The Andy Griffith Show (1960)
A beloved American sitcom following the wise, warm-hearted sheriff of Mayberry, North Carolina, through eight seasons of gentle humor and small-town charm.
The Andy Griffith Show - Series Information
- Original Title: The Andy Griffith Show
- First Air Year: 1960
- Last Air Year: 1968
- Created by: Sheldon Leonard, Danny Thomas
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy, Family
- Content Rating (US): TV-G
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (25 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 8
- Number of Episodes: 249
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: October 3, 1960 (United States - TV-G), October 3, 1960 (Canada - G), October 3, 1960 (Australia - G)
- Networks: CBS
- Alternative Titles: Andy of Mayberry (CN), El show de Andy Griffith (ES), Andy Griffith Show, The (US), El show de Andy Griffith (VE)
- Production Companies: CBS, Danny Thomas Enterprises, Mayberry Enterprises
- Production Countries: United States of America
The Andy Griffith Show - Plot
The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom first televised on CBS between October 3, 1960 and April 1, 1968. Andy Griffith portrays the widowed sheriff of the fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina. His life is complicated by an inept, but well-meaning deputy, Barney Fife, a spinster aunt and housekeeper, Aunt Bee, and a precocious young son, Opie. Local ne'er-do-wells, bumbling pals, and temperamental girlfriends further complicate his life. Andy Griffith stated in a Today Show interview, with respect to the time period of the show: "Well, though we never said it, and though it was shot in the '60s, it had a feeling of the '30s. It was when we were doing it, of a time gone by." The series never placed lower than seventh in the Nielsen ratings and ended its final season at number one. It has been ranked by TV Guide as the 9th-best show in American television history. Though neither Griffith nor the show won awards during its eight-season run, series co-stars Knotts and Bavier accumulated a combined total of six Emmy Awards. The show, a semi-spin-off from an episode of The Danny Thomas Show titled "Danny Meets Andy Griffith", spawned its own spin-off series, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., a sequel series, Mayberry R.F.D., and a reunion telemovie, Return to Mayberry. The show's enduring popularity has generated a good deal of show-related merchandise. Reruns currently air on TV Land, and the complete series is available on DVD. All eight seasons are also now available by streaming video services such as Netflix.
The Andy Griffith Show - Trailer
Preview a classic featurette and get a taste of Mayberry's timeless charm.
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The Andy Griffith Show - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Sheldon Leonard
- Danny Thomas
Main Cast
- Andy Griffith
- Ron Howard
- Frances Bavier
- Don Knotts
- George Lindsey
- Howard McNear
- Aneta Corsaut
- Jack Dodson
- Hope Summers
- Hal Smith
Writers
- Jack Elinson
- Harvey Bullock
- James Fritzell
- Everett Greenbaum
- Charles Stewart
Executive Producers
- Sheldon Leonard
The Andy Griffith Show - FAQs
Where can you stream The Andy Griffith Show?
The Andy Griffith Show is available to stream on Peacock Premium, Paramount+, Philo, and YouTube TV. It can also be purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. All eight seasons are available through multiple streaming platforms.
Why did Don Knotts leave The Andy Griffith Show?
Don Knotts left after Season 5 in 1965 because he believed the show was ending. When it continued, he had already signed a film contract with Universal Pictures. He returned for guest appearances in later seasons and reunited with Andy Griffith in the 1986 TV movie Return to Mayberry.
Is The Andy Griffith Show based on a true story?
The show is not based on a specific true story, but Andy Griffith drew on his own North Carolina upbringing to shape the character of Sheriff Andy Taylor and the fictional town of Mayberry. The series is widely considered a nostalgic, idealized portrait of small-town American life.
How many seasons and episodes does the show have?
The Andy Griffith Show ran for 8 seasons and 249 episodes on CBS from October 3, 1960 to April 1, 1968. Each season contained between 30 and 32 episodes, with an additional collection of specials rounding out the complete series catalog.
Who are the main cast members of the show?
The principal cast includes Andy Griffith as Sheriff Andy Taylor, Ron Howard as son Opie Taylor, Frances Bavier as Aunt Bee, and Don Knotts as Deputy Barney Fife. Supporting cast members include George Lindsey, Howard McNear, Aneta Corsaut, Jack Dodson, Hope Summers, and Hal Smith.
Did The Andy Griffith Show win any Emmy Awards?
Andy Griffith himself never won an Emmy for the series, but co-stars Don Knotts and Frances Bavier collectively earned six Emmy Awards during the show's run. Knotts won five consecutive Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actor, while Bavier won one for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress.
What is The Andy Griffith Show rated?
The Andy Griffith Show carries a TV-G content rating, making it suitable for all audiences. Its gentle humor, wholesome storylines, and absence of adult content have made it a perennial family-friendly classic, still enjoyed by multiple generations of viewers decades after its original CBS broadcast run.
What spin-offs did The Andy Griffith Show produce?
The series spawned the spin-off Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964), the sequel series Mayberry R.F.D. (1968), and the reunion TV movie Return to Mayberry (1986). The show itself originated as a semi-spin-off from an episode of The Danny Thomas Show titled "Danny Meets Andy Griffith."
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