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Ron Howard of The Andy Griffith Show reveals jokes destroyed by Andy Griffith

Ron Howard reveals Andy Griffiths comedic standards in the classic sitcom. In a recent interview on Conan O’Brien needs a friendRon Howard highlighted the comedic principles that The Andy Griffith Show.




The former child star, who played Opie Taylor in the popular 1960s sitcom, explained how Andy Griffith’s sophisticated approach shaped the show’s humor. Host Conan O’Brien noted: The Andy Griffith Show was a “character comedy” known for its willingness to incorporate long pauses, allowing the humor to emerge naturally from the characters themselves. Howard stressed that Griffith was careful to avoid crude jokes. “Andy eliminated jokes when they were too crude,” said Howard. “He believed that the South was funny enough in and of itself, without resorting to slapstick or exaggerated antics.”

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Howard explained that although Griffith was not credited as a producer, his sensibility greatly influenced the show. Executive producer Sheldon Leonard, a former character actor and successful television producer, supported Griffith’s vision. Leonard’s influence was evident in many successful shows, including The Danny Thomas Show And The Dick Van Dyke Show.

“Andy always eliminated jokes when they were too far-fetched. He believed that the South was funny enough on its own without resorting to slapstick or exaggerated antics.”


Griffiths’ disdain for broader comedies such as Petticoat crossing And The Beverly Hillbillieswhich was based on sketch humor, The Andy Griffith Show “He didn’t like those shows because they were essentially sketches,” Howard explained. This commitment to character-based comedy gave the series a unique tone that was different from other single-camera shows of the time.

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From a series of The Danny Thomas Show, The Andy Griffith Show starred Andy Griffith as Andy Taylor, the widowed sheriff of Mayberry, North Carolina. The cast included Don Knotts as the bumbling Deputy Barney Fife, Frances Bavier as Aunt Bee, and Ron Howard as Andy’s young son Opie. The series, which ran from 1960 to 1968, was a consistent top-ten hit, never coming in below seventh in the annual ratings. The final season topped the Nielsen charts, a feat few other shows achieved.



The cast came together for a special reunion in 2003

In 2003, a reunion special was released entitled The Andy Griffith Show: Back to Mayberry brought together surviving cast members Griffith, Howard, Knotts and Jim Nabors. The special featured memories and archival footage and paid tribute to the show’s lasting legacy.

The Andy Griffith Show remains a milestone in television history, appreciated for its warm, character-centered humor and its simpler, comedic style that avoided the broader brushstrokes of its contemporaries.

Source: Conan O’Brien needs a friend

Opie and Andy eat Aunt Bee's dishes in the Andy Griffith Show promo

The Andy Griffith Show (1960)

Sheriff Andy Taylor raises his son Opie with Aunt Bee’s help, while Andy tries to keep Deputy Barney Fife in check on the Andy Griffith Show

Release date
October 3, 1960

Pour
Andy Griffith, Ron Howard, Don Knotts, Frances Bavier

Main genre
comedy

Seasons
8th

Creator
Sheldon Leonard, Aaron Ruben, Danny Thomas