Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by albert wbmutbb on July 10, 2012 at 11:50pm

There are LOTS of great colored episodes without Barney in 'em, Jillian!

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Permalink Reply by Jillian on July 11, 2012 at 4:04am

Albert,

What are your favorite colored ones?

Jillian  ;)

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Permalink Reply by albert wbmutbb on July 11, 2012 at 2:31pm

Hmmm.... Singer in Town, Dinner at Eight... the Hollywood ones are pretty good too, Jillian.  I especially enjoy the back an' forth that Andy does with that publicity agent (played by Sid Melton).

                                                                                                                                                      - albert

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Permalink Reply by Chris Boatman on July 11, 2012 at 8:45am

I love some of the colored ones. I'm just not a fan of the character Warren Ferguson. After season six, for me, is when the colored episodes got better. However, there where a few colored episodes in season six that I really enjoyed. " The Return of Barney Fife", "The Legend of Barney Fife", " Wyatt Earp Rides Again", The Gypsies" , "Aunt Bee Takes a Job" and the few episodes that have the Taylor family in Hollywood. I realize that two of those episodes have Barney in them, but I can't  help it I'm a fan of the one bullet man ;)

 

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Permalink Reply by Larry Grainger on July 11, 2012 at 10:49am

My own opinion is the episodes that strongly feature Floyd the barber and Goober still remain funny.  As well, any episodes with Malcolm Merriweather and/or Ernest T. Bass are certainly entertaining.  It is asking a lot to replace a talent like Don Knotts and a character like Barney Fife.  Even Andy Griffith said the Warren Ferguson character just didn't work, and no I am not a fan of that entry either.  Also, some of the better writers didn't write as many scripts for seasons 6, 7, and 8.  Sure there are more "color" episodes that I dislike than B&W, but all in all, the entire series is still better than most other offerings today.  By the way, "Dinner at Eight" is as funny as any B&W episode, IMHO.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Boatman on July 11, 2012 at 1:23pm

Hey Larry. I'm glad you brought up Floyd, I loved his character on the show. I have a question for you. Do you remember the name of the episode where Floyd pretends to be a rich man to impress a woman he met over some "pen pal" type of service? I have only seen this episode once and have wanted to watch it again. However I can't seem to remember the name of the episode or what season it was in.

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Permalink Reply by Larry Grainger on July 11, 2012 at 3:20pm

The episode is "Floyd the Gay Deceiver." I did have to look up the season; it was Season 3. By the way, there is a complete episode guide over on imayberry.com.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Boatman on July 11, 2012 at 3:49pm

Oh very cool. Thank you so much for finding that info for me. Will have to fire up netflix and watch it tonight. And thanks for letting me know about the episode guide, will check it out.

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Permalink Reply by Keevy Hazelton on July 11, 2012 at 12:08pm

I never watch, 'The Legend of Barney Fife,' because the director makes Barney act so foolish and cowardly. Way over done, IMO.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Boatman on July 11, 2012 at 1:20pm

I don't know Keevy, IMO it was classic Barney. There where a few older episodes that I can think of, were Barney displayed the same characteristics you mentioned above as he did in "The Legend of Barney Fife".  That's what  makes TAGS so great everyone can watch the same episode and get a different take/idea of it.

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Permalink Reply by Brent Seguine on July 12, 2012 at 8:39am

The loss of Knotts, the switch to color photography, mostly new writers, and a new producer (actually, Bob Ross was running the show in the 5th season although he only received Assoc. Prod. credit; Aaron Ruben was still the Producer of title, but spent most his time running USMC that year), combined to give the final three seasons a different feel and tone.

There are many fine episodes throughout those 3 years, and I feel that viewers who dismiss them are missing out on some great TAGS.  Some of my favorites include...

• Opie's Job
• Aunt Bee, the Swinger
• The Bazaar
• The Legend of Barney Fife
• Wyatt Earp
• The Gypsies
• The County Clerk
• A Singer in Town
• The Lodge
• The Barbershop Quartet
• The Ballgame
• Politics Begin at Home
• Big Fish in a Small Town
• Only a Rose
• Otis, the Deputy
• Dinner at Eight
• Floyd's Babershop
• Suppose Andy Gets Sick
• Howard's New Life
• Goober the Executive
• Emmett's Brother-in-Law
• The Church Benefactors
• Goober Goes to an Auto Show
• Aunt Bee's Big Moment
• Helen's Past
• The Wedding
• Sam For Town Council

I know I'm in the minority, but with the exception of "The Legend of Barney Fife," I'm not enamored of Don's return episodes.  They're good and it's great to see our old friend again, but they don't show 'Barney' at his best.  And "The Return of Barney Fife" of course throws us the shocker of 'Thelma Lou' marrying someone else (thank you RETURN TO MAYBERRY for rectifying that misstep).

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