times change. He'd reached his peak as Barney and he knew it. Universal Studio, was giving him a chance to do comedy features and to put him in the starring role. So "IF" television was falling into a rut, it's because in that day, his fellow actors made their money through those (wonderful) sitcoms too. So they could move on too. Came to a point in their careers however, when movie roles got scarce (for their age). So what did they end up on, but Westerns. No problem, no worries. Viewers love the genre. But let's not knock the medium. There were in fact 1 hour dramas being developed (more of them we'd like to see here on MeTV of course). But, let's face it, the money from movies was richer, publicity more obvious.
If television was such a rut, why did he end up on Three's Company as Mr. Furley, hardly a stellar character to be remembered by.
Well, because, "retirement" bites.
a-men a roni:)
What's it in now? All they do is recycle old shows from the 80's. MacGyver, The Equalizer, Quantum Leap...
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Yep, even those scenes are bad! Those women don't come to Monteblan or Villichase!
To me - fantasy island was the Love Boat beached ( it's an ok show)
The original Fantasy Island like The Love Boat relied on guest stars.
The original Night Court--that is a show I would love to see on MeTV. It was rerunning on Laff, but they seem to have dropped it.