Goodbye to a Simpler Time

Over the weekend, while making a creamy scallop soup for the family, I watched several episodes of "The Andy Griffith Show," which aired as part of a tribute to actor Don Knotts, who died this past February 25th.

Here are my chattering thoughts: First, while this long-running program never did enough to foster the Civil Rights Movement (which raged in the streets of the South as Andy and Opie went fishin' and rocked on the porch), I'd still argue this television series was the greatest of all time. What do you think?

"All in the Family" was perhaps more truthful and historic. "Seinfeld" made us laugh. The saga offered in "The Sopranos" is epic, but to most of us, alien. All the while, do-gooder Sheriff Taylor and the delicate, goofy Barney Fife aligned themselves deeply with our nation's best intentions. I have a Southern side of my family, so the program's small-town locals still feel like good friends to me. My skinny granddad from Texas loved Barney Fife ferociously. I remember curling up on the couch with him as a nine-year-old in the summer of 1964 with a big bowl of popcorn we'd share as we watched. There are times I wish I could go back to that moment, that place, feeling transported by that whistling theme song. My grandfather died the next year.

There are numerous quirky, kitschy religious connections to "The Andy Griffith Show" I thought I'd review here quickly. There are complete Christian lesson plans geared to various "Andy" episodes and a book by Joey Fann called "The Way Back to Mayberry: Lessons from a Simpler Time." Beliefnet ran this article about how "Andy" episodes were getting linked to legitimate Bible school study plans. Here's a more academic analysis of the program's assets and failings. And here's a sweet Don Knotts memorial page, as well as a link to a recording I actually own of Andy Griffith singing really old-time, down-home Christian hymns. A great gift for most Christians older than 70, or any avid Andy lover.