Ron Howard reveals Andy Griffith’s comedic standards in the classic sitcom. In a recent interview on Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Ron Howard shed light on the comedic principles that guided The Andy Griffith Show.
The former child star, who played Opie Taylor on the beloved 1960s sitcom, explained how Andy Griffith’s discerning approach shaped the humor of the show. Host Conan O’Brien noted that The Andy Griffith Show was a “character comedy” known for its willingness to embrace long pauses, allowing the humor to emerge naturally from the characters themselves. Howard emphasized that Griffith was adamant about avoiding broad jokes. “Andy used to kill jokes if they were too broad,” Howard said. “He believed the South was plenty funny on its own without having to resort to slapstick or over-the-top antics.”
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Howard explained that while Griffith did not hold a producer credit, his sensibilities deeply influenced the show. Executive producer Sheldon Leonard, a former character actor and a successful television producer, supported Griffith’s vision. Leonard’s influence was evident across many successful shows, including The Danny Thomas Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show.
“Andy used to kill jokes if they were too broad. He believed the South was plenty funny on its own without having to resort to slapstick or over-the-top antics.”
Griffith’s disdain for broader comedies like Petticoat Junction and The Beverly Hillbillies, which relied on sketch-style humor, set The Andy Griffith Show apart. “He didn’t like those shows because they were essentially sketches,” Howard explained. This commitment to character-driven comedy helped the series maintain a unique tone, different from other single-camera shows of the era.
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Originating from an episode of The Danny Thomas Show, The Andy Griffith Show starred Andy Griffith as Andy Taylor, the widowed sheriff of Mayberry, North Carolina. The cast included Don Knotts as the bumbling deputy Barney Fife, Frances Bavier as Aunt Bee, and Ron Howard as Andy’s young son, Opie. The series, running from 1960 to 1968, was a consistent top-ten hit, never ranking lower than seventh in the yearly ratings. Its final season topped the Nielsen charts, a feat matched by few other shows.
In 2003, a reunion special titled The Andy Griffith Show: Back to Mayberry brought together surviving cast members Griffith, Howard, Knotts, and Jim Nabors. The special featured reminiscences and archival footage, celebrating the enduring legacy of the show.
The Andy Griffith Show remains a landmark in television history, revered for its warm, character-centric humor and its reflection of a simpler, comedic style that avoided the broader strokes of its contemporaries.
