For entire generations of artists, Ed Sullivan's primetime variety show was a kingmaker. The must-watch program could skyrocket a performer to new levels of fame. The Ed Sullivan Show was sure to be water-cooler fodder the next day; it was on during a time when we all watched the same shows. It was incredibly popular and captured a monoculture zeitgeist.

While acts like The Beatles and Elvis Presley had memorable appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, one very notable performer would rather forget his episode entirely. 

After some early career success, Andy Griffith's manager, Dick Linke, arranged for the fledgling comic to appear on Sullivan. He sufficiently impressed the suits at the William Morris Agency and was set to make his debut on the show in 1954.

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While this was a great chance for any showbiz startup, Griffith completely fumbled the opportunity. According to biographer Daniel de Visé, Griffith "bombed, as anyone in the audience could tell." To make matters worse, Ed Sullivan himself reportedly chastised Griffith for material the host deemed a bit too adult.

Nearly 45 years later, Griffith confirmed the misstep in a 1998 interview with the Television Academy Foundation.  

“I don’t really remember the appearance,” he revealed. “All I remember is I walked out and I never got a laugh, not one.”

To nobody's surprise, Sullivan opted out of having Griffith return for his other three scheduled performances, much to the would-be Sheriff Taylor's relief.