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Helen Crump wasn't initially meant to be a recurring character
Aneta Corsaut was the perfect fit onscreen and behind the scenes.
Aneta Corsaut will forever be remembered for her time in Mayberry. Beginning with 1963's "Andy Discovers America," Corsaut was a mainstay. While she'd only make two appearances in season 3, and five episodes in season 4, her role would quickly rise in prominence. In total, Corsaut appeared in 66 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show.
But that's not how things were planned out, originally.
In her first appearance, Corsaut was Opie's new teacher, Miss Helen "Old Lady" Crump. While the name fits the bill of a nasty ol' crabapple, Corsaut's face made her hard to hate. She was at first meant to be a one-off character, but her chemistry with the other actors meant she kept coming back.
"I'm just surprised that I've been on the series as long as I have been," Corsaut told the El Paso Herald-Post in 1965.
"Originally, I was slated for just a guest shot as Opie's mean teacher, and then gradually I was given more and more to do. What they wanted with an actress instead of a comedienne, I'll never know."
While Corsaut remained humble about her prowess, it's clear to see why producers used her so frequently. In front of the camera, she was everything you'd hope for Andy Taylor's girlfriend. Behind the scenes, Corsaut got along well with the cast and was fond of playing cards and betting at the racetrack. This put her at a distinct advantage over Elinor Donahue, who'd previously been ousted as Andy's onscreen beau.
Throughout those 66 episodes, Corsaut didn't just win Andy Taylor's heart. She won over millions of viewers and became an integral part of The Andy Griffith Show.
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Elinor Donahue requested to be let out of her contract ( for personal reasons) to which the producers of the series obliged (that fact has also been confirmed in interviews by Elinor Donahue herself). The rest is just how the series evolved or developed.