Series Debut: 1960 We're digging pretty far back for this one. When it comes to classic TV sitcoms, Andy Griffith is up there along with Happy Days, I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver and others, but it's the catchy, whistling opening tune of "The Fishin' Hole" during the opening of Andy Griffith, that plays as Andy and Opie head to their old fishing hole, that is most memorable. Written by Earle Hagen and Herbert Spencer, it's a song that harkens back to simpler times, and to a bygone era. The Andy Griffith Show ran from 1960 to 1968, and brought us Griffith to the small screen, Don Knotts, and Ron Howard. The show was never ranked lower than 7th in the ratings, and was ranked at one point by TV Guide as the 9th best show in American history.