In the 1960s, a series of popular television comedies—among them The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–71; see entry under 1960s— TV and Radio in volume 4), Petticoat Junction (1963–70), and Green Acres (1965–71)—spotlighted rural southern Americans. Many critics and viewers believed the best was The Andy Griffith Show (1960–68).

The Andy Griffith Show is set in the sleepy southern town of Mayberry, North Carolina. Its primary character is Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith, 1926–), Mayberry's likable, level-headed sheriff. Taylor, a widower, is surrounded by an appealing cast of supporting characters: Opie (Ron Howard, 1954–), his son; Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier, 1902–1989), his sympathetic aunt, who lives with Andy and helps raise Opie; and Barney Fife (Don Knotts, 1924–), his comically incompetent deputy.

When Griffith left the show in 1968, it continued for three more seasons as Mayberry, R.F.D. (1968–71), with the new lead character, Sam Jones (Ken Berry, 1933–), surrounded with some new...