Television Programs - Comedy

The Andy Griffith Show

Name: The Andy Griffith Show
Author: Kelly
ISBN: 9780895870438

by Kelly

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Overview

The Andy Griffith Show was one of the most successful series in television history. It ranked among the top ten shows in the nation during each of its eight prime-time seasons, from 1960 to 1968. Over forty years later, the 249 episodes still remain some of the most frequently watched syndicated shows on television. In this book, Richard Kelly makes clear to everyone, from the occasional fan to the serious student of television, why The Andy Griffith Show is still so beloved.

In Part One, Kelly quotes from in-depth interviews with most of the principals and traces the development of the show from conception to conclusion.

In Part Two, he discusses both the contributions made to the series by some of its best writers and the show's innovations in television comedy.

Part Three updates the careers of various cast members. It also discusses the phenomenal growth of interest in the show and gives information about organizations that have been formed to celebrate the series.

The final sections include a sample script called "The Sermon for Today" and an unfilmed script called "The Wandering Minstrel." The book ends with capsule summaries of all the episodes in the order in which they originally appeared.

About the Author, Kelly

Richard Kelly, a native New Yorker, was a graduate student at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, when he became a devoted fan of The Andy Griffith Show. Since then, Dr. Kelly has gone on to become an English professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. His specialty is 19th-century English literature and he has written biographies of Douglas Jerrold, Lewis Carroll, George Du Maurier, and Graham Greene.

In 1975, Dr. Kelly decided to depart from his Victorian humor to write a critical study of his favorite television show. In 1981, The Andy Griffith Show was first published.

Richard Kelly, and his wife, Barbara Kelly (co-author of The Carolina Watermen) have been regular visitors to Holden Beach since 1983. Barbara is an administrator for a community-action agency in Knoxville, where she and Richard live.

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Editorials

Amazon.com Reviewer

“This is the first and still definitive study of the show. It contains extensive interviews with the major stars, directors, and producers from the show. It also contains two full scripts: one never seen or performed before and the other "The Sermon for Today.” The Andy Griffith Show also provides concise summaries of all 249 episodes. A terrific buy and a must read!”