The Andy Griffith Show Season 1 poster

The Andy Griffith Show — Season 1

Nip it in the bud!

196032 episodes8.1/10 (60 votes)

About this season

Widower Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) divides his time between raising his young son, Opie (Ron Howard), and his job as Sheriff/Justice of the Peace of sleepy Mayberry, North Carolina. Andy and Opie live with Andy's Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier), who serves as a surrogate mother to both father and son. Andy's nervous cousin, Barney Fife (Don Knotts), is his deputy sheriff whose utter incompetence is tolerated because Mayberry is virtually crime-free.

Episodes (32)

The New Housekeeper
E1

1. The New Housekeeper

7.6

Aired 3 October 1960 • 25 min

Sheriff Andy Taylor and his young son Opie are in need of a new housekeeper. Andy's Aunt Bee looks like the perfect candidate and moves in, but her presence causes friction with Opie.

The Manhunt
E2

2. The Manhunt

8.0

Aired 10 October 1960 • 25 min

Andy and his bumbling deputy, Barney Fife, offer to help track down an escaped convict, but the captain of the state police scoffs at the small-town sheriff's help.

The Guitar Player
E3

3. The Guitar Player

8.0

Aired 17 October 1960 • 25 min

A gifted guitar player (James Best) who has self-doubts about his musical talent gets a chance at stardom -- with a little push from Andy.

Ellie Comes to Town
E4

4. Ellie Comes to Town

7.7

Aired 24 October 1960 • 25 min

When Mayberry's local pharmacist falls ill, his niece Ellie Walker steps in as a temporary replacement -- and creates turmoil with the town's resident hypochondriac.

Irresistible Andy
E5

5. Irresistible Andy

8.0

Aired 31 October 1960 • 25 min

It's the annual church picnic, and when Andy invites Ellie to the event, he begins to suspect that she has marriage on her mind -- so he hastily arranges for three of Mayberry's most eligible bachelors to lavish attention on her.

Runaway Kid
E6

6. Runaway Kid

5.5

Aired 7 November 1960 • 25 min

Andy must intervene -- and risk breaking a promise to Opie -- when he discovers that one of Opie's young friends has run away from home.

Andy the Matchmaker
E7

7. Andy the Matchmaker

8.5

Aired 14 November 1960 • 25 min

When Barney's bumbling law enforcement techniques are questioned, Andy and Ellie decide to stage a fake robbery -- a scheme that turns Barney into a real hero!

Opie's Charity
E8

8. Opie's Charity

5.0

Aired 28 November 1960 • 25 min

Andy is dismayed when Opie refuses to contribute money to the school charity drive -- but there's a secret reason for Opie's apparent selfishness.

A Feud is a Feud
E9

9. A Feud is a Feud

8.0

Aired 5 December 1960 • 25 min

Andy hopes to finally bring peace to two of the county's longtime feuding families, the Carters and the Wakefields -- by arranging a duel between the two patriarchs of the quarreling clans!

Ellie for Council
E10

10. Ellie for Council

8.0

Aired 12 December 1960 • 25 min

It's a battle of the sexes when Ellie Walker decides to become the very first woman to run for a seat on the Mayberry city council -- and the town's horrified menfolk decide to sabotage her newfound political career.

Christmas Story
E11

11. Christmas Story

8.7

Aired 19 December 1960 • 25 min

Mayberry's local "Scrooge," storeowner Ben Weaver, manages to have harmless bootlegger Sam Muggins thrown into jail on Christmas -- but the Mayberry folks manage to celebrate Christmas with Sam in a most unusual way.

Stranger In Town
E12

12. Stranger In Town

9.0

Aired 26 December 1960 • 25 min

Ed Sawyer, a mysterious stranger, arrives in Mayberry and disrupts the lives of the townspeople because he appears to know everyone's name, intimate details about their lives, and other startling facts about them.

Mayberry Goes Hollywood
E13

13. Mayberry Goes Hollywood

7.5

Aired 2 January 1961 • 25 min

Lights! Camera! Chaos! A Hollywood producer chooses idyllic Mayberry as the backdrop for his next movie, and the entire town goes into a frenzy as they gear up for the anticipated glamour, fame and fortune.

The Horse Trader
E14

14. The Horse Trader

8.0

Aired 9 January 1961 • 25 min

Andy performs some slick dealing with an antique dealer to get rid of the town's old worthless cannon. But when young Opie later mimics his father's shady deal to obtain a pair of roller skates, Andy has second thoughts about his own wheeling and dealing.

Those Gossipin' Men
E15

15. Those Gossipin' Men

9.0

Aired 16 January 1961 • 25 min

Aunt Bee, accused by Andy of being a hopeless gossip, sets out to prove that the men of Mayberry are even bigger rumormongers than the women.

The Beauty Contest
E16

16. The Beauty Contest

7.5

Aired 23 January 1961 • 25 min

The Mayberry town council wants to end the annual Founder's Day celebration with a beauty contest, with Andy chosen to pick the winner. The result is pandemonium as candidates of all shapes and sizes descend on the hapless "judge."

Alcohol and Old Lace
E17

17. Alcohol and Old Lace

9.5

Aired 30 January 1961 • 25 min

Opie comes home talking about a "flower-making machine" owned by sisters Clarabelle and Jennifer Morrison, the spinsters who run the local flower shop. Andy and Barney do a little investigating -- and discover the contraption is actually a still and the kindly sisters are in the moonshine business!

Andy, the Marriage Counselor
E18

18. Andy, the Marriage Counselor

8.0

Aired 6 February 1961 • 25 min

Mayberry newcomers Fred and Jeannie Boone are constantly causing domestic disturbances with their fighting, so Andy decides to play marriage counselor to the bickering couple -- with disastrous results.

Mayberry on Record
E19

19. Mayberry on Record

8.0

Aired 13 February 1961 • 25 min

A New York City record promoter arrives in Mayberry, intent on making a recording of the region's local folk music, but Andy becomes wary of the stranger and suspects he might be a con artist seeking some fast cash.

Andy Saves Barney's Morale
E20

20. Andy Saves Barney's Morale

9.0

Aired 20 February 1961 • 25 min

When Andy has to leave Mayberry for the day to testify in a court case held in a neighboring town, Deputy Barney Fife is left in charge of the sheriff's department -- and he proceeds to arrest everyone in Mayberry!

Andy and the Gentleman Crook
E21

21. Andy and the Gentleman Crook

9.0

Aired 27 February 1961 • 25 min

A notorious, nationally known con man dubbed "Gentleman Dan" becomes a hero of epic proportions to Aunt Bee, Opie and Barney when he is held for two days in the Mayberry jail.

Cyrano Andy
E22

22. Cyrano Andy

8.0

Aired 6 March 1961 • 25 min

Andy makes an earnest attempt at matchmaking to help Barney win the heart of his girlfriend, Thelma Lou. Things go fine at first -- until barney misinterprets Andy's efforts and thinks he's trying to steal her away!

Andy and Opie, Housekeepers
E23

23. Andy and Opie, Housekeepers

9.0

Aired 13 March 1961 • 25 min

Aunt Bee must leave Mayberry to care for a sick cousin, but not before scolding Andy and Opie for their messy housekeeping habits. The two are determined to clean house before she returns -- a project that suddenly accelerates when she phones to say she'll be coming home earlier than expected!

The New Doctor
E24

24. The New Doctor

8.0

Aired 27 March 1961 • 25 min

Andy must make a hasty, ill-advised marriage proposal to Ellie Walker after he becomes convinced that the new, handsome young doctor in town is trying to steal his girl.

A Plaque for Mayberry
E25

25. A Plaque for Mayberry

9.0

Aired 3 April 1961 • 25 min

The Women's Historical Society is all set to throw a celebration in honor of the last living descendant of a Revolutionary War hero named Nathan Tibbs, who has been traced to Mayberry. But their excitement turns to horror when they discover that the intended honoree is the town drunk, Otis Campbell.

The Inspector
E26

26. The Inspector

8.0

Aired 10 April 1961 • 25 min

When a state inspector arrives in Mayberry to check the jail and courthouse, Andy and Barney are shocked to discover he's a by-the-book stickler for rules and regulations. Things look shaky until Andy is able to demonstrate the "Mayberry way" of fighting crime.

Ellie Saves a Female
E27

27. Ellie Saves a Female

9.0

Aired 17 April 1961 • 25 min

Ellie Walker takes pity on a shy tomboy named Frankie Flint and is determined to give a "Cinderella" makeover to the young girl -- much to her gruff father's displeasure.

Andy Forecloses
E28

28. Andy Forecloses

9.0

Aired 24 April 1961 • 25 min

Andy, faced with the unpleasant task of serving an eviction notice on a family who has fallen on hard times, tries desperately to come up with a way for the tenants to keep their home.

Quiet Sam
E29

29. Quiet Sam

8.0

Aired 1 May 1961 • 25 min

Barney is convinced that the new, mysterious farmer in town warrants further investigation. Andy finally agrees to pay a visit to the man's farm -- and finds himself drawn into a predicament he never imagined he'd find himself in.

Barney Gets His Man
E30

30. Barney Gets His Man

9.0

Aired 8 May 1961 • 25 min

Barney's reputation as a deputy soars when he inadvertently helps capture Eddie Brooke, an escaped convict. But Brooke vows to escape again and head straight back to Mayberry to exact his revenge.

The Guitar Player Returns
E31

31. The Guitar Player Returns

7.0

Aired 15 May 1961 • 25 min

Mayberry's famed hometown musician -- Jim Lindsey (James Best) -- returns for a visit in his flashy convertible and fancy clothes. But despite all the trappings and signs of showbiz success, Andy senses that all is not well in the life of the popular performer.

Bringing Up Opie
E32

32. Bringing Up Opie

9.0

Aired 22 May 1961 • 25 min

After being scolded by Aunt Bee, Opie decides to run away from home -- a plan that quickly turns into a series of eye-opening, and sometimes dangerous, adventures for Opie and a scare for both Aunt Bee and Andy.

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