I don’t want to leave this buried in the comments section, so I’ll put this here on the main page, though it’s very simple and brief.
In reference to my post on "A Great Father," commenter Steve wrote, in part, that he still considers The Andy Griffith Show to be "the greatest American TV show ever done. So full of love and warmth and wisdom and kindness and, when needed, courage!" Steve says, "My childhood was better because of that show. I still watch reruns of TAGS. I also have several DVDs of selected episodes."
My comment:
The Andy Griffith Show is one of the great accomplishments of contemporary American culture.
I fully agree with Steve. This is truly my favorite TV show of all time. I am thankful I got to meet several of the cast members. They were all truly a delight. I saw Don Knotts in a live show one time. It was the greatest time I had ever spent. I had a lot of their autographs but they burned up in an apartment fire I had. I give anything to have those back. But at least I still have the memories.
While lacking any intellectual pretensions, more real world value can be gotten out of an average episode of TAGS than can be derived out of four years of most modern universities. Devoutly American and inately Christian without being ostentatious about either it tells all we really need to know to be a decent human being.
It is modest, simple, generous and kind. Too few people exemplify its virtues in today’s world. If I thought about it more often I’d be a better person. How many things can you say that about, nowadays?