Did you catch this subtle Don Knotts tribute in Jerry Van Dyke's only appearance on The Andy Griffith Show?

Aunt Bee can't believe it!

In Morgantown, West Virginia, there stands a statue of Barney Fife. It's a hometown tribute to Don Knotts, who grew up in Morgantown. Most of Knotts' fans know this fun fact when it comes to TV's favorite deputy, so it was an extra special moment in an episode of The Andy Griffith Show called "Banjo-Playing Deputy" when the cherished classic series took some time to add in a subtle reference to Knotts' birthplace.

"Banjo-Playing Deputy" was episode 32 of season five, and it was only the second episode that aired after Knotts had left the show to make his famous series of delightful family comedies on the big screen. It starred Jerry Van Dyke in the titular role, and he first shows up in the episode when Andy Taylor is watching him perform as a one-man-band in a harem show at a carnival. After Andy gets Jerry's show shut down, the sheriff soon learns the banjo player is basically broke, denied wages as soon as he was fired. 

Feeling responsible for Jerry's bad turn of luck, Andy invites the banjo player over for dinner. It's in this scene, following dinner with Andy, Opie and Aunt Bee, that the sheriff's young boy asks the visitor where he's from.

Jerry answers, "Morgantown," smiling big.

Aunt Bee reacts, "Morgantown! West Virginia?"

Jerry says, "I was born and raised there."

Aunt Bee says, "Mercy me! You know I lived there for five years?"

Then Aunt Bee searches her memory, repeating Jerry's last name "Miller." At last she squeals, "You're not Robie Miller's little boy?"

Jerry jokes, "Well, I used to be."

It's charming to watch Aunt Bee so overcome, gushing at how Jerry's got his father's good looks, but it makes the awkward Jerry a little uncomfortable, and he clears the dishes as an excuse to duck the conversation. But in this charm, there's an extra layer for fans in the know, who likely made the connection between Jerry and Barney when Aunt Bee later suggests that Andy give Jerry work around the courthouse. This, of course, culminates in Jerry stepping directly into Don Knotts' well-worn shoes as deputy.

Only Jerry manages to hilariously be even less up to the task than Barney, bungling things and getting in Andy's way. In the end, Jerry redeems himself by finding a thief who snatches Aunt Bee's purse, but his days of a being Andy's deputy remain confined to just this single episode.

Coming so soon after Knotts' bittersweet exit from the show, even a subtle nod to Andy's old pal surely sent home the message that Knotts was never far from anybody's mind when it came to Mayberry.

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34 Comments

KnuteFarestveit 1 month ago
It's been awhile but this episode aired in Southern Indiana this evening. I know I've seen it twice...almost certainly more through the years and for the first time I noticed that Lee van Cleef was one of the purse snatchers.
He's like an Easter Egg for me. I spot him immediately, which isn't surprising because he definitely has a unique look; but it's exciting every time because my spouse notices EVERYTHING before I do. NOT LEE VAN CLEEF, THOUGH, NO SIR

This is an especially good catch because he's not wearing western clothes or a hat.

I agree with the poster(s) who wish Jerry van Dyke had gotten the deputy's job permanently.
GordARebelato 37 months ago
Its too bad Jerry Van Dyke wasn’t put in as Barneys permanent replacement as he would have being better then the replacement they finally got in there.
luv2laughoutloud 60 months ago
I have seen the episode with Jerry Van Dyke on The Andy Griffith Show, he was so awesome in the episode.
dennisjs52 61 months ago
There were at least two instances on Matlock which referenced “Fearless Fife.”
Barney Fife often mispronounced words and on Matlock, one of the characters admitted to being a kleptomaniac. Matlock Andy Griffith) smiled and said “I used to know a fellow who pronounced it keptomenerack.
In another episode of Matlock, Don Knotts character,Les tries to demonstrate his knowledge of karate to Matlock with the same results as when Barney tried to demonstrate his judo skills to Andy
dennisjs52 Dennisjs 61 months ago
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=RDBKEOlPrNGTo
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=RDBKEOlPrNGTo
cperrynaples Dennisjs 61 months ago
Yes, and Les' Karate and Barney's judo were exactly the same! MeTV even ran a comparison!
Brian 61 months ago
If JVD did become the next Barney, I have to wonder if the deputy's squad car would've been a Porter?
cperrynaples Brian 61 months ago
And yes it would have Ann Sothern's voice...LOL! Anybody know the model year of THAT car? I've known the whole theme for 54 years!
ScarlettKaiju cperrynaples 58 months ago
I saw that show not too long ago, and I think the theme song calls her a 1928 Porter.
RedSamRackham cperrynaples 37 months ago
* The car was a 1928 Porter BUT was really a restored Ford Model-T body with a custom chrome "Porter" grille added to front and a 1960's donor engine, automatic transmission, electric starter and custom dashboard installed to modernize the 1920's car making it easier for Jerry to operate. A silly sitcom perhaps BUT truly 1 of the all-time great TV series cars! ☺
JohnDRipper 61 months ago
Jerry Would've been a good deputy. Jerry's character lacked self-confidence, but was physically fearless, the flip side of Barney. Jack Burns is talented, but Warren was unfunny as written; Also, the Color episodes always seem a little less funny. Mayberry in color looks more like a set and the clothes look more like costumes.
jorel JohnDRipper 61 months ago
Agreed. No one can replace Barney but based on this one episode Jerry would have been better than Warren. Emmitt was a good edition and provided much needed comedy but not until the last season. In the color episodes Andy was less of a straight man. He seemed to exhibit frustration by the characters actions around him which does not lend itself to comedy.
GordARebelato jorel 37 months ago
Andy became too serious in the coloured episodes.
RedSamRackham JohnDRipper 37 months ago
* As "Warren" Jack Burns was doing his taxicab passenger character which was hilarious with Avery Schreiber yet not appreciated as a Barney Fife replacement. Jerry Van Dyke indeed had potential as a banjo playing deputy perhaps even jamming with the Darling clan! ☺
KnuteFarestveit jorel 1 month ago
The character Warren got on my last nerve. Obviously, Sheriff Taylor and possibly Andy Griffith felt the same.

I didn't even think of Jerry and the Darlin's. Think of Jerry vs Ernest T Bass!
The Darlin's and the Ernest episodes are my favorites and I thought that it couldn't get better than all of them on the same episode...like the Apex of Andy Griffith Goodness. But now I know that there could have been absolute perfection but the opportunity was missed. Sigh
Excellent observation about Jerry's character vs. Barney Fife/Don Knotts. Both characters were meant to be goofy so story lines would have definitely been based on that, but the same situation would have played out completely differently because of the intrinsic contrast you described perfectly.

I actually believe it's the only choice that would have kept the same vibe without viewers feeling disloyal to Barney. And we would have. No one could have come out on top of Deputy Barney Fife in our hearts, but Jerry would have fit nicely beside him.
Deleted 61 months ago
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jog 61 months ago
Test reply
jog 61 months ago
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cperrynaples 61 months ago
The board's OK! you can delete these and then I'll delete mine!
JohnDRipper 61 months ago
You're always saying that....
cperrynaples 61 months ago
Those posts were a response to a breakdown that has been fixed, therefore they are not needed!
MrsPhilHarris 61 months ago
To me Jerry on Andy Griffith was basically the same character he played on DVD.
And Jack Burns' WARREN was his same taxi-cab passenger character he did with Avery Schreiber as the cab driver. ☺
cperrynaples RedSamRackham 61 months ago
"Huh? Yeah! Huh? Yeah! Huh! Yeah!" He always used that voice, even as a crash test dummy!
"To me Jerry on Andy Griffith was basically the same character he played on DVD."

Except that Jerry on TAGS didn't sleepwalk (but Warren did).
I don't remember that but a I barely remember the colored episodes.
cperrynaples MrsPhilHarris 61 months ago
Wait a minute, are you saying Andy wore blackface? I mean he did come from the South!! LOL...just kidding, I know you mean "color episodes"!
John 61 months ago
Yeah, Jerry, Andy and Don were Las Vegas buddies. They did a little stage show together there at one time, as did Andy and Don on thier own somewhat regularly as well. It was very similar to what was seen in the Andy Griffith Uptown TV special (that may not be the exact title but it's very close) which starred Andy, Don and Jim Nabors. It included some slightly reworked funny scenes from T.A.G.S. and some singing and dancing. Some excerpts were on YouTube but, unfortunately, I have yet to find the entire show available anywhere. For sale or otherwise. Shame.
cperrynaples John 61 months ago
I know what you're talking about and it might be a rights issue over the use of TAGS characters. New Andy Griffith Show is the same thing, even though he didn't have a name on that show, Don Knotts was DEFINITELY Barney!
Pacificsun 61 months ago
TAGS is a very gracious show. Meaning by that, how it so frequently finds touching, thoughtful nuances to share. This story is a fine example. Am glad TAGS is one of MeTV's core sitcoms during the weeknights! We need to be uplifted sometimes!
cperrynaples 61 months ago
Too bad Barney wasn't there, that was a perfect set up for an inside joke...LOL!! Bonus Question: What show did Jerry do next season instead of TAGS and what show did he reject that season? Hint: the second show is on MeTV and the first should be!
anthony cperrynaples 61 months ago
My Mother The Car and Gilligan.
cperrynaples anthony 61 months ago
Yes and yes!
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