Andy Griffith Represented the Good in Life

How much of an impact did “The Andy Griffith Show” have?

Consider I am now 41 years old. “The Andy Griffith Show” stopped airing original episodes three years before I was born. Yet in the year 2012, the current generation knows about the show. Re-runs continue to air on various stations. Teenagers today know the name and some are even fans.

I can’t think of any television show with such lasting power. For me, the reason can be summed in one word: “life.”

Real life is not the way it was on “The Andy Griffith Show.” We all wish that it was, but in reality, it’s not, and is far from it in fact. It’s not reality for a sheriff not to wear a gun and for a bumbling sidekick to serve as deputy. It’s funny and appealing, but it’s not real life.

Part of the show’s drawing power was that we all wished life could be that way. Who doesn’t long for a life where we treat everyone with great respect, including the town drunk? Who among us wouldn’t want to sit down at Aunt Bee’s kitchen table for a helping of downhome food? Who wouldn’t want to have their car filled up at Wally’s Service Station by Gomer Pyle?

There were many memorable characters on “The Andy Griffith Show” including Barney, Gomer, Goober, Floyd, Aunt Bee, Opie, Otis and Thelma Lou. Yet my favorite had to be Andy Taylor, portrayed to perfection by Griffith. I always admired how straight forward he played that role, allowing other characters on the show to shine. It shows how Griffith always had his ego in check. He put the well being of the entire show over his personal interests.

Griffith played many roles during his decades long acting career, but one I will always remember was when he portrayed John Wallace in the fact-based “Murder in Coweta County.” Filmed partly in my hometown of Monticello, Griffith played a ruthless land baron who was convicted of murder and eventually executed in the late 40s. Many wondered if Griffith, known for playing the ultra likeable role of Andy Taylor, could pull off playing such a villain.

Even watching the movie today, almost 30 years later, there’s no doubt Griffith excelled in the role. Perhaps it was because he enjoyed playing such an opposite character, but there’s no doubt he was the star of the movie, even with legendary Johnny Cash in a co-lead part as sheriff Lamar Potts.

As well as Griffith played that role (and numerous others), he will always be known to most as Andy Taylor, sheriff of Mayberry. It’s fitting because from multiple accounts after his death, Griffith really was Taylor in real life. He was humble, friendly, the good neighbor and the good friend. We all felt we knew him, even if we never saw him in person.

Andy Taylor is no longer with us, but the memory of Andy Griffith will likely live on, at least in re-runs, for several more generations. The show has enjoyed the ultimate lasting power and appeal. A nostalgic cable network aired numerous episodes recently of the show.

It’s strange how we become attached to actors and television characters. I long for a life as a resident of Mayberry even though I know that’s not how the real world is. Perhaps we can all learn a lesson from sheriff Andy Taylor on how to treat each other and how to solve life’s problems. Something tells me we’d be much better off if we took that approach. You’ll be missed sheriff.

Monticello native Chris Bridges is editor of the Barrow Journal in Winder. He welcomes feedback from readers of The Monticello News at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.