Andy came from a relatively small, North Carolina town called Mt. Airy. I live not far from Mt Airy. I grew up in Greensboro and High Point NC as a boy. Andy Griffith's personality reflects the slow, easy, good nature and humor, and traditional values, of the country people I knew growing up in N.C. And his personality was a driving force in the show, in my opinion. I think most of America could relate to the show. The way the kids played, going fishing, playing ball, having good clean fun, doing chores, and eating supper together as a family, all of that was familiar to most people in the 1960s.

The cultural current was beginning to change rapidly by the time the series ended in the late 60s. Television shows began to get edgy, pushing the envelope of what was considered decent or acceptable. Sometimes this resulted in good television, but often the shows became vehicles for social engineering, or protestations against traditional values. In contrast the Andy Griffith show was clean humor, life lessons, and touching stories.

The Andy Griffith show has remained a popular favorite for over half a century. It was never considered controversial. The humor was clean and delivered by a talented cast. I watch the reruns regularly. I feel nostalgic watching them; they are like time capsules of a long lost America.