Ron Howard used to ask himself ''What would Andy do?'' when he was raising his children

What would Sheriff Taylor do?

After spending eight seasons and eight years playing father and son, it's no wonder that Andy Griffith and Ron Howard still felt a kinship toward one another, even after cameras stopped rolling on The Andy Griffith Show. In an article for the Los Angeles Times, Howard called Griffith "like a wonderful uncle to me." Like any good on-screen son, Howard also took the lessons he learned from Griffith to his own work as he gained acclaim as a director. He told People Magazine that Griffith "created an atmosphere of hard work and fun that I try to bring to my movies."

But in an interview with The Calgary Herald, Ron Howard admitted that the character of Andy Taylor had also worked his way into Howard's life, specifically his home life. In an interview with both Howard and Griffith, Howard admitted that "there were times when he and his wife would ask themselves, 'What would Andy do?'" while the couple was raising their four children. Griffith actually laughed upon hearing that and then revealed his own confession: "I wish I were as bright as Andy today." Don't we all?

While the wisdom Griffith imparted as Taylor was very real, Griffith was always sure to remind people that he was not exactly like his character. In an interview with American Profile, he said, "Don't pay any attention to that [Andy Taylor], that is a persona. I am not any favorite dad; I am not any kind of all-American person." He also reminded viewers that Andy Griffith was only human, after all. He said, "I am a man, like any other man."

While it is important to remember that Andy Griffith himself was only human, The Andy Griffith Show helped to capture something larger than life. In order to do that, Griffith worked hard to create an atmosphere of respect and warmth. Griffith was quoted as saying, "The backbone of our show was love. There's something about Mayberry and Mayberry folk that never leaves you." 

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9 Comments

LoveMETV22 11 months ago
I think Andy Griffith had the right idea in his character's portrayal on "TAGS," especially in the episode where Opie takes advice from his friend Arnold in "Opie and the Spoiled Kid." He sets Opie straight in his own way as to proper behavior. Arnold's Dad seems to learn a lesson as well. :

IndianaRockz LoveMETV22 11 months ago
Haha that's the episode I was thinking of!!! 😄😄😄
MrsPhilHarris LoveMETV22 11 months ago
The kid that played Arnold did an amazing job of having a meltdown.
IndianaRockz 11 months ago
So when the youngins got too big for their britches & got above their raisin', Opie, I mean Ron, took 'em out back behind the woodshed, just like Andy would do. 😄😄😄
Zip 11 months ago
I think we all have had that thought at one time or another. I know I have.(and also, what would Charles Ingalls, Ward Cleaver, and/or John Walton, do).
LoveMETV22 Zip 11 months ago
How true and you picked some of the best figures there. Just a few others:
Danny Tanner on "Full House" ( although not a popular show on MeTV it seemed).
Jim Anderson on "Father Knows Best." Jason Seaver on "Growing Pains" and
Steven Keaton on "Family Ties." I'm sure there are a few others, but there were some good TV Dads over the years.
MrsPhilHarris LoveMETV22 11 months ago
I admit seeing those 1989s-90s shows mentioned in your comments make me cringe. 🤭 I don’t want MEtv to air them.
FrankensteinLover 11 months ago
This was such a Good article, still my favorite Show ever. From Barn aka Bernie, Andy, Ernest T, Floyd, Otis, Goob what a All Star Cast.
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