To say I knew Andy Griffith is an honor…
Andy died yesterday at age 86 and I officed across the hall from him with producer Dan York at Universal from 1990-1992. I’d run into the legendary star weekly and we talked about new projects. When I mentioned that Nick Kazan had written my life story (a screenplay) then titled OUTLAWS, he smiled.
Andy’s first big break came from Nick’s father Elia Kazan who directed Griffith in "A Face In The Crowd." That’s the movie that made Griffith a star. What I most remember about Andy is that he was tall and always wore a coat and tie. Yes, those were fun and interesting times.
I find it strange when icons like Andy Griffith pass away that there’s so little fanfare.
I guess when you go the distance, live a long life and have so much success, it’s just not as exciting when you die. If you’re a baby boomer though, odds are you grew up with Andy’s TV show, The Andy Griffith Show. Remember that opening whistling tune with Andy with son Ron Howard going fishing?
Ron would go on to be one of the most successful directors in Hollywood history.
I didn’t really know Ron, but we met when I worked for Roger Corman. I was a film music V.P at his New World Pictures. Howard was often in the office back in those days, the early 80’s. Howard directed his first film for Roger, "Eat My Dust" and the rest of his career was hit after hit.
If you were like me, Andy Griffith was kinda like the dad we all wanted – kind, wise and tough.
For me his TV show was the series of the 1960’s. So many careers of merit came from that wonderful family program that shot more than 250 shows. Gomer Pyle, starring Jim Nabors, for one. That was another must see TV series on Friday nights.
And everyone’s favorite character had to be Barney Fife (Don Knotts). You didn’t get much funnier than that man.
Well, outside of Howard and Nabors, the stars and co stars of one of America’s all time favorite TV series are gone. Sadly, young people will not get to know this small town group of wonderful, funny and charming people, though they live on in reruns.
With the passing of Andy Griffith and other household names of the best decade maybe ever – the 1960’s – their memory fades a little further. And that’s so sad and makes me wonder.I
If they don’t matter much anymore, who does?
Hey Ang?
Just saw Andy on the tube a couple of days back in an advert shilling for Obamacare. The irony is that this man who throughout his personal and professional life most always played characters of of the highest integrity, guided by a strict moral compass, intertwined with God fearing common sense should wind up passing away so quickly after the law was upheld. I guess the DEATH PANEL had their say. To quote the 5 Man Electrical Band, ” SIGN, SIGN, everywhere a SIGN”. Sorry to break your hearts kids it wasn’t a Tesla original.
Thank you Jesus. Thank you Lord……as spoken by Mick Jagger in the song The Girl With Faraway Eyes.
RIP Andy. God Bless!
Andy Griffith Died TODAY, Not Yesterday
You’re almost as bad as when another local blogger announced the death of a KC Star employee days before she actually died—almost.
Here’s the story from CNN that says he died today: http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/03/showbiz/andy-griffith-dead/index.html
My favorite Kazan flick was,
“The Arrangement”. Got terrible, terrible reviews. I loved it.
Its “Mad Men”.
Every time I watch Mad Men I keep waiting for John Hamm to go nuts or wreck his car, or at least pay some homage to an underrated flick from one of the best.
I love it when Kirk Douglas is watching the lions eat a water buffalo (I think, a long time ago…) and Kazan just beats you over the fuckin head with American Capitalist angst and guilt.
Faye Dunaway is busting Kirk’s balls like crzy, “You coulda been something” (See a theme here? “I coulda been a contender?”) . Really Faye, Elia? What is enough? What the fuck is it we are supposed to do?
Anyway Splendor in the Grass was great too.
Make believe to be certain, endearing just as surely
My favorite tv shows all emanated from the 1960’s. The ones that did not were born earlier than that, in the golden age of television as it is referred. ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ was ‘one of’ the best. I don’t use the terms ‘best’ or ‘worst’ singularly because they are too subjective as well hard to define, but if the impact a show & an era are measured by Emmy’s awarded program, actors & actresses variously, ‘TAGS’ is it. More so, public reverence defined as a comparative choice between then & now, my choice is Mayberry. . . the line forms to the right.
‘The Andy Griffith Show’ was not a product of its times, unless ones values are fluid. The audience agreed: in the ever loosening moral climate 60’s, ‘TAGS’ averaged a cumulative top 5 rating the course its entire stay on the air and went out on top – the #1 top-ranked tv program in the country 1968, its ending season eighth.
As for the man Andy Griffith, I never met him so can’t comment, could only offer comments via others who met him and relayed their impressions to me – good & bad. As for his views variously which I read (including the taboos politics and religion), my perceptions will remain private. ‘Characters’ are one thing – ‘character’ is another. Suffice to say I’m convinced that thespians, sports figures, etc. should not be placed upon pedestals or embraced as spokepersons due to their notoriety; human beings have/ will/ do disappoint, often. On the other, may the spirit of Andy Taylor and Mayberry live on forever as role models. See ya Ange… say hi to Barn, Aunt Bee, Goober, Floyd, Otis & all the gang; non-fiction never looked so good.
What is happened on TV is that we have traded quality for quantity. When there were only 3 networks, everyone went all out to put out the best shows. Now with so many channels to choose from, even if your show did well, you would have a smaller piece of the pie than you used to making it less profitable to go all out and put out a top quality show. At one time, if a show was popular, everybody saw it. You could go to work or school and mention the show you saw and probably 3/4 of the people also saw it. Now, even with a popular show, probably only 1/4 of the people saw it. At least we wiill always have the reruns.
I see u deleted my post
busting Glazer. Understandable. No need for readers to know what BS he is full of. This is not a site where we want the truth to get out. This is the Jardines of the net world
Super Hater Mystery Man
He dumped you cause you continue to be a moron…you the guy who said I was a rat not a cop…how dumb are you mystery moron…its only been written about one million times, cop, gold badge, AG’s office..rats like you worked for me..no you can’t be busted and be a cop double moron. Grow up..hater loser.
ONE DAY TOO SOON
Andy Griffith always struck me as something of an All-American guy, so it’s too bad he didn’t quite make it to the Fourth of July. Well, at least we still have the reruns, which are infinitely better than what the major networks are currently serving up in the way of entertainment. How’s the fishing up there, Andy?
Hey Craig….why then
does the attorney general have no record of you working for them….oh wait I know your answer will be becaue you were undercover….sure Craig. Even undercover people get checks when working for the state.
Hey Rick this was part of my post that was deleted. Andy was actually an asshole. That is why during his matlock tenure he went through so many co stars.
Mystery Moron
Hearne will likely dump these….larger than life moron….lets see, front page star, and 100’s of newspapers…a Historical Fact loser, COP, AGENT, PAID BY CHECK, GOLD BADGE, CARRY CUFSS, A .38 AT THE TIME, SHOULDER HOLSTER…BUSTED LITTLE PUNKS LIKE YOU WEEKLY….had snitch’s like you work for me, beg for deals…just like you…just like you…to say I was not a cop, agent..and paid by the Government is like saying “oh Bill Clinton just rented a room at the White House, he was never president” nobody and I mean nobody thinks I was a snitch for a job…my trials and doing time, more than prove that my bravery is second to none, YOU COULDN’T CARRY MY DIRTY UNDER PANTS…but you already knew all this….tell you what you put up ten grand and I will, if I can’t prove I was a paid, agent/cop you get the dough, if I do, I get it…fair enough so call me at work, and set it up tomorrow 913 400 7500 a bank can hold the money…of course you won’t, one you have no money, two you know you are an idiot.
You can’t spell
cuffs how would you be allowed to carry them. I do agree you have dirty under pants (Who uses that word…that is like soemthing a 90 year old would say…do you use the term knickers and ice box also?) from crapping in them every time you have been scared.
Craig I think youa re going to find that i’m going to do one better then your ten grand offer.
Harlinator,
quit imitating Glazer, it is getting old.
No thats
No thats Glazer and as he has in the past he got his ass kicked. Right now he is working on a story about how he once saw Dinah Shore at a traffic light.