Every few years, the topic of the color episodes resurfaces here and how they don't quite measure up to the first five B&W seasons.
Yes, it's easy to lament the absence of Don Knotts and criticize both the ill-fated addition of Deputy Warren Ferguson to the cast and the change in Andy's demeanor to grumpy old Andy. But Seasons Six through Eight of TAGS do offer some pleasures: * Howard Sprague: I found Howard to be a delightful character, especially in his earliest episodes when he was under his mother's thumb (too bad they married off Mrs. Sprague; still, the episode revealing Howard's bachelor pad was a hoot). * "Howard the Comedian" is a hilarious color episode exposing the pettiness of small-town grudges and featuring some side-splitting writing (Howard's joke about Mayberry's three main forms of communication -- telephone, telegraph, and tell Floyd -- makes me snicker just writing this.) * Floyd post-stroke: Howard McNear's beloved barber became, in some ways, funnier once his physical limitations and advancing age shifted Floyd's characterization from manic barber to senior busybody. (He steals the "Mind Over Matter" episode when telling Goober about Johnny Harris' accident.) * Aunt Bee's character was better developed in the color episodes, as was her friendship and occasional rivalry with Clara Edwards. (I defy you to hold back the tears when Clara concedes her rose award to Bee after Bee's hybrid flower was destroyed.) * Without Barney as a driving force for many of the episodes, the town of Mayberry became the focus of or backstory in several shows, and we learned more about its history. * Opie's aging: True, Ron Howard was no longer the adorable moppet, but the color episodes offered viewers the chance to experience growing up, Mayberry-style, as Opie got his first job, started to date, etc. Happy Labor Day greetings from Concord, NC, Michael Eury _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list WBMUTBB@wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
