# Andy Griffith Show Questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 13, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766 "2004-08-13T23:34:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/21 "2004-08-15T18:31:49Z")
In all fairness, **whistletho** , from what little I’ve seen of Mt. Airy I’m not sure they could have wedged another sqare foot of Andy Griffith memorabilia into the town. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/22 "2004-08-15T18:40:52Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > In all fairness, **whistletho** , from what little I’ve seen of Mt. Airy I’m not sure they could have wedged another sqare foot of Andy Griffith memorabilia into the town. Well, it turns out that Mount Airy is slated to get their own copy of the TV Land statue next month: [Andy Griffith Statue Coming To Mount Airy](http://www.wral.com/news/3606722/detail.html). Maybe they can place this one atop amother statue, to save space. ---
**Author:** ![barney5\_99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@barney5\_99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barney5_99)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/23 "2011-08-06T01:58:51Z")
I was told that out of all the times he bungled and screwed things up, Barney only apologized 1 time… which episode was it and what did he do??? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/24 "2011-08-06T02:20:24Z")
> [@barney5\_99](#): > > I was told that out of all the times he bungled and screwed things up, Barney only apologized 1 time… which episode was it and what did he do??? Character-wise for Barney to apologize would be to imply that his character was (on some level) willfully evil and destructive vs just being an ignorant jackass. Apologizing implies you understood what you did wrong. I think it would be difficult to have Barney apologizing on a regular basis and still have him be able to do all the idiotic stuff he did. It would destroy the illusion of witless incompetence he needed to make his scenes believable. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/25 "2011-08-06T02:30:14Z")
> [@ussentinel](#): > > I thought that Andy’s sense of humor really got worse as the show went on and he smiled less and less in the later seasons. I think Andy’s boiling point came on an episode of Gomer Pyle, USMC when Opie ran away from home all the way from Mayberry, NC to California & hid on the Marine base. Boy, was Andy pissed when he came to fetch him. I suppose I would be too. It was surprisingly realistic for a comedy show. There were some shows where Andy was so convincing in his smoldering angry dad, wrath of God mode you wanted to hide under the bed. It was probably one of the most and frighteningly realistic angry parent portrayals I have ever seen on TV. Most TV shows have crazy, irrationally violent parent or disappointed but understanding parent. Pissed off Andy Griffith dad is (IMO) more frightening than any of them. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/26 "2011-08-06T03:11:50Z")
So many questions, so little time. Why did Helen wait for Andy? A) they actually did date for quite awhile, and they take things slow in Mayberry, so technically she wasn’t waiting and B) considering the other single men in town. . . The better question is why didn’t Andy make a move on Thelma Lou, who was much hotter? Why doesn’t Opie have a dog? Probably because Aunt Bea wouldn’t hear of it, and in household matters, Aunt Bea is the final authority. Howard’s a mama’s boy, but he isn’t gay. In the world of black and white television, nobody is gay. You had a better chance of seeing a black person in Mayberry than a gay one. In terms of characters, Howard is one of the anti-Andys – nice, dependable, but passive and not really practical. Barney’s major responsibility, IIRC, was to be at the school crossing morning and afternoon. Given the overall lack of action in Mayberry, even if Andy fired Barney, he wouldn’t have been able to find anyone better than Warren to take the job. True fact: the Darling boys were played by [The Dillards](http://www.the-dillards.com/), a genuine bluegrass group. and Maggie Walker, who played the daughter, later played the girlfriend of Eb on Green Acres. ---
**Author:** ![moth1416](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@moth1416](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moth1416)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/27 "2011-08-06T03:16:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Why would Helen Crump sit around for years waiting for Andy to propose? Do they ever get married? There were actually a few lines in one episode which addressed this. At the time, I guess it was still assumed that a woman who got married would automatically give up her job (unless her husband was in some way an awful failure who couldn’t support his family). I specifically remember Helen telling Andy that she loved teaching and didn’t want to give it up for a few years yet to get married. Basically, he was waiting for her, not the other way around. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/28 "2011-08-07T20:36:51Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > True fact: the Darling boys were played by [The Dillards](http://www.the-dillards.com/), a genuine bluegrass group. and Maggie Walker, who played the daughter, later played the girlfriend of Eb on Green Acres. The Dillards still tour but like many bands, membership has varied over the years. Now you should not see them unless you want to hear a little music and a lot of Doug Dillard talking about Andy Griffith. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/29 "2011-08-07T21:01:26Z")
There was an episode where Barney accidentally discharged his weapon with Andy standing right next to him. I think he was practicing a quick draw. Andy asks, did you hurt yourself? Barney, No. Then Andy unloads the pistol and gives Barney one bullet to keep in his pocket. That episode always makes me very uncomfortable. Gun safety is no joke. I flinch anytime Barney reaches into that pocket to load his pistol. The way he handles it is pretty scary. > [@bouv](#): > > The real questions you need to ask are this: > > Why does Andy have a kid, but no wife? Clearly something happened to her… > > Why can’t Barney carry a loaded gun? He gets but one bullet, to keep in his pocket. > > Why is Barney the Deputy, is it for Andy to keep on eye on him? > > Suddenly it all makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/30 "2011-08-07T21:09:54Z")
My favorite episode was the one where Barney must gain weight to pass a physical. He was an inch short and several pounds away from meeting the requirements to be a cop. They fixed the height problem by hanging Barney in a neck harness for several hours. Then we get these great scenes of Barney stuffing himself on Aunt Bea’s food. He’s still not heavy enough. Finally Andy notices the uniform regs allow for a neck chain and id. So, he gives Barney this heavy chain to wear. 😉 Barney passes the physical. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/31 "2011-08-07T21:23:20Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > So many questions, so little time. > > True fact: the Darling boys were played by [The Dillards](http://www.the-dillards.com/), a genuine bluegrass group. and Maggie Walker, who played the daughter, later played the girlfriend of Eb on Green Acres. i saw what you did, i think. Dillards were great. Howard McNear, Floyd the barber, played Doc Adams for 3 years longer in the radio version of Gunsmoke than he did Floyd. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/32 "2011-08-09T18:04:40Z")
Why is the Sheriff’s office in Mayberry instead of the county seat (IIRC, Mount Pilot)? What kind of county has a two-man Sheriff’s department anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Bri2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/48db29/32.png) [@Bri2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bri2k)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/33 "2011-08-09T18:53:01Z")
> [@Dr.Rieux](#): > > Why is the Sheriff’s office in Mayberry instead of the county seat (IIRC, Mount Pilot)? > What kind of county has a two-man Sheriff’s department anyway? I always assumed Andy was the town sheriff. It’s quite common in the U.S. for many towns to have their own sheriff or marshall which is disticnt from a county sheriff. FWIW, all the pictures I saw of Andy’s police car have “Sheriff - Mayberry” on the door. Here’s [a site all about Andy’s patrol car](http://www.imayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/anewsome/private/squadcarinfo.htm). Click on the “doorshield gif” link to see it in its full (B&W) glory. Bri2k ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/34 "2011-08-09T20:22:20Z")
ISTR that Andy, in addition to being sheriff, was also the Justice of the Peace, which made it easier for him and Otis to work out the sleep-it-off sentence for public drunkenness. Whatever Andy’s actual title, it was made clear in the early episodes that he and the mayor didn’t get along too well. Obviously, the mayor couldn’t fire Andy, so I guess he had to have some sort of elected position. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/35 "2011-08-09T22:25:41Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > So many questions, so little time. SO LITTLE _TIME_???!!!??? Like seven years isn’t enough? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/36 "2011-08-09T23:23:10Z")
> [@Dr.Rieux](#): > > Why is the Sheriff’s office in Mayberry instead of the county seat (IIRC, Mount Pilot)? > What kind of county has a two-man Sheriff’s department anyway? The county I grew up in ([Yell County, Arkansas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yell_County,_Arkansas)), has two county seats, Dardanelle and Danville. I’m sure there are others. My Andy Griffith Show rememberance is that when he smoked a cigarette, he was doing some heavy thinking… ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/37 "2011-08-10T01:31:30Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > SO LITTLE _TIME_???!!!??? > > Like seven years isn’t enough? I have a business meeting in Charlotte tomorrow morning. I happen to be a man in a hurry. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/38 "2011-08-10T03:00:49Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > I can see Floyd as gay, but Howard is much more likely. > [@syncrolecyne](#): > > Now that I think of it, Gomer and Goober didn’t go out with women much and spent a lot of time in that garage didn’t they? We may have an explanation of why Helen was willing to wait for Andy. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/39 "2011-08-10T03:21:22Z")
I think the only recurring character in Black and White Mayberry that was married was Otis. Andy, Helen, Ellie, Floyd, Barney, Thelma Lou, Aunt Bee, Clara, Gomer, Goober, Ernest T. Bass, Briscoe Darling, (ok Charlene got married). what has that got to say about Marriage in Mayberry, when the town drunk is the only married person in the cast. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766/40 "2011-08-10T03:39:48Z")
> [@Bri2k](#): > > It’s quite common in the U.S. for many towns to have their own sheriff or marshall which is disticnt from a county sheriff. In what states? Sheriff is a countywide official everywhere in the US, as far as I can tell. Indeed, the word’s etymology indicates that’s always been true, going back to England. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andy-griffith-show-questions/259766.md?page=3)