I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The Worst Film Ever

As Good As It Gets

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

I've been watching episodes on Amazon Prime and some of them really bother me. I've been focusing on seasons 6-8, because I prefer the color episodes after Don Knotts departed. I think the show goes from being 'The Misadventures of Barney Fife' to 'Mayberry U.S.A.' and with the stories opened up to include the other townsfolk a bit more, we see a slight diversity in story lines played out away from Andy's work. But the plots are so heavy-handed in the way characters must conform to society's expectation of their so-called roles. The one with Goober's girlfriend pumping gas and being more successful while he's away really bothered me. Incredibly sexist and backward writing-- they made a point of Andy sensing a problem with her success and with Goober returning and not being happy or proud of her skills. She had to feel guilty that if she continued being successful in a man's world no man would want her or she would have no time for a man, and never get married. Since all young females have to get married or at least should want to get married, she has to give up her new career and go back to being a waitress so Goober can reclaim his job and place in their narrow-minded community. Stories like these obviously appealed greatly to audiences at the time and hence, the on- going popularity of the program and its consistently high ratings. But it's ridiculous to think the girl should have to give up that job to be happy. Why didn't she have to give up her job serving food in order to get married and be happy? Because it was expected for her to do more of a domestic type job instead of being out there pumping gas. There are other episodes I find equally annoying-- I think the philosophy of the show is against non-conformity and is constantly trying to bolster the idea that people should not ascribe to being great; rather they should just give in and accept the humdrum lot in life a town like Mayberry will give them. I think it's a mistake for people to look at The Andy Griffith Show with weird rose-colored glasses and hold it up as espousing the values of a simpler, better time. It's really holding up the values of a sexist time. I still find (most of) the performances good and charming, but the stories and societal attitudes being presented within the stories are potentially damaging and very problematic.

I love this show sooo much! I can't even put it into words just how great this show is. It's a classic that will be cherished for years to come. It's a shame that shows like this are rare to find on television in this day and age. It's way better than the junk we have on television today. The Andy Griffith Show is a program that can be enjoyed by all and it is generally a good, wholesome program. Andy, Barney, and Gomer were the best characters and the funniest. If you've never seen this show, than I strongly advise you see it sometime in the near future, you won't regret it. Not only will this show make you laugh, but it will give good lessons about life and the various hardships of it.

This truly is a heartwarming and family acceptable show. There simply won't be anything like it again. The 50s and 60s were some great, acceptable years in many ways and fortunately, the Andy Griffith show was part of those days. I hope it will stand the test of time because this show brings us back to a better place, a better time and an all around better cast of characters. This truly is a classic. Sure, it's in black and white and sure it's not going to be appreciated by all but the fact of the matter is, this is something everyone can enjoy. This is a show without drug references, without non-stop violence and it's not that I'm against any of that in films today but I believe and it kind of does make sense, that if it can appeal to a wider audience, than chances are it's going to be good to a larger audience. This is a very enjoyable show and even though it's in black and white, it's still enjoyed by myself and many others. Like I said, with what's coming out on TV today, this is easily gem in television. Nothing can be duplicated to match it, it's just not possible in this day and age. A heartwarming and stupendous show.

The power of this show's influence says something: more than three decades after it went off the air and went syndicated,this show still inspires a faithful amount of following. And while maybe the core viewer fan-ship rests among Babyboomers,I think that anyone who has fatigue from current television can get into this one.You know the story: laid-back Sheriff Andy Taylor(Andy Griffith,somewhat fresh off a Broadway,stand-up and movie career)is the sheriff of restful Mayberry,North CArolina. He raises his young,likable son Opie(Ronny Howard,before he was a director named Ron)with the help of matronly and pleasant Aunt Bee(Frances Beaver). His deputy is loserish authority-addict Barney Fife(Don KNotts,R.I.P.,who made quite the career playing variations off this character),and there's hardly ever a true legal unrest to speak of. Still,that doesn't mean there aren't conflicts that need resolving,and Sheriff Taylor is (mostly)up for the challenge.A great stable of side characters,including Gomer(JIm Nabors,pre-USMC),Floyd the Barber,Goober,Howard the Drunk,Thelma Lou,Betty and the DArlings(A rustic,pre-Hee Haw singing group)filled out this show marvelously. The true legacy of any television program is how long after the fans are able to still come back and watch reruns of shows that they've seen before,sometimes NUMEROUS times. That being the case,this show's legacy is firmly implanted in the American landscape. CAtch on TVland,Hallmark or locally and see for yourself.