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You might've heard of David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman's "Foundation," the Apple TV+ series that revolves around an interstellar empire ruled by three men (who might or might not be the same person at different stages of their lives). This unusual premise is filtered through the lens of science fiction and is based on Isaac Asimov's eponymous novel series, published between 1951 and 1993. Asimov's writing style has always been distinct yet accessible — he writes the kind of popular science fiction that avoids abstractions, allowing even the most complex concepts to be dissected with ease. While this is also true for his "Foundation" novels, the scale of the premise is ginormous,...

The 1970s weren’t kind to Andy Griffith. After the monster success of The Andy Griffith Show in the previous decade, the comic actor’s follow-up projects, from Headmaster to The New Andy Griffith Show to Salvage 1, were single-season flops. It got so bad that an appearance on The Love Boat seemed like a godsend.

Then, in the mid-1980s, two opportunities represented a turn of fortune. First was Matlock, NBC’s attempt to capitalize on the success of CBS’ Murder, She Wrote. If crime mysteries fronted by graying showbiz faces were in vogue, then maybe Griffith could win those same viewers. A pilot was filmed in Atlanta, and the stage was set for Griffith’s comeback.

Around the same time, the 25th anniversary of The Andy Griffith Show was reviving interest in Mayberry. Griffith and Don Knotts had often talked about a reunion, but “they both agreed that unless it could be great,...

By Rachel Bennett

Less than a week after the loss of film legend Nora Ephron, critics and fans mourned the passing of another, older Hollywood great: Andy Griffith died at the age of 86 on Tuesday, July 3. The actor, who most notably starred in the TV series The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock, passed away at his home in Dare County, N.C., and was buried later the same day. The cause of death was a heart attack.

Griffith, who popped up on The Ed Sullivan Show throughout the 1950s, appeared as Sheriff Andy Taylor in a 1960 episode of Danny Thomas‘s show Make Room for Daddy, which served as the inspiration for The Andy Griffith Show, which aired from 1960 to 1968.

After his self-titled show went off the air, Griffith sought out film roles, but rarely found work worthy of his talents. His actually gave his best big screen performance before becoming widely known,...