An ode to Barney
I accidentally posted this item to the Letters to the Editor on Sunday. Sorry for the confusion.
Deputy Barney Fife may have kept his bullet in his pocket, but he wore his heart on his sleeve.
Despite all his macho posturings and mild delusions of greatness, not so deep inside Barney knew who he really was: a little nerdy, a little scared, a little unsure of himself, but a good friend and neighbor who always was there when you needed him.
Barney was the heart and soul and funny bone of "The Andy Griffith Show."
And now he's gone. Don Knotts died Friday at the age of 81.
Recognizing Knotts' Barney as a breakout character before anyone used that term, Andy Griffith, an accomplished funny man in his own right, graciously stepped back and let Barney flourish.
Small wonder the best-loved "Andy" reruns are the black-and-white shows with Barney.
It'd be nice if Channel 2 would do a "Best of Barney" tribute in this week's "Andy Griffith Show" lineup.
Comments (8)
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Certainly one of the greatest television characters of all time, and one of the nicest, most humble person you would ever meet by all accounts. Don Knotts was brilliant.
Posted on February 27, 2006 6:13 PM
Aha, Sam, even you and I can agree on the gentle brilliance of "The Andy Griffith Show."
Actually, we've agreed on a lot, just not lately.
Posted on February 27, 2006 7:29 PM
Did you see him in the movie "No Time For Sargeants" with Andy Griffith? It might have been the first time they worked together and you could see something there right off.
Posted on February 27, 2006 9:01 PM
FNC">http://www.foxnews.com/">FNC did a great story about FNC
Posted on February 27, 2006 9:45 PM
Mr. Johnson, Like Wow! We finally agree on something: Don Knotts is irreplaceable.
Posted on February 28, 2006 12:17 PM
Dudley, I do remember "No Time for Sergeants." It not only showcased the natural chemistry between Knotts and Griffith, but it also displayed Andy's comic chops as a cornpone recruit. It's amazing how Griffith shelved the funny guy role so readily and willingly when Barney's character hit its stride on "The Andy Griffith Show."
Posted on March 1, 2006 3:59 AM
Brenda, it was only a matter of time.
Posted on March 1, 2006 4:00 AM
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Posted on November 7, 2006 11:53 AM