The Andy Griffith Show is one of three series to be cancelled while number one in the Neilsen Ratings. I Love Lucy and Seinfeld are the other two. The series ended because Griffith had tired of the role. CBS was able to rework the show as Mayberry RFD for three more seasons. His followup series Headmaster in 1970 [14 episodes] and The New Andy Griffith Show in 1971 [10 episodes] both on CBS disappeared quickly. Paydirt returned in 1986 for Griffith when he began a nine year portraying folksy lawyer Ben Matlock.

Or this one:



Or even this one: 


 

RadioActive wrote:

It was The Andy Griffith Show on CBS, that became an instant classic, was a ratings hit and ran for eight years. It also gave the world Barney Fife and Floyd The Barber and introduced the world to "Ronnie" Howard, who would become a star actor and director, although no one could have imagined that then. ("Imagine" would become his production company name.)

One thing the author of the article at the link below doesn't mention is that the pilot originally aired on The Danny Thomas Show. In that episode, Thomas is driving through the small town of Mayberry when he's stopped by Sheriff Andy Taylor for going through a stop sign.

With his notorious temper, Thomas refuses to pay the fine and winds up spending the night in jail. It aired in 1960 and led to what would become the Griffith show. 

Never seen it? You can watch the pilot below. 

65 Years Ago Today: The Andy Griffith Show Premieres on CBS, Becoming a Timeless Classic

Some more great trivia about Andy Griffith that I never knew - Frances Bavier (Aunt Bee), Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle) and Don Knotts (Barney Fife) either originally turned down their roles or were never planned to be cast in the first place. Hard to imagine this show without them, especially Barney Fife. 

How Your Favorite ‘Andy Griffith Show’ Stars Almost Didn’t End Up on the Show

mace wrote:

His followup series Headmaster in 1970 [14 episodes] and The New Andy Griffith Show in 1971 [10 episodes] both on CBS disappeared quickly. Paydirt returned in 1986 for Griffith when he began a nine year portraying folksy lawyer Ben Matlock.

For the record, I quite liked Headmaster, but the audience at large clearly didn't. As for the new Andy Griffith show, it was confusing to most viewers and for good reason. I personally have no memory of it at all. 

What Was ‘The New Andy Griffith Show’ and Why Was It Cancelled After Just One Season?