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The Emmy Awards 2025 predictions for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series are heating up pretty fast. With returning legends, breakout stars, and scene-stealing sidekicks all vying for the limelight, this category is no joke.

History favors icons like Don Knotts (five wins) and David Hyde Pierce (11 nods), but this year’s contenders are carving out their own space. We’re watching The Bear’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach, whose chaotic charm as Richie might just clinch it. His Critics Choice and SAG wins already give him major momentum.

Also in the mix is Paul W. Downs for Hacks, plus fan-favorites from Harrison Ford for Shrinking and Ike Barinholtz for The Studio keeping things tight.

Emmy Awards 2025 Predictions: What to Expect in the Supporting Actor Comedy Race Seth Rogen and Ike Barinholtz in The Studio | Credits: Apple TV+ Seth Rogen and Ike Barinholtz speaking to Martin Scorsese | Credits: Apple TV+ Seth Rogen...

We will update this article throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2025 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting takes place from June 12 to June 23, with the official Emmy nominations announced Tuesday, July 15. Afterwards, final voting commences on August 18 and ends the night of August 27. The 77th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, September 14, and air live on CBS at 8:00 p.m. Et/ 5:00 p.m. Pt.

The State of the Race

Oddly enough, the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy race is a bit dependent on how many voters watched “Shrinking” on Apple TV+. No one made the cut in this category for Season 1, including Harrison Ford, but many Emmy prognosticators have him, Michael Urie, Brett Goldstein, and even Ted McGinley all in the mix for an Emmy nomination.

Even if you never watched "Gilligan's Island" yourself, it's such a pillar in pop culture that you undeniably know the gist of what it's about. A charter boat with two crew members and five passengers ends up getting shipwrecked on a deserted island, except for the occasional guest star who would show up for an episode and then never appear again. These seven individuals frequently get underneath one another's skin, as they figure out how to get off the island, and anytime it seems like they're close, Gilligan (Bob Denver) usually winds up ruining everything.

It's a simple premise, but one that worked incredibly well for 98 episodes across three seasons from 1964 to 1967. To this day, Gilligan's iconic red shirt and white bucket hat remain entrenched in people's minds. But a lot happened during those three seasons that even the most hardcore of fans may not be aware of. After 60 years,...

It wouldn’t be a Big Mouth gathering if someone from the Netflix animated series didn’t offer up an embarrassing sexual factoid from their own adolescent history. And it was Ayo Edebiri who took the prize during a post-screening Q&a session at the Egyptian Theatre for the show’s eighth and final season, revealing a roster of surprisingly eclectic childhood celebrity crushes.

Edebiri, who began as a writer on the show in its fourth season before taking over the role of Missy — and later becoming a breakout star as a writer, producer, and Emmy-winning actress on The Bear — rattled off a string of TV favorites that had captured her young fancy.

There was Tony Danza (“I used to have a big crush on him [from] Who’s the Boss reruns”), Tony Shalhoub, and The Famous Jett Jackson star Lee Thompson Young (“age-appropriate”). “And I liked John Ritter,” she added,...

While Andy Griffith is remembered now as one of the original sitcom superstars, he once had a career as a popular movie actor. He turns in an astonishing performance as Lonesome Rhodes in Elia Kazan’s A Face in the Crowd, quickly followed by his hilarious team-up with Don Knotts in No Time for Sergeants. That comedy smash was the fourth highest-grossing film of 1958. Griffith appeared to be heading to movie stardom, but that train was quickly derailed.

The problem? Studio greed. After the success of No Time for Sergeants, Warner Bros. wanted to keep raking in that sweet Andy Griffith cash. It rushed another military comedy, Onionhead, into theaters, just five months after Sergeants. One of the film’s posters announced, “That wonderful No Time for Sergeants meathead Andy Griffith is back as Onionhead!”

He’s “goofin’-up the Coast Guard now!” trumpeted another.

Unfortunately for the studio and the actor,...

“People seem to enjoy the idea of me getting scared,” Don Knotts explained in the book Andy and Don. That’s why his first venture into feature films after leaving The Andy Griffith Show was The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, a 1966 comedy scripted by two of the sitcom’s writers and bearing more than a passing resemblance to “The Haunted House,” a Season Four episode that let Knotts show off his bug-eyed, terrified trembling to full effect.

But there’s one scene in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken that would never fly on the sitcom. After Knotts’ nervous character, Luther, is chased away from a cobweb-covered organ by a brood of animated bats, he discovers a painting of a woman who’s been stabbed with bloody garden shears. Luther’s eyes go wide, and then he faints.

If you think that sounds like Barney Fife behavior, think again. The Andy...

For sitcoms filming in the early 1960s, the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated proved to be an unforgettable day on set. Carl Reiner gathered the cast of The Dick Van Dyke Show around a television to hear the news unfold before sending everyone, “somber and heavy,” home for the day. The mood on The Andy Griffith Show was also disconsolate, but the show’s eponymous star expressed his grief in a very different way, according to Remind Magazine.

Griffith was a big Kennedy supporter, and the news hit him hard. “Andy became unhinged,” according to a family member of someone who was working on the sitcom that day. “He just completely lost it.”

The comic actor allegedly knocked around props and took out his anguish on the courthouse filing cabinet. “The crew knew that this was a moment that had to play out,” says Remind. “They let Andy be...

Sheriff Andy Taylor enjoyed a string of romances on The Andy Griffith Show. There was lady druggist Ellie Walker, skeet-shootin’ Karen Moore, rich Peggy McMillan, the Fun Girls from Mount Pilot, and most famously, Opie’s teacher Helen Crump. But none of them were destined to wear a diamond on their finger, and Andy Griffith said that was by design.

“I don’t think the show works as well in a family situation, with Andy given a wife and a house,” Griffith told the Associated Press, via MeTV. “That’s better for Lucy, Danny Thomas and the other shows where there is a headline performer: Everything revolves around him, and he controls and executes every show. In our case, we have others — Don Knotts, Aunt Bee and the boy, and there’s a balance. Andy is only incidentally in many of our shows. If we married him, it would completely change the show.

In the 1960s, Don Knotts was sitcom royalty. He took home five Emmy Awards for his work as Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, setting a gold standard for comedy acting that was poignant as well as hilarious. But for all the acclaim Knotts received in that decade, it didn’t guarantee him work in the years to come. By the 1970s, Knotts was still working steadily on television, but guest-starring on Fantasy Island and The New Scooby-Doo Movies was a clear step down.

Sitcoms had changed, and nothing could have been further from the gentle humor of The Andy Griffith Show than the bawdy double entendres of Three’s Company. That comedy, built around the lie that Jack Tripper was gay and therefore a “safe” roommate for Chrissy and Janet, relied on sex jokes, misunderstandings and the tight T-shirts sported by Suzanne Somers. The show proved so popular...

E. Jay Krause, an Emmy Award-winning art director and set designer who worked on many of the biggest variety shows of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, has died. He was 98.

Krause died Saturday in Los Angeles.

Over this three-decade career, Krause designed sets for more than 180 productions, work on TV specials featuring such iconic performers as Bob Hope, Diana Ross, Mitzi Gaynor, Shirley Temple, Bing Crosby, Jerry Lewis, Esther Williams, Milton Berle, Danny Thomas, the Jacksons, Don Knotts, Wayne Newton, Carol Channing, Pat Boone and Rudolf Nureyev.

He also designed the original sets for for The Hollywood Squares and Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In andreceived two Primetime Emmy Awards for best art direction — one for The Diana Ross Special and another for The Mitzi Gaynor Special.

In 1983, Krause founded Omega Cinema Props, which went on to become one of the industry’s largest independent prop houses. Alongside his wife, Doris, Krause...

When Jim Nabors found out that his Gomer Pyle character from The Andy Griffith Show was getting a spin-off in which the filling station attendant becomes a U.S. Marine, he researched how to act like a young recruit. “I started visiting Marine bases in Southern California,” Nabors told the Chicago Tribune, as reported by MeTV. “I studied training manuals as though the drill instructor were really looking over my shoulder.”

Getting advice from actual Marines makes sense. But Nabors also got some unexpected training from the guy who played Barney Fife, the deputy who carried a bullet in his pocket because he couldn’t be trusted with a loaded pistol. “I had to learn how to handle a rifle,” Nabors revealed. “You'll never guess who gave me pointers — Don Knotts, good old Barney Fife from the Griffith Show. Don was an army drill instructor during World War II and...

MeTV, America’s #1 classic television network, announces the highly anticipated return of its popular annual programming event, ‘The Month of Mayberry,’ a month-long celebration of The Andy Griffith Show and the many related television series and TV specials featuring Mayberry and the beloved characters made famous in each one. During the event viewers can tune-in to specially selected episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, plus spin-offs Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. and Mayberry R.F.D. This year, for the first time in decades, viewers will see the touching cast reunion special The Andy Griffith Show Reunion: Back to Mayberry. Also airing is the beloved reunion TV movie Return to Mayberry and other MeTV series and specials featuring Mayberry favorites.

The event kicks off on Sunday, May 4 at 4pm Et/Pt with The Danny Thomas Show episode “Danny Meets Andy Griffith,” the original backdoor pilot for The Andy Griffith Show,...

MeTV, America’s #1 classic television network, announces the highly anticipated return of its popular annual programming event, ‘The Month of Mayberry,’ a month-long celebration of The Andy Griffith Show and the many related television series and TV specials featuring Mayberry and the beloved characters made famous in each one. During the event viewers can tune-in to specially selected episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, plus spin-offs Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. and Mayberry R.F.D. This year, for the first time in decades, viewers will see the touching cast reunion special The Andy Griffith Show Reunion: Back to Mayberry. Also airing is the beloved reunion TV movie Return to Mayberry and other MeTV series and specials featuring Mayberry favorites.

The event kicks off on Sunday, May 4 at 4pm Et/Pt with The Danny Thomas Show episode “Danny Meets Andy Griffith,” the original backdoor pilot for The Andy Griffith Show,...

Quick LinksDisney's RocketMan Is a Partial Remake of 1967’s The Reluctant AstronautHarland Williams Turned Down Disney's George of the Jungle Before Staring in RocketManDisney's RocketMan Was Released in the Wrong Time

1997's RocketMan starring comedian Harland Williams was a bit of a wild card. It was produced at a time in the 1990s when Disney was remaking and making its classics (and even some from other studios). 101 Dalmatians (1996) gave birth to not one, but two more films in the franchise and introduced the world to Glenn Close's take on Cruella de Vil. 1997 would also see a successful remake of Flubber starring Robin Williams. Not to mention the ever-popular remake of The Parent Trap that would follow in 1998, showcasing the talents of a young Lindsay Lohan.

However, RocketMan fell sadly short of some of its Disney counterparts. Despite the meticulous nature of its star and cowriter, the script floundered...

Years before Tobey Maguire starred in 2002’s Spider-Man, and before Reese Witherspoon won an Oscar, the pair starred in the teen satire/comedy movie Pleasantville. The 1998 film is now streaming for free on Tubi. The film also stars Jeff Daniels, Joan Allen, Don Knotts, William H. Macy, and Jane Kaczmarek. It was nominated for three Academy Awards in 1999, including Best Music, Original Score, Best Costume Design, and Best Art Direction.

In the film, set in the 1990s, a strange television repairman, played by Don Knotts, is impressed that teenager David, played by Maguire, is so fiercely devoted to a 1950s television series. The mysterious technician then gives David and his sister, Jennifer, played by Witherspoon, a way to escape inside the TV show. David feels seemingly right at home in the silly, yet corny world of Pleasantville, a 1950s TV series, but Jennifer, on the other hand, tries to...

The Andy Griffith Show reigns as one of the most iconic and wholesome televisionsitcoms, starring Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, and Ron Howard. Known for its unique series ending, The Andy Griffith Show ran for an impressive eight seasons and takes place in the small North Carolina town of Mayberry, and follows the life of widower and beloved local sheriff, Andy Taylor (Griffith). The series is known for its family values, sentimental stories, and also its array of characters who keep Taylor on his toes.

We’re less than a week away from the 97th annual Academy Awards, and host Conan O’Brien has been doing tons of promotion for the big day, conducting interviews and starring in at least one short film in which he’s trapped in a loveless marriage with a giant Oscar statuette.

In one behind-the-scenes video posted to the Oscars’ official YouTube account, O’Brien name-checked some of his all-time favorite hosts (Johnny Carson and Bob Hope) and noted that one of his earliest memories of the Academy Awards was the time a streaker ran across the stage in 1974, teeing up a dick joke from David Niven.

Conan was also asked if he could give “any movie in history that was overlooked” by the Academy an Oscar, which would it be? Instead of singling out, say, one of Stanley Kubrick’s masterpieces, he suggested that he would honor a 1960s comedy starring Barney Fife himself,...

Don Knotts made the Emmy Award for Supporting Funny Guy his personal trophy during the 1960s, going five-for-five to cement The Andy Griffith Show’s Barney Fife as one of the greatest sitcom characters of all time. But it’s a distinction Knotts might not have appreciated — he and Andy Griffith hated sitcoms.

“Andy and I have a pet hate — situation comedy,” Knotts told The Oregonian, as reported by MeTV. “So we try to imitate real people and forget the plot as much as possible.”

How can two of the greatest sitcom stars hate situation comedy? Knotts explained — sort of. “What we try to do is make use of those conversational habits people have,” he said. “Like Barney telling a joke, hearing laughter and then telling the joke over again. You’ve seen people do that. It’s terrible, but some can’t help it after hearing the laughter — it...

When you think of the classic Western hero, you likely conjure up the image of a stoic, laconic man astride a horse. He exhibits neither joy nor sorrow; he does not laugh, nor does he cry. He is a man of few words and zero sentimentality. He probably hasn't taken a bath in a while.

Even if you've only a passing interest in the genre, you're likely thinking of John Wayne. If you prefer not to think of the Duke, you might think of Clint Eastwood. If you've only ever seen one Western, and that Western happens to be "The Shakiest Gun in the West," you're thinking of Don Knotts and are thus incapable of relating to everything I've just written.

If, however, you know the genre well, and had a dad and/or granddad who forced you to watch all manner of Westerns regardless of quality, you probably know the long-running CBS oater "Gunsmoke.

Back in the 1970s, Hanna-Barbera's animated sitcom Wait Till Your Father Gets Home ran for three seasons with 48 total episodes airing during its run. After more than five decades since the show's premiere, Wait Till Your Father Gets Home can be revisited with its resurrection on a modern format.

Early next year, the Warner Archive Collection will release the complete series of Wait Till Your Father Gets Home on Blu-ray on Jan. 28, 2025. The series was previously set for its Blu-ray release in November before getting a delay, but its street date is now revealed. Previously, only the first season of the series was given an official release on physical media, hitting DVD back in 2007. The new release on Blu-ray will mark the first time the complete series will be made available on physical media.

Related 10 Classic Scooby-Doo Villains that Fans May Have Forgotten About, Ranked

Scooby-Doo and the gang are...

As we prepare for our national day of gratitude, take a moment to give thanks for one last funny performance from sitcom icon Don Knotts. Appropriately for the season, Knott’s final movie role was providing the voice of anxious cartoon bird Mayor Turkey Lurkey in Disney’s 2005 Chicken Little.

There’s more than a little Barney Fife in Mayor Turkey Lurkey, a trembling public official full of false bravado. That’s no coincidence — the character was 100 percent based on Knotts’ comedy performances of the 1960s. Supervising animator Dick Zondag says the film’s director, Mark Dindal, wanted some big Don Knotts energy for the character.

“I’m a huge Don Knotts fan, actually,” Zondag told The Province in 2005, via MeTV. He knew that Dindal wanted more than straight-up Knotts — “he wants Don Knotts from The Ghost and Mr. Chicken or the Barney Fife Don Knotts.”

With Knotts on board to provide voicework,...

Among all the members of the main gang, Simon Helberg’s Howard underwent the least amount of development over the course of 12 seasons. While he did lean towards being more mature after walking the aisle with Bernadette, his initial attempts at humor haven’t quite aged well with time, and to this date, Howard remains one of the most divisive Tbbt characters.

Although it’s easy to see why many found his invasiveness downright deplorable, from a moral standpoint, Leonard’s mother wasn’t that great either, even though Christine Baranski completely owned the part.

Beverly’s Disturbing Demeanor Towards Leonard Often Gets Overlooked Christine Baranski in The Big Bang Theory | Credit: CBS

Amidst all the major guest appearances throughout the sitcom, Christine Baranski’s recurring role as Leonard’s mother Beverly has to be at the very top. However, Baranski’s acclaimed performance often overshadowed the more glaring issues with her character’s demeanor,...

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Andy Griffith's legendary defense attorney Ben Matlock might enjoy a nice hot dog, but Griffith himself had somewhat different dietary preferences while filming "Matlock." On occasion, the actor was even known to tap into his character's more curmudgeonly tendencies because of his favorite treat -- or rather, a sudden lack thereof.

According to Daniel de Visé's biography of Griffith and his "The Andy Griffith Show" co-star Don Knotts, "Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show," the "Matlock" actor was rather fond of peanut butter. Unfortunately, the book also revealed that the tasty paste could also be a major source of stress. Griffith liked to snack on peanut butter and apples on the set, and the show's crew made sure he had some available. However, "Matlock" producer Dean Hargrove told the author...

Generally, there are two types of films, with most genres featuring both live-action and animated options. The distinction is obvious, as live-action movies feature real people, objects, and settings, while animated movies rely on handmade or computer-generated images and utilize humans primarily offscreen. Disney features an extraordinarily wide variety of both types.

Walt Disney essentially pioneered animation, with his first notable animated feature, the short film Steamboat Willie, coming out in 1928 and introducing the world to the internationally beloved Mickey Mouse. Around a decade after Steamboat Willie's release, Disney officially entered the movie game with the first feature-length animated movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The world of animated movies hasn't stopped spinning a century later and probably will never stop. Walt Disney Animation Studios has over 50 movies under its belt, with Disney-owned Pixar and rival studio DreamWorks producing even more films to make some of the most underrated Disney features blur into obscurity.

There was a time when TV guest stars were pure magic, popping up like hidden gems in your favorite shows.

Long before social media spoiled every surprise, guest appearances felt like little events that brought something extra to our screens.

You’d be watching a familiar show, and out of nowhere, a face you knew and loved would walk on, adding an unexpected thrill to the episode.

Mark Harmon on The Love Boat (ABC/Screenshot)

These weren’t ratings gimmicks or social media stunts; they were genuine surprises that made TV feel alive and unpredictable.

For me, The Love Boat and Fantasy Island were cozy weekend rituals, especially when I watched with my grandma.

It wasn’t about knowing every guest star — it was about the fun of seeing who would pop up next, making each episode feel like a surprise package.

You’d sit down, and suddenly there was...

The bond between siblings has been a longtime fascination for film and television shows, leading to some of the most famous brother and sister duos in film and television history. Those who think romance is the pinnacle of an interesting relationship need to look closer at these memorable bonds between sibling characters. Popular shows like Supernatural have a brother duo as their main characters, and one of Disney's biggest hits, Frozen, is all about the love between sisters rather than a princess and prince finding each other.

Besides brother and brother and sister with sister duos, though, there are also very memorable brother and sister characters at the heart of the best TV shows and movies ever. The relationships between siblings can lead to some unique storylines within television or movies. Whether it's being as protective as possible or having characters who wind each other up, there is something funny...

Jason Ritter has a very specific impression of his late father’s iconic Three’s Company character in his repertoire.

Three’s Company premiered on ABC in March 1977, and ran a total of eight seasons. The sitcom’s original cast was comprised of John Ritter, Suzanne Somers, Joyce DeWitt, Norman Fell, Audra Lindley and Richard Kline, with Don Knotts, Jenilee Harrison and Priscilla Barnes joining the mix in later years.

More from TVLineLittle House on the Prairie Cast Blasts Fired Event Organizer Who Continued to Market Cancelled Fan EventsSuzanne Somers, Star of Three's Company and Step by Step, Dead at 76Gen...

Just as Gold Derby predicted, Ebon Moss-Bachrach wins at the 2024 Emmys for “The Bear,” joining the long list of his category’s repeat champs. Other men to win at least two trophies in Best Comedy Supporting Actor include most recently Brett Goldstein (“Ted Lasso” in 2021 and ’22), Tony Hale (“Veep” in 2013 and ’15), Ty Burrell (“Modern Family” in 2011 and ’14) and Eric Stonestreet (“Modern Family” in 2010 and ’12). The current record-holder in this category is Don Knotts at five wins for “The Andy Griffith Show” in 1961, ’62, ’63, ’66 and ’67.

Moss-Bachrach plays the fan-fave role of restaurant manager Richard “Richie” Jerimovich on FX’s cooking dramedy. For this 2024 Emmys contest, his fellow nominees were Lionel Boyce (“The Bear”), Paul W. Downs (“Hacks”), Paul Rudd (“Only Murders in the Building”), Tyler James Williams (“Abbott Elementary”) and Bowen Yang (“Saturday Night Live”). See the full list of Emmy winners.

The 47-year-old actor chose to enter “The Bear” episode titled...

The competition is hot and heavy this year for the Emmy for guest actor and actress in a comedy series. Will Maya Rudolph win her third Emmy in this category for NBC’s “Saturday Night Live?” Or will Jamie Lee Curtis win her first Emmy for her powerful turn in “The Fishes” episode of FX’s “The Bear”? Veteran Christopher Lloyd is looking to receive his first Emmy in 32 years for his role as Larry Arbuckle on Max’ “Hacks.” While Bob Odenkirk, who won two writing Emmys over 30 years ago, may finally earn one for acting as Uncle Lee on FX’s “The Bear.”

Over the years everyone from Colleen Dewhurst (“Murphy Brown”), Carol Burnett (“Mad About You”), who at 91 is up for the Emmy for supporting actress in a comedy series for “Palm Royale,” Jane Lynch (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”), John Cleese (“Frasier”) and Mel Brooks, who received the...

When it comes to the Emmy category of Best Comedy Supporting Actor, two seems to be the magic number. In recent years, Brett Goldstein (“Ted Lasso”), Tony Hale (“Veep”), Ty Burrell (“Modern Family”) and Eric Stonestreet (“Modern Family”) all won this race twice. That’s great news for last year’s Emmy winner, Ebon Moss-Bachrach (“The Bear”), who is now looking for his own bookend trophy in the category.

On FX’s cooking dramedy, he plays Richard “Richie” Jerimovich, the manager of the central restaurant and close friend of Jeremy Allen White‘s Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto. Moss-Bachrach has entered the Season 2 episode titled “Forks” as his 2024 Emmy Award submission for Best Comedy Supporting Actor.

In this installment, Richie is sent by Carmy to work for a week at a fine dining restaurant, Ever, to learn the ins and outs of management. That’s where Richie meets Andrea Terry (Olivia Colman...

Lots of people in Mayberry had a motive for wanting to kill Barney Fife. He was always throwing Ernest T. Bass in the pokey for throwing rocks. Otis the town drunk couldn’t have a couple of cocktails without Barney cuffing him. Maybe Thelma Lou finally had it with the deputy’s two-timing ways with Juanita over at the diner. But the actual person who posed the biggest threat to Don Knotts, the comedian who played Barney, was none other than Andy Griffith himself.

“I dreamed I killed Don Knotts,” Griffith once told the Sioux City Journal, as reported by MeTV, revealing an unconscious desire to throttle his wiry costar. The dream occurred while Griffith was filming his first project after The Andy Griffith Show — but Knotts remained on the actor’s mind. “I woke up the next morning, and my conscience was killing me,” Griffith remembered. “I called Don...

Disney struggled to adapt to the shift towards computer animation in the 2000s, leading to some box office disappointments. Movies like Chicken Little and Brother Bear fell short of Disney's usual standards in the 2000s, lacking originality and magic. Despite some missteps in the 2000s, Disney did produce a few timeless classics, and a few underappreciated gems which have gained cult followings.

The 2000s were an odd decade for Disney animated movies, but the studio still produced a few stone-cold classics. After the success of the 1990s Disney renaissance, the studio had to reckon with changing trends in the animation industry. Audiences were more interested in computer animation at the time, with studios like Pixar and DreamWorks toppling Disney's historial dominance.

Disney took longer to adjust to the changing times than some other studios, and this is reflected in their box office totals throughout the 2000s. While other studios raked...

In 1955, on the stage of Broadway’s Alvin Theater, Andy Griffith and Don Knotts first bonded as they co-starred in the stage production of “No Times for Sergeants,” cementing a friendship that continued when they were both asked to reprise their stage roles in the 1958 Mervyn LeRoy film. Years later, when Knotts happened to learn about a TV project starring Griffith as a small town sheriff, he called up his old friend and asked “Don’t you think Sheriff Andy Taylor ought to have a deputy?” Griffith loved the idea, and television history was made.

Thanks to Knotts’ impeccable comic skills, Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife became one of television’s most beloved characters, an peacekeeper with loads of insecurities which he tries to cover up with a show of bravado that is both hilarious and endearing. His brilliant comic performance earned Knotts five consecutive Emmy Awards, which was unmatched at the time.

In 1955, on the stage of Broadway’s Alvin Theater, Andy Griffith and Don Knotts first bonded as they co-starred in the stage production of “No Times for Sergeants,” cementing a friendship that continued when they were both asked to reprise their stage roles in the 1958 Mervyn LeRoy film. Years later, when Knotts happened to learn about a TV project starring Griffith as a small town sheriff, he called up his old friend and asked “Don’t you think Sheriff Andy Taylor ought to have a deputy?” Griffith loved the idea, and television history was made.

Thanks to Knotts’ impeccable comic skills, Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife became one of television’s most beloved characters, an peacekeeper with loads of insecurities which he tries to cover up with a show of bravado that is both hilarious and endearing. His brilliant comic performance earned Knotts five consecutive Emmy Awards, which was unmatched at the time.

Ron Howard reveals Andy Griffith's comedic standards in the classic sitcom. In a recent interview on Conan OBrien Needs a Friend, Ron Howard shed light on the comedic principles that guided The Andy Griffith Show.

The former child star, who played Opie Taylor on the beloved 1960s sitcom, explained how Andy Griffith's discerning approach shaped the humor of the show. Host Conan OBrien noted that The Andy Griffith Show was a "character comedy" known for its willingness to embrace long pauses, allowing the humor to emerge naturally from the characters themselves. Howard emphasized that Griffith was adamant about avoiding broad jokes. "Andy used to kill jokes if they were too broad," Howard said. "He believed the South was plenty funny on its own without having to resort to slapstick or over-the-top antics."

Related Ron Howard's Jim Henson Movie Holds Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score

Critics and viewers have given universal...

The Andy Griffith Show valued character development over broad humor or slapstick for a unique approach to sitcom comedy. Andy Griffith's insistence on realistic dialogue and everyday scenes added to the show's authenticity and success. The show's overall tone was carefully crafted to reflect Griffith's sensibility, showcasing his talent in finding humor in everyday life.

Ron Howard explains The Andy Griffith Shows one main rule for comedy. Beginning on the show when he was only six years old, Howard played Opie Taylor, the son of protagonist Andy Taylor, in the series. Howard continued to play the role during the duration of The Andy Griffith Show, which ran for eight seasons from 1960 to 1968. In addition to Howard and Andy Griffith, The Andy Griffith Shows ensemble cast featured Don Knotts, Frances Bavier, Colin Male, George Lindsey, Howard McNear, Tom Jacobs, Aneta Corsaut, and Jack Dodson.

Speaking in an interview with Conan OBrien Needs a Friend,...

Opie Taylor was originally going to be a wise-cracking kid akin to other child characters at the time. Ron Howard's real-life father stepped in after the filming of The Andy Griffith Show pilot to suggest an alternate approach to Opie. Opie was rewritten to be a respectful young boy, bringing a unique and genuine quality to The Andy Griffith Show.

Ron Howard explains how The Andy Griffith Show rewrote his key character. Howard played Opie Taylor on the hit 60s show, beginning the role when he was only six years old and continuing to act until the show ended, when he was 14 years old. In addition to Howard, the popular '60s series The Andy Griffith Show starred the eponymous Andy Griffith alongside a supporting cast including Don Knotts, Frances Bavier, Colin Male, George Lindsey, Howard McNear, Tom Jacobs, Aneta Corsaut, Jack Dodson, and Hal Smith.

Speaking on Conan OBrien Needs a Friend,...

Slow dialogue scenes in The Andy Griffith Show were a result of needing to fill short time slots for episodes. Andy Griffith and Don Knotts would improvise these scenes when the show was running short on time. Improvised mundane conversations added unique rhythm and naturalness to the beloved series.

Ron Howard reveals the real reason behind an aspect of the shows iconic scenes in The Andy Griffith Show. Howard played Opie Taylor on the series, debuting on the show when he was only six years old. The Andy Griffith Show was on air for eight seasons from 1960 to 1968, and remains one of the most beloved series of all time, with numerous iconic scenes and quotes still referenced today.

All eight seasons of The Andy Griffith Show are available to stream on Paramount+.

Speaking on Conan OBrien Needs a Friend, Howard explains a critical aspect of The Andy Griffith Shows scenes,...

Who is the best male TV star of all time? Our photo gallery above takes on the tough task of ranking the 50 greatest actors and performers. Agree or disagree with our choices?

With over 70 years of television to consider, we had to provide ourselves with a few rules to help simplify things. One of those was that every man in our gallery must have been an ongoing leading star at some point, preferably more often than not. That’s why you will not see such classic supporting actors as Art Carney, Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Peter Dinklage and more. We also do not include any news/sports anchors or journalists such as Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, Peter Jennings, Howard Cosell since they are not performers.

In order to place them in the rankings, we were looking at a combination of quality (top rated shows with the public or critics...

Prior to 1964 -- the year "Gilligan's Island" debuted, comedian and actor Jerry Van Dyke already had an expanding showbiz career. In 1963 alone, he appeared in the films "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," "Palm Springs Weekend," and "McClintock!" He also had a few guest appearances on his brother's sitcom "The Dick Van Dyke Show," and regularly turned up on talk shows to perform and converse.

It was in 1964 that Van Dyke was offered the title role in Sherwood Schwartz's "Gilligan's Island," still in development at the time. Van Dyke couldn't have predicted that "Gilligan's Island" would last for 98 episodes and become one of the most widely recognized sitcoms in TV history, so turning it down didn't seem like much of an event. As the public now knows, the title role in "Gilligan's Island" went to comedian Bob Denver, star of "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis." 

Van Dyke would subsequently...

The premise of the 1977 sitcom "Three's Company" -- adapted from the 1973 British series "Man About the House" -- would likely never fly in 2024. Roommates Janet (Joyce DeWitt) and Chrissy (Suzanne Somers) require a third roommate to pay rent in their expensive Santa Monica apartment. They stumble across Jack Tripper (John Ritter), an aspiring culinary student whom they get along with. It so happens, though, that the building's landlord, Mr. Roper (Normal Fell), is ultra-conservative and refuses to let unmarried men and women share his apartments. To get around this contrived contingency, Janet and Chrissy tell Mr. Roper that Jack is gay. This satisfies the landlord but opens Jack up to homophobic jibes.

Fell eventually left the series and was replaced by the high-strung Mr. Furley, played by Don Knotts. Mr. Furley, it seems, required the charade to continue. Somers also left the show in its last two seasons and was...

Rita McKenzie, known for staging the longest-running one-woman show in theatrical history, died Feb. 17 in Los Angeles days before her 77th birthday. She succumbed to what her family described as a long-term illness.

A powerhouse stage voice and theatrical personality, McKenzie’s 1988 off-Broadway one-woman show, Ethel Merman’s Broadway, became the longest-running one- woman show in theatrical history.

McKenzie had a wide theatrical resume. She played Lita Encore in the Los Angeles premiere of Ruthless! The Musical and reprised the role in the recent New York revival of the show.

She also performed a wide range of stage roles throughout the U..S , including Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes!, appeared in the 50th Anniversary tour of Annie Get Your Gun, played Rose in Gypsy, and starred in a three-year U.S. tour of Neil Simon’s The Female Odd Couple, co-starring with Barbara Eden.

Additionally, she was the opening act...

Rita McKenzie, the actress and singer best known for her boisterous performances in the one-woman show Ethel Merman’s Broadway, died Saturday in Los Angeles after a long illness, her husband, talent agent Scott Stander, announced. She was 76.

McKenzie first starred on stage as the powerful Merman — star of such iconic Broadway hits as Anything Goes, Annie Get Your Gun, Gypsy and Hello, Dolly! — in New York in 1988.

Belting out tunes like “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “I Got Rhythm” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” McKenzie toured throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia in what many consider the longest-running one-woman show in theatrical history.

She also starred in parts that Merman made famous: Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes!, the gunslinger in a 50th anniversary tour of Annie Get Your Gun and Rose in Gypsy.

Watch her perform here.

A native of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, McKenzie starred...

Clockwise from top left: Moon (courtesy Liberty Films UK), Die Hard (courtesy 20th Century Studios), The Iron Giant (courtesy Warner Bros.), The Truman Show (courtesy Paramount Pictures) Graphic: The A.V. Club YouTube offers a veritable treasure trove of free movies ready to watch at your convenience. Comedies, dramas, hidden gems,...

Clockwise from top left: Moon (courtesy Liberty Films UK), Die Hard (courtesy 20th Century Studios), The Iron Giant (courtesy Warner Bros.), The Truman Show (courtesy Paramount Pictures)Graphic: The A.V. Club

YouTube offers a veritable treasure trove of free movies ready to watch at your convenience. Comedies, dramas, hidden gems,...

James Stewart's venture into Western movies, like "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," was surprising considering his earlier career in beloved classics and thrillers. John C. Reilly's standout performance in "The Sisters Brothers" was unexpected given his comedic background, holding his own against acclaimed actors. Don Knotts' hilarious performance in the Western comedy "The Shakiest Gun in the West" was a surprising departure from his comedic work on "The Andy Griffith Show."

Western movies are one of the most popular genres in film, and these 10 actors have given surprisingly great performances in these genre films. Although Westerns aren't as popular today as they once were, plenty of Westerns are still released each year. Because of this, tons of actors have had a chance to dip their toes into Western movies since their height in popularity from the 1950s to the early 1970s, and here are 10 of the most surprising ones.

We will update this article throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2023 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting takes place from June 15 to June 26, with the official Emmy nominations announced Wednesday, July 12. Afterward, final voting commences August 17 and ends the night of August 28. The 75th annual Primetime Emmy Awards will now take place Monday, January 15, live on Fox at 8:00 p.m. Et/ 5:00 p.m. Pt.

See our previous thoughts on what to expect at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards here.

The State of the Race

There is an argument to be made about how leaving it up in the air as to whether or not “Ted Lasso” continues has helped the show and star Jason Sudeikis’ chances of winning the Emmy, and hurt Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nominees Bret Goldstein...

It was 1989, and “Night Court” was still riding high as part of NBC’s “Must See TV” lineup on Thursday nights, the one that featured “The Cosby Show,” “Family Ties” and “Cheers” along with “L.A. Law.” It had the kind of ratings no one could even dream of now, since cable (much less streaming) had yet to become a major prime time force. John Larroquette was the toast of TV portraying “Night Court’s” assistant Da Dan Fielding. He was snappy. He was overbearing. He was a shameless womanizer. He was hilarious. And voting members of the TV academy agreed, bestowing four straight Emmy Awards on Larroquette for supporting actor in a comedy. Not nominations. Wins. He took home Emmys for four consecutive years and was favored to make it five in a row when the actor did something no one could have predicted.

He decided he was done and withdrew his name from consideration.

The recent announcement of the 75th Primetime Emmy nominations confirms that the current Best Comedy Supporting Actor race will be one of the most interesting of the year. Brett Goldstein of Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” is now officially in the hunt for a third consecutive victory, but his path is greatly hindered by Golden Globe winner Tyler James Williams of ABC’s “Abbott Elementary.” Scroll through our photo gallery to brush up on all seven of this year’s Best Comedy Supporting Actor nominees and be sure to finalize your Emmy predictions by September 18.

Goldstein, who did defeat Williams last year, would follow Don Knotts (“The Andy Griffith Show”), John Larroquette (“Night Court”), and Jeremy Piven (“Entourage”) as the fourth man to be honored in this category three times in a row. If his show has indeed ended after three seasons, he will be the only one in this bunch with a spotless record.

The recent announcement of the 75th Primetime Emmy nominations confirms that the current Best Comedy Supporting Actor race will be one of the most interesting of the year. Brett Goldstein of Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” is now officially in the hunt for a third consecutive victory, but his path is greatly hindered by Golden Globe winner Tyler James Williams of ABC’s “Abbott Elementary.” Scroll through our photo gallery to brush up on all seven of this year’s Best Comedy Supporting Actor nominees and be sure to finalize your Emmy predictions by September 18.

Goldstein, who did defeat Williams last year, would follow Don Knotts (“The Andy Griffith Show”), John Larroquette (“Night Court”), and Jeremy Piven (“Entourage”) as the fourth man to be honored in this category three times in a row. If his show has indeed ended after three seasons, he will be the only one in this bunch with a spotless record.