I saw a quote recently that said, “The world needs a little more Andy and a little less Snooki.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Much of the world has already moved on past Andy Griffith’s death last week, but as a neighbor of his and a long time admirer of his work, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about him and about the things he contributed to our lives and to our culture.
I believe that his biggest contribution was decency and a TV show you can still watch with your kids, your mom, and your grandma without having to worry about hearing (or seeing) anything that would make you blush.
In fact, when we were recently with some of my extended family on vacation, my sister told me that The Andy Griffith Show was just about the only show our mom would watch.
Who can blame her?
Excellent writing. Great acting. Family values. Comedy. Romance. A noticeable dearth of bed hopping and drug taking. A welcome absence of gratuitous violence and gratuitous profanity.
When The Andy Griffith Show went off the air in 1968 (only because Andy wanted to move on to other things), it was number one in the ratings. In fact, during the eight years it ran, it never placed lower than seventh in the Nielsen ratings.
I suppose the values from the Andy Griffith Show are now considered to be quaint, old-fashioned, and most certainly out of date. I imagine that if the show were to be shot today, Andy and Helen would be living together while one or both of them was running around and sleeping with someone else.
And then of course, that would create an offended, cheated-on lover who would scream, curse and threaten all manner of evil retribution. And naturally, the writers would have to throw in some plot permutations revolving around Andy and Barney spending time in the hot tub with women clad in a little less than nothing.
My hope would be that Opie would be sent to stay with Aunt Bea during those particular episodes since she, of course, would have no need to live with Andy, seeing that he would have a girlfriend, two maids and a butler, one of which who would (of course) be plotting his violent demise.
It seems that so many TV writers are convinced that those are the kinds of scenarios that sell, the one we all want to watch. They sadly shake their heads and say, “We couldn’t possibly produce decent, clean, family strengthening TV shows because no one would ever watch them! We couldn’t get any sponsors! We would lose money!”
Maybe they’re unaware of the fact that TV Guide has ranked The Andy Griffith Show as the 9th best show in television history. Maybe they’re unaware that not everyone on the planet is a fan of Snooki. Maybe they’re unaware that there are a whole lot of folks more committed to “Mayberry Values” than “Jersey Shore Values.”
I am not just sad about Andy Griffith’s death. I am sad about the fact that our country is addicted to the kind of entertainment that in Andy Griffith’s heyday would have never been allowed to see the light of a TV screen.
And I don’t just miss Andy Griffith. I miss the gift of decency his show gave to our country. I miss the radical concept he espoused that said entertainment can be entertaining without having to find its inspiration in the sewer.
The Andy Griffith Show represented some of the best of what our country has to offer. And I was honored, for the past three years, to call him a neighbor. I was honored to know that a two-minute bike ride would take me past a driveway that led to the home of a man who gave each of us a show to be proud of.
(After the time of his death was released, I realized that I had been riding this path past his house only a couple minutes before he passed away. A sobering thought.) 
My bike and the driveway leading to Andy’s house. 
Thanks for everything, Andy. It was an honor to be your neighbor.
On a related (but lighter) note . . .
In the wake of Andy Griffith’s death, Manteo posted a few old pictures of its most famous resident on the town’s Facebook page.
Here is Andy in front of our famous Pioneer Theater which is still in business today; in fact, it is the oldest family-run theater in the United States.
Ironically, one of the men who was a member of the theater-owning family in this picture died just two days after Andy did.
Whenever we went to see a movie at the Pioneer Theater in downtown Manteo, he was always in the lobby and always cheerfully greeting everyone. Old timers around Manteo still talk about their parents dropping them off at the theater when they were kids, knowing that Mr. H.A.Creef would keep an eye on them while they were in there.
Long before Andy was famous enough to be on a movie screen, he got his show business start in The Lost Colony, the oldest outdoor drama in the country. (The amphitheater where the drama is performed is about three miles up the road from us; it’s also the place where our local High School holds its graduation each spring.)
Andy Griffith played Sir Walter Raleigh for a couple of years; I think it’s kind of funny to think about Sir Walter Raleigh having a Southern accent!
On the day that Andy died we put, “So long Andy” on our church sign. (Yes, I know it needed a comma, but I didn’t get out there in time to fix it before this picture was taken.)
Someone in our congregation saw a TV camera shooting footage of the sign and then this photo of a passerby taking his picture with the sign also showed up in the next day’s Virginian Pilot newspaper
It’s definitely been a week to reminisce–a week to think about small towns and big hearts and nostalgic farewells.
I, for one, will miss my old neighbor and all the things that he taught us simply by living a good, decent life in Mayberry.
In closing, I want to add that my favorite Andy episode is when Barney tries to sing in the choir but is so terrible that Andy arranges things (without Barney knowing it) so that Barney just moves his lips and a singer behind the curtain is heard instead. Good stuff!
What is YOUR favorite Andy Griffith episode?
Jeff, great to see a fellow KT-er!
I’ve never heard of the ME TV network; will give it a look. And you’re absolutely right about commercials–yikes! Commercials are actually one of the reasons I rarely watch TV!
Thanks so much for stopping by.
i’m not a TV watcher so I don’t know what’s on these days. Are there any Andy Griffith type shows at all these days? I know I caught some kids’ sit com not long ago and was surprised at the themes and innuendos and sly jokes that really made those kids (middle school aged) seem like they were some mighty sly and seasoned folks. And this was a children’s show!
Would a show that is like Andy’s get the ratings these days?
Cath,
I also don’t watch TV but I have caught a few of the kids’ shows here and there as well and was also a little taken aback at the mature viewpoint. It’s a shame that kids have to grow up so fast these days.
Hi Becky,
I haven’t written in in a while so I thought I would take a moment to weigh in on my favorite andy Griffith episodes. Unfortuately I wasn’t born yet when The Andy Griffith Show was on the air but of course I have watched the reruns and still do. With that said I have to say that I like all of the episodes but the ones with Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle in them are my favorites.
Chase, Jim Nabors was hilarious. It always a wonderful change of pace when he showed up. And I never cease to be amazed that a funny character like that would have such an amazing singing voice!
My favorit is when Opie wants to buy a girl a coat and Andy thought he could put his money to better use. Like helping the homless. Little did Andy know the girl was and she needed a coat. It is so hard for adults to eat crow and apologize but Andy did it. Great episode!!!
Catherine,
Another episode I’ve never seen although it sounds wonderful. What a heart warming twist to it.
I’m right there with you on the trash that is shown on TV these days. I am so sick of “reality” TV. There are only a few shows on anymore that are hour or half hour shows that actually have true actors and those are all either crime dramas or some kind of Emergency drama where all the doctors and nurses are sleeping with one another. It’s crazy. I was really sad to hear about Andy Griffith passing and you are right, he may have had one day of news coverage verses , I think were going on three maybe four years of Michael Jackson tributes. When I start craving some quality television I switch on GMC (dish network) Hallmark and Oh I can’t remember the other station but I can watch back to back Walton’s episode Monday through Friday. I know not everyoe will have access to these channels but you have Little House, Waltons, and lots of movies that you can watch with your children and not have to worry about anything even suggestive being splashed across your TV. Well I’m through ranting now. I should get back to work! 🙂
Dana, wow, you really are fortunate to have access to those classic shows. Enjoy!
Here, Here! I couldn’t agree more.
I did not grow up in this era, but my dad LOVES Andy Griffith and it is always on his TV. I would love to back up time and live in Mayberry!
Krista,
Love me some Mayberry!
We always watched Andy Griffith’s show growing up (and Lassie and Ponderosa and Flipper) and I miss shows that portray good, clean , fun and at the least stay true to the “moral law”! Makes me sad that I can’t even trust Trinity Broadcasting Network up here!
Guerrina,
It’s amazing how many of us have Andy Griffith as a part of our childhood and ALSO our adulthood. What a treasure!
My favorite episode is when Aunt Bea makes pickles and they are so bad Andy and Barney go out to the edge of town and give them away as “Good Driving” Awards to people who are passing through town. I still get hysterical every single time I see that episode 🙂
Deb,
I’ve never seen that one; it sounds hysterical! Of course, that cast could make ANY situation funny!
I love this post. My favorite show was the when when Goober kept running around yellling citizens arrest, citizens arrest! I don’t know the name of the episode but I laugh all the way through that one. Fortunately here in San Diego, our TV Land channel airs The Andy Griffith Show every morning along with I Love Lucy and Dick Van Dyke. All some of my favorites.
Jodie,
It was Goober’s accent when he was yelling that that really killed me. And I love Dick Van Dyke!!
I know right? That accent and Barney’s face just cracked me up.
Sure wish all our shows were still the Andy Griffith or Walton’s type shows instead of the garbage that is on now. I still do blush when I watch TV with my children, mother or father, that is why I avoid the TV! I’ll take a good book over TV any day!
Kathy,
I’m there right with you. I watch about 1 hour of TV a month; if I’m relaxing, it’s with a book. (And I’m a lover of the Waltons, too!)
I love the one where the Darlings come to town for Charlene to marry Dub and she falls for Andy. They get one hotel room and the others climb up the outside wall. Andy finally puts them up in the jail and they all play music together. Love that music! TVLand had a marathan on last weekend and I was just in heaven, I watched most of the weekend. Good wholesome entertainment, good family values and not a single bad word in the shows. Wow, that is a miracle in this day and age. My next favorite is the one that you like, no matter what Barney did, Andy never wanted to hurt his feelings. We could all take a lesson from that. Thanks Becky for this post, it brings many wonderful memories of watching with my sweet Daddy. I can still hear him laugh. Rest in Peace Andy and say hello to the other citizens of Mayberry you are now reunited with. We will miss you. We knew you well!
Gail,
I love your line, “We knew you well.” It feels like we did, didn’t it?
I loved it when the Darlings were on…remember when they’d be playing their music, and Pa would suggest a song, like “Don’t Hit Your Grandma With a Big Stick”, etc., and Charlene’s response was always, “Not that one, Pa…it makes me CRY!”
SKWDiver, I’d never heard of the song, “Don’t Hit Your Grandma With a Big Stick” but just the title makes me smile . . . even though it made Charlene CRY! 🙂
First of all, Becky, AMEN to all you have said about television and its content now. I still watch reruns of the Andy Griffith Show and laugh and cry and want to be on the front porch with Andy, Barney, Aunt Bea and Opie. My favorite episode (there are really so many) is the one where Opie kills a mama bird with his slingshot and how he raises the babies. So many wonderful lessons gently taught. My only consolation is that Mr. Griffith has now found a more splendid place now than Mayberry and that is saying something!
Mary,
I haven’t seen that episode; I’ll have to watch for it. And yes, Andy is much happier in heaven than in Mayberry!
I saw your comment above about the Waltons – one of my favorites also – especially the early ones when the kids were all young and Grandma and Grandpa were so involved. I would have liked to have lived there also – hard times, hard work but everyone so appreciative of the simple good things and times. I remember one episode where Grandpa is explaining the best Christmas gift he every received – something he had never seen before – and the look on his face when he said “It was an orange.” Wish we were all enchanted with a simple, lovely, delicious orange these days.
Mary,
I also remember once in a Little House on the Prairie story when all the girls got oranges and they were so delighted. Such an appreciation for life’s simple things. . .