Mayberry R.F.D.

1968 · 3 seasons · Comedy
6.2 Modest

Series finished

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Comedy Family

Mayberry R.F.D. is an American television series produced as a spin-off and direct continuation of The Andy Griffith Show. When star Andy Griffith decided to leave his series, most of the supporting characters returned for the new program, which ran for three seasons on the CBS Television Network from 1968–1971. During the final season of The Andy Griffith Show, widower farmer Sam Jones and his young son Mike are introduced and gradually become the show's focus. Sheriff Andy Taylor takes a backseat in the storylines, establishing the sequel series. The show's first episode, "Andy and Helen's Wedding", had the highest ratings in recorded television history. Sheriff Taylor and newlywed wife Helen make guest appearances on RFD until late 1969, and then relocate with Opie. Mayberry R.F.D. was popular throughout its entire run, but was canceled after its third season in CBS's infamous "rural purge" of 1971. R.F.D. stands for "Rural Free Delivery", a quaint postal depiction of the rural Mayberry community.

Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Year
1968
Created by
Bob Ross
Channel
CBS

Trivia & behind the scenes

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Origins

Mayberry R.F.D. was created as a spin-off continuation of The Andy Griffith Show after star Andy Griffith decided to leave the series, with most of the supporting characters returning under the new title.

Origins

The new premise, centered on widower farmer Sam Jones and his son Mike, was gradually introduced during the eighth and final season of The Andy Griffith Show, with Sheriff Andy Taylor's role slowly diminishing to set up the transition.

Casting

Andy Griffith and Aneta Corsaut (as Helen) continued to make guest appearances on Mayberry R.F.D. until late 1969, with the show's storyline explaining their departure by having the characters move to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Casting

Aunt Bee, played by Frances Bavier, served as Sam's housekeeper but left the show after the second season, being replaced by Sam's cousin Alice Cooper, played by Alice Ghostley.

Casting

Jodie Foster, the real-life sister of regular cast member Buddy Foster, made guest appearances on the show, playing a fairy in one 1968 episode and a little girl in a 1970 episode.

Casting

Future stars Farrah Fawcett and Teri Garr (credited as 'Terri Garr') both made early guest appearances on the show, playing a showgirl and a cashier respectively.

Casting

The 1986 NBC reunion movie Return to Mayberry featured many original performers from The Andy Griffith Show, but Ken Berry, Buddy Foster, and Arlene Golonka did not appear, nor did Frances Bavier, Elinor Donahue, or Jack Burns.

Reception

Despite consistently ranking in the top ten of the Nielsen ratings for its first two seasons, Mayberry R.F.D. was canceled after its third season as part of CBS's 1971 'rural purge,' which also eliminated shows like Green Acres, Hee Haw, and The Beverly Hillbillies as the network sought a more urban image.

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