Andy Griffith Show: Complete First Season [Blu-ray] [1961] [US Import]

I used to watched this show in my youth. Now, it reminds of the times when things were slow and easy. Oh, for the good old days. Thanks you Andy and guys for one of the best things from my past. Now, where is Dick Van Dyke, Danny Thomas and, of course, Lassie and Timmy? Not to mention Leave it to Beaver?

Read my review for seasons two and three. I don't know what else to say about these series except they were pleasant light viewing when I was trying to 'wind down' at the end of a busy day.

Wholesome, beautifully scripted and stands the test of time.

Hilarious!!

the show revolves around the widowed sheriff, Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith), and his young son Opie (Ron Howard), Andy's Aunt Bea (Francis Xavier) who keeps house and helps with Opie, the deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts), and their life in a small town in North Carolina named Mayberry. Barney Fife is incompetent, but there is not much lawbreaking going on in the sleepy little town, so he usually stirs things up by going over the top (such as trying to write tickets to sweet elderly ladies for crossing the road away from the crossing points). Andy was also the Justice of the Peace, so often married people and held court for traffic offenders and such. Andy's refusal to carry a gun or rifle unless completely necessary (such as when bank robbers tried to rob the town bank) also make for some of the plots, as Barney is very gung ho about carrying his gun, but is made to carry the one bullet for it in his pocket as he usually shoots the floor, ceiling or a wall rather than anything he wants to actually hit. His view on weapons and reliance on common sense and friendliness to maintain order rather than fancy techniques and carrying a gun also cause the stae police and FBI to look down upon him when they have cause to operate in his area, but he often demonstrates that without it, they do not have a good chance of success.The occasional crime features, but the longest running thread through the entire programme is Andy's relationship with his son, Opie. He helps Opie learn about personal responsibility and doing what's right, and he himself makes mistakes in how he relates to his son, leading them both to grow together and forge a tight family bond. The second longest thread is on the adult relationships. By this I am not only referring to Andy's dating, but the relationships in the community with neighbours and friends.Situations arise that give Andy and his family and friends pause for thouht and they each carry away a deeper understanding of community and friendship without being overly preachy.~~~The Cast~~~As you read the cast list, no doubt you will find a few familiar faces. The first season main cast are:Sheriff Andy Taylor - Andy GriffithOpie Taylor - Ron Howard (as Ronny Howard)Deputy Barney Fife - Don KnottsAunt Bea - Frances BavierEllie Walker - Elinor DonahueAndy Griffith is spot on in his portayal of a laid back father and small town sheriff. He has a genuine, easy smile that makes you want to smile right back, and his joking manner with his cousin and deputy ring with the warmth and familiarity you would expect fro a long term association, and his gentleness with his son is one that radiates affection. Francis Bavier is a delight. Her maiden aunt is played to perfection, with demonstatable affection and lends honesty to her middle aged insecurities. To be quite honest, many of her foibles remind me very much of my own mother in law today, so it goes to show times may change, but people do not. Don knotts superbly lends his comic talents to his role as the over eager but rather incompetant deputy, but without being over the top. his facial expressions are subtle and lend realism to his hyper active deputies antics. Young Ron Howard also shines here, showing his early promise as a talented actor. No wooden child actor here, reciting cadence like lines. Elinor Donahue plays Ellie walker with just the right amount of chip on her shoulder, as the new female chemist fresh from uni who feels she has something to prove in the male dominated professional world, and who often gets into a mess romantically with her assumptions as to motivation. because of it All in all, a fine ensemble cast that display a fine tuned cohesion without any jarring notes to ruin your viewing pleasure.As it was filmed in 1960, it is full screen and in black and white. Being in black and white has not diminished its watch ability even by the youngest members of the family, ages 3 and 5. Indeed, they actually ask for us to watch at least one episode during family TV time in the evenings. The picture transfers are clear and crisp without any distortion, having been remastered with great care. The sound is Dolby Digital, but as it was mono originally, it still is. This means you will likely need to turn your TV set up a bit to hear it best, though it is not muffled sounding.The set has 4 discs, each in its own case, and the series is complete with all 32 episodes in correct order present. For an episode guide list, you can visit [...] fith_Show_episodes#First_ Season_.281960-1961.29 . It also gives a brief outline of the plots.The first series' box set does not have any extras of any sort on them, though later series' do have the original sponsor's spots using the cast. It would be nice if Paramount reissued this series with the same, and perhaps some archived material such as old interviews.When all is said and done, this is a lovely series to watch. Buy this set and come home to Aunt Bea's delicious home cooking, and pondering the art of being a parent with Andy, and let your children (if you have any!) learn about life with Opie, and how to do your small part in making a friendly community. You will not regret a single moment.

Classic comedy series from when I was a kid. Great memories.

This first season-a must for anyone even remotely interested in vintage television at its best. While the first episode, technicaly, should be considered an episode of the Danny Thomas Show (originally airing 2/15/1960), the first episode of the actual series (airing 10/3/1960) is well worth the price of the set. This collection introduces us to some of the most unique television characters ever created: Sheriff Andrew Jackson Taylor, Deputy Sheriff Bernard P. Fife, Opie Taylor, Beatrice 'Aunt Bee' Taylor, Floyd Lawson, Otis Campbell, Ellie Mae Walker and Thelma Lou (we never know her last name).The following is a brief synopsis of each featured episode, with some trivia.Disc 11. The New Housekeeper:Andy and Opie's housekeeper, Rose, leaves to be married and Opie finds Aunt Bee difficult to accept as Rose's replacement.**1st of two episodes where Barney is referenced as Andy's cousin.2. The Manhunt:State police comb the Mayberry area for an escaped convict, refusing Andy and Barney's offer of help.**2nd time Barney is referenced as Andy's cousin.**1st appearance of Otis Campbell, the town drunk.**Watch for Barney's mother.3. The Guitar Player:Andy helps Mayberry's best guitar player, Jim Lindsey (James Best)get a job with Bobby Fleet (Henry Slate) and His Band with a Beat.4. Ellie Comes to Town:The "new lady druggist", Ellie Walker (Elinor Donahue), comes to town and has trouble adapting to Mayberry life.**This is Ellie's 1st appearance.5. Irresistible Andy:Andy mistakenly thinks Ellie is a "desperate, determined hunter" eyeing him for matrimony.6. Runaway Kid:Opie refuses to answer Andy's questions because of his promise to the runaway boy staying with the Taylors.**Watch for Andy on trial for a ticket, w/Barney as the judge.7. Andy the Matchmaker:An arranged fake hold-up at the drugstore is orchestrated by Andy and Ellie in order to boost Barney's morale and speed-up Barney's courtin' of Miss Rosemary (Amzie Strickland).8. Opie's Charity:Andy is upset with Opie for a charity drive donation of "3 miserable, measly pennies" , but realizes his mistake learning of Opie's intensions with his money.**Watch for the story about 'Horatio, the half a boy'.Disc 29. A Feud is a Feud:The Wakefields and Carters-2 families feuding "cause we's a feudin'..., cause we's a shootin' at each other", with Andy trying to stop the feud.10. Ellie for Council:Ellie runs for town council, 1st time a woman has run in Mayberry.**This is the 1st time Otis Campbell's wife appesrs.11. Christmas Story:In true Scrooge-form, Ben Weaver forces Andy to jail a family on Cristmas Eve.**This is the 1st appearance of Ben Weaver (Will Wright).12. Stranger in Town:A stranger (William Lanteau) arrives in Mayberry and mysteriously knows everything about everyone in town.**This is the 1st episode with Floyd the barber, BUT played by Walter Baldwin, not Howard McNear.13. Mayberry Goes Hollywood:A movie producer (Dan Frazier) decides to make a movie in Mayberry, and the town goes Hollywood-crazy.**This is the 1st appearance of Mayor Pike (Dick Elliot).**This is also the 1st appearance of Floyd Lawson played by the classic Howard McNear.14. The Horse Trader:Andy and Barney have to sell the town cannon and nobody is interested. Andy then exaggerates to an antique dealer (Casey Adams) to sell it, Opie learns the wrong lesson and Andy has to fix it.15. Those Gossipin' Men:A shoe salesman (Jack Finch) comes to town, the men think he's a talent scout and make fools of themselves.16. The Beauty Contest:Andy judges the Miss Mayberry Beauty Pageant while bombarded by townsfolk requests for his vote.**Be ready for Floyd's own song, 'Hail to thee, Miss Mayberry'.Disc 317. Alcohol and Old Lace:Two elderly sisters, Clarabelle and Jennifer Morrison, run a still out of their greenhouse while helping Andy and Barney arrest moonshiners.**This is the 1st episode we get to see Barney drunk.18. Andy the Marriage Counselor: Andy tries to make peace between an arguing couple, Fred and Jeannie Boone, with them taking out their anger on the town. Andy'll fix it.**This is the 1st episode we witness Barney's passion for the martial arts.19. Mayberry on Record:A record producer (Hugh Marlowe) comes to Mayberry to record local music. Townfolk invest in the record to Andy's dismay.20. Andy Saves Barney's Morale:Andy goes out of town "for 8 measly, little ol' hours", Barney arrest everybody. Andy comes back and everyone no longer takes Barney seriously, Barney loses his confidence, Andy fixes everything, as usual.**Be sure to note the upside-down state map of Nevada to Andy's left in the opening scene.21. Andy and the Gentleman Crook:A smooth criminal, 'Gentleman Dan Caldwell' (Dan Tobin), visits the Mayberry jail, winning-over everyone, but Andy.**This is the 1st episode we witness an Opie and Andy story-telling adventure as only Andy can do it.22. Cyrano Andy:Andy visits Thelma Lou (Betty Lynn) on Barney's behalf, Thelma Lou then uses it to make Barney jealous.**This is the 1st appearance of Thelma Lou.23. Andy and Opie, Housekeepers:Aunt Bee goes out of town and Andy and Opie trash the house...then it's cleaned, then trashed, then cleaned, then trashed, all for Aunt Bee.24. The New Doctor:A new doctor (George Nader) comes to town, Andy gets jealous of the doctor's relationship with Ellie and ends up proposing to her.Disc 425. A Plaque for Mayberry:A direct decendant of a Revolutionary War hero resides in Mayberry and is to be honored - and it is the 'most spirited' Mayberry resident.**Be sure to enjoy the "Barney Fife-Peter Piper-nose pinchin' test for drunks".26. The Inspector:The state inspector (Tod Andrews) visits Andy and Barney, shocked and amazed by the sheriff department's old-fashioned methods.27. Ellie Saves a Female:Ellie helps a farm girl (Edris March) find her 'outer' beauty, to her father's (R. G. Armstrong) dismay.28. Andy Forecloses:Andy is forced by mean ol' Ben Weaver to evict a local family who's renting from Ben.**This is the 1st episode we are 'introduced' to Barney's Juanita Beasley (even though we never see her).29. Quiet Sam:Barney suspects a secretive rural farmer (William Schallert) may be a criminal.**This is the 1st time we see Andy have a cigarette.**Barney organizes his 1st posse.30. Barney Gets His Man:Barney accidentally catches a wanted criminal who vows to "get you deputy!". He then breaks loose and heads for Mayberry.**This is the last epsidode from Season 1 with Thelma Lou.31. The Guitar Player Returns:Guitarist Jim Lindsey (from episode 3) returns to Mayberry bragging of his success. Andy discovers otherwise, and fixes it.**This is the last episode ever with Ellie.32. Bringing Up Opie:Aunt Bee decides that Opie shouldn't visit the courthouse anymore, to Opie, Andy and Barney's dismay.I have since purchased Seasons 2 and 5 and see no end in sight to the future purchases of Seasons 3 and 4. Like many, I too lose much of my interest beginning with Season 6 (the beginning of the color episodes).

Even though you might catch Andy on a nostalgia channel, you'll never realize how much they cut out till you get the full episode dvd; SO great to watch without commercials, and the extra added minutes esp the epilogue. Season 1 has many of our favorite episodes that we can always visit when the news of the world makes you shake your head and wonder what's wrong with us. The added bonus is full screen and a great picture and a story of family, friendships and life lessons that may make you laff, cry and always make the "real" world easier to deal with...at least for awhile.

The Andy Griffith show is timeless television. With near zero references to then modern plight, TAGS simply entertains us with the basics of comedy long before the era of shock, social statements, and the shortened attention span. TAGS is about when the world wasn't spinning fast and we lived in black and white.The New Housekeeper: Aunt Bee joins to live with the family to help take care of Opie. Ungrateful, Opie literally prays to the Almighty she leaves. However, Opie learns fast Aunt Bee can't take care of herself and needs to stay.The Manhunt: Aunt Bee interrupts a manhunt with fried chicken. After the State Police pleads Andy and Barney to stay out, Barney gives the killer fugitive a firearm. More dangerous than ever, this forces Andy to reach deep into his pocket full of tricks.The Guitar Player: The Elvis of Mayberry needs a break to get into the business. Andy leverages his influences as a law enforcement officer to give a jerk with a guitar an audience. Watchable episode, annoying character.Runaway Kid: Opie withholds an awful truth from Andy as he takes in a little boy looking for shelter.Opie's Charity: For years, the truth of a man's death is buried. Until, he rises from his grave and walks the streets of Mayberry! Meanwhile, Andy frowns on Opie's pursuit to buy a coat for one of the town's poorest.Ellie Comes to Town: Young, pretty, and smart, Ellie is a stickler to rules and pharmacy law. This irks the townsfolk. One of them needing pills to live. Unmoved, Ellie watches an old woman lie in her death bed.Irresistible Andy: Newcomer Ellie discovers the town has chosen her to marry the high sheriff, Andy. Angry, she decides to fight off the Wicker Man.A Feud is a Feud: Andy refuses to marry a young couple in love until their respective families continues feuding. Considering himself a modern Shakespeare, Andy rewrites Romeo & Juliet.Andy the Matchmaker: Andy runs an elaborate plot involving crime and deception to give Barney the courage to ask a demure, spinster for a date. We will never see her again.Stranger in Town: He comes to Mayberry with a smile and knowledge of all who lives there. This shadowy stranger threatens to corner the market of gasoline in Mayberry and take one of the women. Andy decides to step in but not before an angry mob gathers. A disturbing episode.Christmas Story: Ben Weaver, the man in black, is Ebeneezer Scrooge. Using "old-school" politicking, he has a moonshiner nemesis locked up on Christmas Eve. Hilarity ensues.Ellie for Council: A woman running for office? Oh the humanity! Maybe the one episode that is certainly dated. "We want Ellie! We want Ellie!"Mayberry Goes Hollywood: A filmmaker sets his camera for the genuine charm of Mayberry. The mayor and townsfolk, drunk with glee and self-congratulation, decide to chop down the town's oldest tree in an offering of tribute. Andy, sober, steps in and brings reality to the world of fantasy.The Horse Trader: Deriding his son for unethical behavior, Andy picks up Opie's business practices to offload the town's rusty canon on an unsuspected visitor.Those Gossipin Men: A quiet, humble man with a stack of shoe boxes takes up a room at the Mayberry Hotel during a time of rampant rumor mongering infesting the town and its folk. His business routine is interrupted with inane proposals for show business.Andy Saves Barney's Morale: Power hungry and ignorant, Barney arrests Mayberry's prominent citizens. When none of his charges stick, its time to consider a new deputy. Or is it?Alcohol and Old Lace: In the dog house with his teacher, Opie searches for the legendary "flower-making machine" to win favors from the gods. Meanwhile, Andy and Barney discover a moon shining operation they can't seem to break.Andy and the Marriage Counselor: Making light on the social ills of domestic violence, Andy tries his best on lecturing communication skills. He fails.Mayberry on Record: Like Moses from the mountaintop, a well-dressed man bewilders Mayberry with his tape recorder the size of a baby elephant. Recording blabber and milk jug bands, he convinces the town folk to ask him to invest their savings. When he skips town, an all out manhunt begins.The Beauty Pageant: Hand-picked to be sole judge of a hastened produced beauty pageant, Andy learns the world of vote-buying. He keeps looking at Ellie, but she is unimpressed with frivolous celebration of physical beauty.Andy and the Gentleman Crook: The renown villain, Gentleman Dan, is captured and imprisoned in Mayberry. His powers of persuasion and illusion wins him freedom until Andy arrives just in time.Cyrano Andy: Barney tries again for a steady in Thelma Lou. However, he needs Andy's help in delivering the lines. Thelma Lou, expects more effort from her men, teaches the boys a lesson.Andy and Opie, Housekeepers: Aunt Bee goes on a trip. Clara cleans Andy's house. Aunt Bee insults Clara.The New Doctor: A new doctor moves into Mayberry and talks about an engagement with Ellie. Seems no likes the new doctor and is never seen again after this episode.A Plaque for Mayberry: A mysterious search for the last living descendant of famed Nathan Tibbs leads to Otis the town drunk. He celebrates with a speech and new shoes.The Inspector: A state bureaucrat is appalled at the law enforcement practices he discovers at the Mayberry courthouse. Even witnessing Barney lock himself behind bars isn't enough to write up a reprimand. The inspector is later whisked away.Ellie Saves a Female: Cosmetics, perfume, and a pair of white gloves buys a farmer a son-in-law and steals handwork from his competition with talents only a woman can offer. A very dry episode, not my favorite.Andy Forecloses: A show mirroring our economic times, Andy begrudgingly fulfills his duty by kicking a family out of Ben Weaver's house because they stop paying their legally obligated debts. Since no one likes Ben Weaver, Andy comes up with ways to skirt the law.Quiet Sam: A decorated Korean War veteran stocks up on supplies and holes up at his home as law enforcement posse waits for him outside.Barney Gets His Man: Running from the law, a fugitive is body chopped by martial arts expert, Barney Fife. Obsessed with vengeance, the convict escapes and pursues Barney. A one-on-one confrontation is destined.The Guitar Player Returns: Loss of fame and fortune, hack guitar player Jim Lindsey returns to Mayberry. He soaks the town with his debts and plots a way to escape. Watch the 1960's interpretation of the repo-man.Bringing Up Opie: Aunt Bee, never married and no children, shoves parenting advice onto Andy. Opie becomes despondent as his future involves turnip farming. It takes a near-death experience of Opie before Bee swallows her pride.

The first season of the legendary Andy Griffith Show includes a few elements that would change as the series developed. The main change is the character Andy Taylor. In these early episodes, Andy is shown as a goofy hick. Later, Andy would develop into the wise, small-town sheriff and straight man to the comedic genius of Don Knotts. Certain details also reveal that the writers weren't exactly sure where to go with the characters. Barney Fife is introduced as Andy's cousin, for example. Still, the greatness of the series was there from the start. I am surprised that the Make Room for Daddy (Danny Thomas Show) episode that introduced the world to Andy is not included but, still, this set is "really big; Big, Big." Here are the 32 (wow!) episodes from the first season which originally aired in 1960-1:The New Housekeeper: It's hard to believe that Opie did not like Aunt Bee when she first arrived to replace a beloved housekeeper. Here, Barney is introduced as Andy's cousin. It would not remain that way, of course.The Manhunt: The state police search for an escaped convict in Mayberry and do not want the local small-town force involved.The Guitar Player: Andy schemes to get local guitar phenom Jim Lindsey (played by James Best, best known for his role as Rosco Coletrane in The Dukes of Hazzard) in a traveling jazz band Bobby Fleet and his Band with a Beat (once referred to as "Freddie Fleet...").Runaway Kid: Andy's "Golden Rule" lesson to Opie about never ratting out a friend backfires when Opie brings home an 8-year-old runaway.Opie's Charity: Andy is furious when Opie donates a "measly three cents" to a children's charity drive. No Barney in this one.Ellie Comes to Town: Ellie Walker (played by Elinor Donahue formerly of Father Knows Best fame) is introduced as the new "lady druggist" who is unaware how things work in Mayberry, especially concerning Emma Watson's pills. Ellie was my favorite of Andy's girlfriends. She was much more cute and bubbly than the woman Andy ended up with (sour Helen Crump).Irresistible Andy: Andy thinks Ellie has plans of matrimony for him so he decides to put her "on the scent of other game."A Feud is a Feud: Andy becomes Fryer Lawrence in his attempt to end an 87-year feud between the Wakefield and Carter families that is interfering with a young couple's wedding plans.Andy the Matchmaker: Barney shy?! In the beginning he was. Andy tries to get him set up with a librarian-looking old maid known only as Miss Rosemary who refers to her potential suitor as "Mr. Fife." I am glad they did not carry on with this pathetic storyline.Christmas Story: Ben Weaver is a modern-day Scrooge [perfect casting for this role].Stranger in Town: A stranger comes to Mayberry who knows everything about the town and its residents and the townspeople are freaked out by it.Ellie for Council: The men of Mayberry are up-in-arms when they find out Ellie Walker is running for town council.Mayberry Goes to Hollywood: A movie producer wants to use Mayberry as the back drop for a film. His plans for a small-town setting are dashed when the town guzzies itself up for the occasion. One of my favorites.The Horse Trader: Ignoring his own advice to Opie, Andy plays fast and loose with the facts when trying to sell the old town cannon.The Gosspin' Men: Do men gossip? Aunt Bee thinks so when she starts a rumor about a salesman in town.Andy Saves Barney's Morale: So what else is new? Here, Barney is sheriff for a day--and arrests the whole town.Alcohol & Old Lace: One of my favorites. Two old ladies (not unlike "the recipe" ladies on The Waltons) knock out their competition by leading Andy and Barney on a still-smashing spree. It's OK to sell the good stuff on special occasions, of course.Andy & the Marriage Counselor: Andy tries to get the bickering Boones in the habit of getting along. Now the townspeople must be recipients of their pent-up wrath. A favorite of mine.Mayberry on Record: The folks of Mayberry invest their money in a folk album of local talent. Andy suspects the promoter to be a con artist. Could Andy be wrong about this one? Features bluegrass musicians who would become the Kentucky Colonels.The Beauty Contest: Another favorite of mine. Andy is sole judge of a beauty contest for Founder's Day and finds out it is a bad position to be in, especially with Floyd's niece and Mayor Pike's homely daughter among the contestants.Andy & the Gentlman Crook: Con man Dan Caldwell is incarcerated in the Mayberry jail and nearly makes a clean get-away on his "word as a gentleman."Cyrano Andy: Barney is having trouble with his love life? How can that be?Andy & Opie, Housekeepers: Andy may be wrong when he thinks Aunt Bee wants to see a clean house when she returns from visiting a relative.The New Doctor: A handsome young doctor arrives in Mayberry and Barney gets Andy worried that he may have his sites on Ellie.A Plaque for Mayberry: The townspeople can't await to honor the last descendant of a Revolutionary War hero, until they find out it is the town drunk, Otis.The Inspector: Another favorite of mine. A by-the-book courthouse inspector does not like what he sees in the Mayberry jail from the frilly doilies in the cells to Andy's way of handling a violent moonshiner. Andy walking right in the line of fire of the armed and scared moonshiner is classic. Andy rules!Ellie Saves a Female: A female farmhand has never used "female war paint" and perfume to show off her femininity and Ellie wants to change this despite the protest of the farmhand's father.Andy Forecloses: Ben Weaver insists Andy evict a financially-troubled young couple from their home. Andy decides to open Ben's eyes by being even more cruel than the gruff department store owner.Quiet Sam: Barney is suspicious of a mysterious farmer until he finds out the reason for the farmer's preoccupation.Barney Gets His Man: Barney captures an escaped con who vows revenge.The Guitar Player Returns: Jim Lindsey returns to Mayberry to a hero's welcome after leaving Bobby Fleet to set out on his own. His decision to go solo is not a good one.Bringing Up Opie: Aunt Bee forbids Opie to spend time at the courthouse because she believes it is a bad influence.