RIP Matlock Star Andy Griffith 86

[searadiofreak]

Matlock actually lasted more seasons than Mayberry, but Mayberry had more hours of programming, due to the half-hour format, and more episodes than Matlock. I would guess most will remember Griffith more for Mayberry for a variety of reasons. Namely, he was at his prime during this series, but also the shows were generally better quality than Matlock. (Not to diminish Matlock, it was one of the longer lasting detective drama crime series in the 80's and 90's, though I guess the demos for the program (upper), eventually killed it. A typical example of taking a star and milking every rating point out of him as possible.

 

[quadraphonic]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2012/07/andy-griffith-dies-at-age-86/1

Best actor from the 1960's to 1990's. He had two great TV shows the Andy Griffith show and Matlock. He is best known for giving Director Ron Howard for his first stint in acting.

He's best known as "Sheriff Andy Taylor" and "Ben Matlock" and for being a Southern gentleman who lived into his 80s and entertained people and stayed out of the tabloids.
If "gave Ron Howard the part of Opie" comes up in a conversation, it's long after what he's "best known for" has been covered, or someone is stretching a bit to make a point about something else...

 

[quadraphonic]

Andy was buried five hours after his death, which makes me think that
either he or his family did not want a funeral. Can you imagine how packed
a church would be for a public funeral?

That was probably an "Andy" thing first, and therefore a family thing too.
Outside of promoting his acting work and records when he was "working", after that was over, he never seemed to try to be in the limelight or make a spectacle of himself. Even though he could have done whatever he wanted in NC.
Of course, had he done that, it would have eroded our nostalgic view of him and his contribution to culture. Then lots more people would be saying "Good riddance, liberal" or "Shoulda stuck to Mayberry, old man!" or whatever internet people might say.
I'm glad he didn't become "that guy" though. The way he lived his life out, a public funeral would fill up the biggest place in Manteo, for sure. To have it anywhere else, I doubt he'd want that at all.

 

[ixnay]

I'll miss Griffith's spots for Ritz crackers. "MMMMM-HM!"

I have vague memories of TAGS being on the Eye in first run. My main exposure to TAGS was probably in reruns on WPHL-17 Philadelphia around 1974, the year I turned 13. That was the year Happy Days premiered on the Alphabet, and I remember seeing a Philadelphia Inquirer TV Week cover story on HD with Howard on the cover, and the headline, "Opie Grows Up".

OTOH, Matlock was a weekly staple in our house (my mother has been a lifelong fan of court dramas). TAGS and Matlock had splendid theme songs.

RIP, Andy.

ixnay
(a visitor to Manteo and the Lost Colony NHS during my summer 2003 OBX vacation. Splendid looking town. [Didn't see the Lost Colony play though])

 

[vchimpanzee]

Of course, had he done that, it would have eroded our nostalgic view of him and his contribution to culture. Then lots more people would be saying "Good riddance, liberal" or "Shoulda stuck to Mayberry, old man!" or whatever internet people might say.

I was reading that Sheriff Andy would vote for Pat McCrory, but Andy Griffith endorsed Bev Perdue.

Wonder if he regretted that?

I haven't watched either of his most popular shows in years, but I did enjoy them and this is sad news.

Around here he's still on every weekday at 5:30 instead of news. Probably just the black and white episodes too, since they used to save the color ones for weekends late at night.