Mayberry R.F.D.

When TV viewers were introduced to Mayberry in 1960, they were instantly immersed into this idyllic small town. A place to tune out the troubles of the world and easily transport yourself among the "real" characters that became friends. And I've seen real-life friendships made between strangers discussing "The Andy Griffith Show". Most of the country lives "in the country"- rural settings that make the show all the more relatable. Other fans live in bustling cities where their TV connection to Mayberry is the link to escape to that quieter place. I've lived in both... and returned to the rural setting, lucky enough to share similarities to Mayberry.

Fans widely agree that "The Andy Griffith Show" began a steady decline when Don Knotts left the show following the fifth season. But, the ratings never dropped, and it ended it's run as the number one rated TV show on air (a feat only shared with "I Love Lucy" and "Seinfeld"). The characters were less interesting; the plots weaker. But, the viewers kept tuning in. They had long become residents themselves of Mayberry. It was home.

"Mayberry R.F.D." (Rural Farm Delivery) allowed these "citizens" of Mayberry a little longer in their beloved, fictitious escape. The sequel was essentially a continuation of "The Andy Griffith Show". The sitcom follows life in Mayberry after Andy (Andy Griffith), Helen (Aneta Corsaut), and Opie (Ron Howard) depart the spotlight for a new life. Widower farmer and town council president Sam Jones (Ken Berry, "F Troop", "Mama's Family") raises his young son Mike (Buddy Foster) as he grows through life lessons. The father and son are cared for by their housekeeper Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier, and later Alice, played by Alice Ghostley). Sam also balances his love life with his girlfriend Millie (Arlene Golonka). As the series progresses, plots increasingly revolve around Goober (George Lindsey), who now owns Wally's Filling Station, county clerk Howard Sprague (Jack Dodson), and handyman Emmett Clark (Paul Hartman) who still runs his fix-it shop. The series ran for three successful seasons (1968-71) before falling victim to CBS's "rural purge".

"Mayberry R.F.D." had some good episodes, but generally carried on the steady decline. A few episodes stand out for its comedy, namely Don Knott's sole appearance in the very first episode. The tone in the series is much softer than "The Andy Griffith Show". The stories are often light and not very developed, and the laughs few and far between. It's just a sweet little visit with old friends. "Mayberry R.F.D." merely allows us to mingle in the most idyllic town ever created for a little longer, and for that we're appreciative.

"Mayberry R.F.D." is basically "The Andy Griffith Show" without the key performers, the direction, the writing or the story-lines. What we are left with are city councilman Ken Berry and a sparse group of holdovers (Frances Bavier, Paul Hartman and Jack Dodson). Surprisingly the public did not seem to care as the show ran the better part of four years and completed 78 episodes. By the late-1960s "The Andy Griffith Show" had become stale though (even Griffith admitted to this) and losses like Don Knotts, Ron Howard, Howard Morris, Denver Pyle, Betty Lynn and Hal Smith were way too much to overcome. CBS held on to the idea out of respect, good manners and consistently above-average ratings, but the writing had been on the wall for quite some time when "Mayberry R.F.D." went the way of the dodo in 1971. Personally, I think this detracts from the original program and I have ended up dismissing it. But that is just me. 2 stars out of 5.

So "Mayberry R.F.D." was to "The Andy Griffith Show." M-R.F.D. was a pale imitation of the original, merely an attempt to keep TAGS rolling without Griffith & Co., who made the show what it was. I disliked M-R.F.D., and felt that there was no reason (save sheer greed) for the TV Execs to prolong the format with this thing.

And Buddy Foster was no Ron Howard, blond hair and plaid shirt or no.

As many people know this show is essentially a sequel to the Andy Griffith Show. The producers decided that instead of canceling the show all together, they would continue it with essentially the same cast except for the leads. Ken Berry and Arlene Golonka were okay replacements for Andy Griffith and Aneta Corsaut, but Sam and Millie were no Andy and Helen. Also, even though this show was still popular at the time of the rural purge of 1971, I don't think that its cancellation hit people as hard as the cancellations of The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres.

I remember watching this series on re-runs in the early and mid 70's. I now, as then, liked the original THE ANDY GRIFFETH SHOW better but was still entertained. I had not seen an episode of Mayberry R.F.D. in probably over 20 years as it is not shown in syndication like TAGS is. However, last year and this year I was able to watch and tape most of the episodes off of TV Land and in doing so have gained a new respect for the show.

I remember as a kid watching TAGS and always knowing when the episode stories and characters were going down the tubes. I could tell this by the episodes that were in color. The color episodes meant that Mayberry was a town no longer lost in time but now it had a more up to date feel. Also, key characters would leave the show such as Barny & Floyd. I really missed these guys and somehow Emmet and Howard did not replace them. Lastly, the final season of TAGS was less about Andy and more about Sam Jones and this was somewhat disappointing.

Now watching M-R.F.D. I feel differently. The final season of TAGS was a good way to bridge the two shows. I think it would have been harder on the fans if all of a sudden Sam Jones showed up on the scene while Andy fell by the wayside. Oddly enough I find myself now liking the new characters such as Howard and Emmet. I don't view them as replacements for other missing characters. Somehow in this series they seem to belong. I do wish that there had been more of Aunt Bee in M-R.F.D..

So even though Mayberry no longer seems quite as rural and laid back and even if some of the plots are borrowed from TAGS it is still a good show and makes me and probably others feel good. I look forward to visiting Mayberry no matter if its via TAGS or M-R.F.D..