10 Classic TV Series You Didn't Know Were Spinoffs
1. The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)
Set in the idyllic Southern town of Mayberry, The Andy Griffith Show centered on the lives of a widower sheriff and his son Opie, played by Ron Howard. They were looked after by a caring Aunt Bee, played by Frances Bavier. Don Knotts played Sheriff Taylors clumsy and overly enthusiastic deputy Barney Fife.
The strength of the show was in both the depth and appeal of its characters and in the solid writing of its stories. Howard has said that the Griffith set was among his best experiences in show business. That the spirit of collaboration, extended even to child actor Howard, is rare in television. If one is to judge by the reruns of the program, The Andy Griffith seemed to have lost its steam by the time Don Knotts left the show at the conclusion of the fifth season. Interestingly enough, however, the series continued in the Neilson top 10 for another three years, and finished off its run at first place. Mayberrys Sheriff Taylor was first seen in an episode of The Danny Thomas show, which ran from 1953 to 1964. Griffith played the sheriff of a rural small town who arrests Thomas for running a stop sign. The episode, Danny Meets Andy Griffith was picked up immediately by sponsor General Foods and The Andy Griffith Show quickly debuted on CBS in October of 1960. The spin-off was a creative and financial success, if only for this reason: while most series last about ten years in syndication, The Andy Griffith Show is still airing on American television more than 50 years later. Not bad for a hick sheriff from a small town.