The Andy Griffith Show - An Emmy-Winning Episode
Barney Comes To Mayberry - The 5th and Final Emmy for Don Knotts
“Barney Comes To Mayberry,” broadcast January 23rd, 1967, was the 212th episode of the classic CBS series The Andy Griffith Show, appearing during the seventh, next-to-last season. Ably directed by Lee Philips, who helmed the vast majority of the color episodes, the writing of Sid Morse continues the tradition of excellence established in the preceding seasons.
Don Knotts: His 5th and Final Emmy Win
Actor and comedian Don Knotts won his fifth and final Emmy for this episode. Many fans do not care for the color seasons (1965-1968) of the show, since this coincided with his decision to leave the series, yet any episode with Knotts as deputy Barney Fife is a must-see. After he left the series to pursue a film career with Universal in 1965, he made the unusual step of reappearing in five additional episodes staggered during 1966-1968. This is his third guest appearance.
Barney Comes To Mayberry
First, a little plot summary of the previous episode which also featured Knotts. Titled “A Visit To Barney Fife,” sheriff Andy Taylor, portrayed by star Andy Griffith, visited Barney at his new job as a detective in Raleigh, North Carolina, helping Barney nab a gang of shop-lifters while in the process keeping Barney from being fired by his new superiors.
In “Barney Comes To Mayberry,” Andy asks Barney to visit Mayberry to catch up on old times. Once Barney arrives in town via train, he believes the whole town is welcoming him. After he realizes a famous actress is returning to Mayberry (her hometown) in order to promote her latest movie, he is crest-fallen.
It turns out Barney and the actress were once classmates in elementary school. Since the actress needs a date to attend her film’s premiere, Barney is suggested by Andy. Hilarious and surprisingly touching moments then occur as the episode progresses.
Auto mechanic Goober Pyle, played by actor George Lindsey, is the only other series regular who appears, albeit briefly, as the majority of the episode centers around Barney and Andy.
Andy Griffith: The Unsung Hero
The friendship between Andy and Barney merits some discussion. Certain people wonder why Andy always bails out Barney, and to simply put it: they are best friends. In one scene, the hurt the viewer sees on Barney's face when he finds out the actress has a fiancé is very genuine, and it is comforting knowing that Andy is there to see Barney through the rejection.
Andy played his role with such ease, often acting the straight-man to Barney’s outlandish antics, that people tend to forget he was indeed not Sheriff Andy Taylor in real life. Today it is unfathomable that Griffith has never won an Emmy. In fact, he was only nominated once, and that was for a 1981 television movie.
Not Always Your Standard Sitcom
Fast forward a bit to the unexpected final scene of the main act. It is revealing to see in Mayberry that not everything always works out the way viewers would prefer it to, with Barney cutting his trip to Mayberry short.
After the main act, the 2-minute wrap-up is not to be missed. Andy reads a letter from Barney, and he and Aunt Bee talk about how they miss Barney. Andy says, "I guess there's just one Barney Fife."
Take that scene out of the context of this episode, and it perfectly sums up the way many fans still feel when watching the color episodes. It is also difficult to not think that Andy meant what he said outside of the show’s context, since he has admitted in interviews that Knotts was his best friend in real life, too. Knotts had left the perfect world of Mayberry, and it left a huge void, although it kept climbing in the ratings, hitting #1 its final season. Go figure.
The Genius of Don Knotts
Don Knotts was no doubt one of the most brilliant comedians of all-time. This episode lets the viewer see a range of emotions in Barney, including rejection, hurt, cockiness, and sincerity. Even though it is a comedy, he experiences feelings that many people have probably felt, giving the show an added sense of realism. Almost 50 years after the show debuted, viewers must still identify with Barney on some level.
In Don’s 1999 autobiography, entitled Barney Fife and Other Characters I Have Known, he said he played Barney as a child in a man's body, someone who cannot control his emotions. This episode is a prime example of his approach to playing Barney Fife. Fans of The Office on NBC should take notice the above description of Barney applies to office manager Michael Scott, portrayed by Steve Carell.
“Barney Comes To Mayberry” ultimately stands with many of the classic episodes from the black and white years of the show (1960-1965). It is fitting that Knotts won his final Emmy for this performance. For fans of the show, consider purchasing the complete unedited season dvds, available at all major retail outlets. Or, continue to enjoy it where it all started: on television.
The 7th Season of The Andy Griffith Show DVD cover
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Andy & Barney, 1966
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