The Andy Griffith Show has a special place in television history, thanks to its perfect blend of charm, humor and strong family values that have transcended generations. No matter the viewer’s age, there was something relatable about Opie, Andy, Barney, and Aunt Bee.

But what truly set The Andy Griffith Show apart—especially for a series debuting in 1960—was its humor. It brought a fresh, homespun kind of humor to TV, and series star Andy Griffith wasn’t just the face of the show; he was often the driving force behind the laughs.

In a 1960 interview with the Hartford Courant, Griffith revealed the pressure he felt during the show's early days.

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"We aim to be funny," Griffith said. "And I do think we’re succeeding in being downright comical on the 10 shows we’ve made so far."

"We'd better be funny," Griffith continued. "Real funny. Or all of a sudden there won’t be no Andy Griffith Show on the air, and I’ll have to go back to that nightclub grind—and that I wouldn’t want to do. Not for a while anyway."

While Griffith was known for his laid-back demeanor, he approached television with a need for perfection. Part of what made the show so memorable, Griffith said, was the freedom the cast had with scripts. Improvisation wasn’t just allowed—it was encouraged.

"When the writers come on the set, I just tell 'em we're murdering their junk, and they seem to kind of enjoy the rough treatment," Griffith said. "Why shouldn’t they? Most of the time we’re improving their stuff, making it funnier and more natural. After all, I’ve been around quite a bit, and I think I know what’s funny and what ain’t. I think I know what’ll make the folks laugh."

Something clearly worked. According to the interview, the show’s premiere episode received incredibly high ratings. Griffith credited much of the show’s success to his co-star Don Knotts, whom he called one of the funniest actors in show business.

The stories weren’t sensational or full of "blood and thunder," Griffith said. Instead, they were "simple and believable"—and above all, funny.

That mix of small-town authenticity, which Griffith pulled from his own hometown, and humor is exactly what helped The Andy Griffith Show connect with viewers back then, and it's the same reason it still resonates today.