Down-home humor and an
endearing cast of characters helped to
make The Andy Griffith Show one of
the most beloved comedies in the history
of television. Introduced as a spinoff from The Danny
Thomas Show in 1960, The Andy Griffith Show ran for eight
seasons in prime time.

Widower Andy Taylor divides his time between raising his young son, Opie, and his job as sheriff (and Justice of the Peace) of the sleepy North Carolina town, Mayberry. Andy and Opie live with Andy's Aunt Bee, who serves as a surrogate mother to both father and son. Andy's nervous cousin, Barney Fife, is his deputy sheriff whose utter incompetence is tolerated because Mayberry is virtually crime-free.

The Andy Griffith Show halted production while it was still number one in the ratings. When Andy Griffith exited the series in 1968, Councilman Sam Jones (played by Ken Berry) took over as the sheriff of Mayberry. Re-christened Mayberry, R.F.D., the series ran for three seasons. The town of Mayberry retreated into the world of reruns, where it has remained pleasantly unchanged ever since.