The Andy Griffith Show (1960)
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.
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Episode 1 - Opie's Girlfriend
Release Date: 1966-09-12Helen's niece comes for a visit and proves to be both very pretty and very talented in athletics. Trouble is that she beats Opie in almost every sport there is. She actually really likes Opie as a BOY and needs her Aunt Helen to help her to get Opie to like her.
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Episode 2 - The Lodge
Release Date: 1966-09-19Andy invites Howard to join ""The Regal Order of the Door to Good Fellowship"" lodge. Howard's mother doesn't like the idea of Howard being around the other men, so she concocts a scheme whereby Howard will be denied membership. It's all a big misunderstanding, and Howard eventually is allowed to join the lodge.
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Episode 3 - The Barbershop Quartet
Release Date: 1966-09-26The Barbershop Quartet is missing one singer when Howard develops a sore throat. Andy, much to his dismay,must bring along a chicken thief who is a great singer. Andy has deep misgivings about this fellow and whether he will actually sing or try to break free.
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Episode 4 - The Ball Game
Release Date: 1966-10-03Andy umpires the baseball game for Mayberry but when he calls the final strike for the opposing team, everyone in town is angry at him until Howard Sprague steps up and teaches everyone about being fair to Andy.
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Episode 5 - Aunt Bee's Crowning Glory
Release Date: 1966-10-10When a dignified-looking older preacher comes to town, all the older women want to impress him. Aunt Bee, after someone suggests it, buys a wig--a short blonde one. Later the preacher gives a sermon about having no pretenses. Aunt Bee finally tells the preacher about her wig.
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Episode 6 - The Darling Fortune
Release Date: 1966-10-17The Darling Family comes back, suddenly rich. They want their sons to marry well, and decide they should pick from the women of Mayberry.
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Episode 7 - Mind Over Matter
Release Date: 1966-10-31Goober is involved in a minor car accident and thanks to Floyd and Aunt Bee, he becomes convinced that he is truly injured and has whiplash. Aunt Bee feels sorry for him and takes him home to care for him--much to Andy's dismay!
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Episode 8 - Politics Begin at Home
Release Date: 1966-11-07Aunt Bee runs for a seat on the city council against the more qualified Howard, who is supported by Andy.
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Episode 9 - The Senior Play
Release Date: 1966-11-14Helen and the students of the senior class put on a play but the principal objects to it--and to Helen's involvement with such "scandalous" things--until she figures out a way to show him that what is scandalous is all relative.
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Episode 10 - Opie Finds a Baby
Release Date: 1966-11-21Opie and Arnold find an abandoned infant on the courthouse steps.
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Episode 11 - Big Fish in a Small Town
Release Date: 1966-11-28When Howard goes fishing with Andy, Opie, Goober, and Floyd, he catches the legandary rare carp "Old Sam". After he decides to put the legendary fish in a Raleigh museum, Howard learns a lesson from Opie that "Old Sam" is such an important part of the town's history that he brings the fish back to lakes surrounding Mayberry.
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Episode 12 - Only a Rose
Release Date: 1966-12-05Aunt Bee is totally excited about her rose that she has been growing for over a year for the annual flower show. While Opie and Arnold are playing, however,they accidently destroy it.
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Episode 13 - Otis the Deputy
Release Date: 1966-12-12Andy is captured by two escaped convincts and Otis and Howard ride to his rescue.
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Episode 14 - Goober Makes History
Release Date: 1966-12-19Goober grows tired of being the most ignorant one in town; he goes away fishing and accidentally grows a beard. The beard makes him believe he is smart--and he becomes an unbearable bore to everyone in Mayberry.
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Episode 15 - A New Doctor in Town
Release Date: 1966-12-26When Mayberry's long time physician retires the townfolk are reluctant to embrace his replacement.
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Episode 16 - Don't Miss a Good Bet
Release Date: 1967-01-02A stranger comes to Mayberry promising to find the Ross Raiders treasure. Goober, Floyd, Helen and Bee all invest--much to Andy's irritation.
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Episode 17 - Dinner at Eight
Release Date: 1967-01-09With Aunt Bee off visiting realtives and Opie away on a Scout trip, Andy is home alone. He is ready to spend a relaxing evening when Goober arrives to keep him company. He insists on making his special spaghetti recipe. Andy gives in, eats heartily, and then is reminded by Goober of an invitation to Howard's for dinner. Andy goes to see Howard, who did not actually invite Andy at all. They still whip up some spaghetti and eat, but then Andy realizes dinner was a Helen's. He rushes over, but is in hot water for being late so he must endure another dinner of spaghetti.
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Episode 18 - A Visit to Barney Fife
Release Date: 1967-01-16Andy visits Barney in Raleigh, and realizes that Barney isn't as successful as he has always claims. Andy is able to help Barney solve a series of supermarket robberies and help him save his job.
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Episode 19 - Barney Comes to Mayberry
Release Date: 1967-01-23Barney returns to Mayberry and rediscovers an old girlfriend who has become a movie star.
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Episode 20 - Andy's Old Girlfriend
Release Date: 1967-01-30Andy's old high school sweetheart moves back to town and has to stay with the Taylors while her house is being fixed. This creates tension between Helen and Andy.
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Episode 21 - Aunt Bee's Restaurant
Release Date: 1967-02-06Aunt Bee invests in a new Chinese restaurant and realizes she is not up for the stress of being a business owner.
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Episode 22 - Floyd's Barbershop
Release Date: 1967-02-13Floyd gets a rent hike after Howard buys the barbershop.
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Episode 23 - The Statue
Release Date: 1967-02-20When Howard suggests Mayberry erect a statue of Andy’s ancestor Seth Taylor in honor of all the work he did to make the town the quaint place it turned out to be. However, after a local artist completes the statue and earns the praise of the Taylor’s and everyone else in town, Andy and Aunt Bee get a big shock when Mr. Simmons lets them in on a secret that Seth Taylor worked with his ancestor to swindle the town out of a large amount of money. At first Andy and Bee want to keep this secret under raps, but she soon admits what Seth did during the unveiling speech. In the end, Floyd saves the day by saying that while Seth wasn’t the hero everybody thought he was; he still played a large part in making Mayberry the town what it is today.
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Episode 24 - Helen the Authoress
Release Date: 1967-02-27Helen begins to write books for children.
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Episode 25 - Goodbye Dolly
Release Date: 1967-03-06After Dolly, a retired milk-wagon horse refuses to eat while her owner is out of town; Opie becomes really worried that something is wrong with her. Unsure of what to do, Opie turns to Goober, Howard and Andy for help in getting the horse to eat. It is only after Mr. Simpson returns home from his vacation that he and Opie discover that Dolly refuses to eat because she misses going to work every day.
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Episode 26 - Opie's Piano Lesson
Release Date: 1967-03-13Opie has to choose between piano lessons and football lessons.
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Episode 27 - Howard the Comedian
Release Date: 1967-03-20Howard gets an opportunity to appear on television and demonstrate his comedic talents. He's a great hit --except with the people of Mayberry, who are upset that he mentioned them in his jokes.
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Episode 28 - Big Brother
Release Date: 1967-03-27Howard takes a liking to his Little Brother's sister.
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Episode 29 - Opie's Most Unforgettable Character
Release Date: 1967-04-03Opie has a hard time finishing one of his homework assignments.
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Episode 30 - Goober's Contest
Release Date: 1967-04-10In order to boost business Goober has a contest at the gas station. The printer accidentally prints a ticket for $200 and Floyd wins the ticket--and Goober can't pay it.