WHAT IT WAS . . .
Don’t you just sometimes flat out miss Andy Griffith? I do. I miss him even though his reruns are on television all the time. If you can’t find the Andy Griffith Show somewhere on television, well you can catch vintage episodes of Matlock. And then there are series and various movies that he starred in—dramatic and comedic.
But never have I missed him more than this week. This week
==when football is in the air,
==when in Super Bowl 2020 the San Francisco 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs. ==when they are running the movie Leatherheads, yet another football-themed movie.
Fear not, I will not wax on about football per se, as I am not well versed on the subject.
But Andy Griffith, I can handle the Andy Griffith topic. I think it was 1953 when Andy did a monologue about high school football. I remember all my uncles laughing so, that I just had to get tuned in and find out what was so funny. It was Andy Griffith, and he was hysterical as he, as a country preacher, described the game of football. I am 73 and I still find it just as funny all these years later.
But then, I also miss the Andy who was sheriff of Mayberry. Now, I am smart enough to know that some of it was because my father, the lawman, came home to our house each night. But that was not the whole story. I had a whole separate crush on Andy. You see, he always seemed to do the right thing in each episode, whether he was the sheriff, Opie’s father, Barney Fife’s best friend or the town good guy. He was always all about what was good and fair, and he took his duties seriously, both public and private duties.
Now, in real life, I am not sure about the person of Andy Griffith. One can read many details which may or may not be true. But some info has been repeated so often it is either great lore or the truth. For instance, it’s reported that he was a true real life friend to Don Knotts. And word was that he adored Ron Howard and took up a great deal of time teaching him “the business” -- as much as a youngster Ron’s tender age could absorb.
Was that all true? I don’t know from first hand observance, but I read many times that Andy had planned to be the funny man on The Andy Griffith Show. But when he saw Don Knotts in action, he switched the roles and made the sheriff the straight man. Why? That was best for business, sure, and would garner more fans and thus money, and perhaps keep the show going longer. Longer? It is an institution, the show that keeps on giving . . . funny scenarios, short morality plays, writing that conveys how to treat your neighbor and your family. The episodes go on and on, and I once heard that there was a set of Sunday School lessons built around some of those very Andy Griffith Show episodes.
I also think that he had a pretty big influence on Mr. Ron Howard, who still speaks highly of him. This is not to denigrate the parenting skills of the Howards, great people who raised a great son. But one must look at the business that Ron Howard chose – show business, the very profession his father and Andy pursued.
And I have no doubt about how true a friend he was to Don Knotts (and vice versa.) He took him into the actual writing of the show and made sure Knotts got star billing.
So, how am I so sure about Andy? Two reasons . . . Ron Howard being one of them. What a success story, what great gems Ron has directed and given us in the movie world. I think this could not have happened without an "Andy" in the wings. And his friendship with Knotts? I saw that evidenced on early morning news the day Don Knotts died. Andy was there to talk about his good friend, and revealed that he was with Don at the very end. Now, that’s a friend--and my spidey sense told me Andy was not acting, but was the real deal true friend. If someone has just one of those, that person’s life is blessed.
But to get back to the football story that helped launch Andy’s career . . . If you want to check it out you can find the football tale, “What It Was, Was Football” at Wikipedia:
And if your team tonight just ain’t delivering, go to the youtube site below for a laugh that will last you--the same football tale as recited by Andy Griffith: