Top 10 ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ Episodes, According to Fans on IMDB
If you’re a fan of The Andy Griffith Show, you might not be able to narrow down your favorite episodes to a mere ten! Fortunately, the users over at IMDB have done it for us. So, if you’re curious to know which episodes they deemed the best of the best, keep reading! And be sure to let us know if your favorite TAGS made the list.
1. Season 3, Episode 11: “Convicts-at-Large”
Don Knotts and Howard McNear were brilliant in their respective roles as Barney Fife and Floyd the Barber. It should be no surprise that pairing their characters together with three escaped women convicts created some of the most hilarious moments in the show. Who can forget Barney’s tango with Big Maude Tyler (Reta Shaw)? Or Floyd referring to Barney as “Al”, a nickname one of the convicts bequeaths upon him? The episode is a little bittersweet, as it’s the last one Howard McNear appears in before he suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. This episode holds 9.3 out of 10 stars on IMDB.
2. Season 1, Episode 11: “Christmas Story”
While Andy Griffith struggled to find his bearings in season one, it still produced some of the show’s most beloved episodes. Case in point: “Christmas Story” holds 9.2 out of 10 stars on IMDB. When cantankerous merchant Ben Weaver demands that a moonshiner named Sam be locked up on Christmas, Andy complies―but not without making sure that Sam and his family have a wonderful holiday. By the end of the episode, Weaver experiences a change of heart straight out of a Charles Dickens novel.
3. Season 3, Episode 27: “Barney’s First Car”
Not only is this episode a fan favorite, but it was also Andy Griffith’s all-time favorite episode. After Barney purchases a car from a sweet little old lady from Mount Pilot, he invites his friends to go on a post-church drive. And that’s when he learns that sweet little old ladies aren’t always what they appear. The car slowly falls apart, and so, too, does Barney’s sanity. Users on IMDB labeled this episode “a comedic delight” and rated it 9.2. out of 10 stars.
4. Season 4, Episode 2: “The Haunted House”
What do you get when you mix Barney Fife, Gomer Pyle, and a haunted house? Comedy gold and an episode with a 9.2 rating on IMDB! After Opie’s friend accidentally hits his brand-new baseball through the window of the old Rimshaw Place, Barney volunteers to go and fetch it. Rumors swirl around the place, with many citizens deeming it haunted. A series of unexplainable events seemingly confirms the rumors. When Andy tags along to investigate, the truth reveals that the old Rimshaw Place isn’t nearly as haunted as it seems. This episode is packed with hilarious moments: Barney nearly fainting at the sight of a floating axe, Gomer accidentally getting lost in a secret passageway, and Andy having a little fun at the expense of his friends. This episode also inspired Don Knotts’ solo film “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken.”
5. Season 2, Episode 11: “The Pickle Story”
Part of what makes Andy Griffith such a likable character is his devotion to protecting the feelings of his family and friends. That admirable trait comes back to bite Andy in this 9.1-star episode. Turns out, Aunt Bee can make anything but pickles. Too afraid to tell her the truth about her “kerosene cucumbers”, Andy and his crew go to great lengths to hide the truth from her. This episode was Don Knotts’ favorite, but wasn’t met with nearly as much enthusiasm by producers. Thankfully for TAGS fans everywhere, they filmed the episode anyway.
6. Season 3, Episode 16: “Man in a Hurry”
Harried businessman Mr. Tucker doesn’t have enough time to be stuck in a sleepy Southern town. And yet, that’s exactly what happens in this episode. The eponymous “Man in a Hurry” rediscovers the simple joys of life, thanks to Andy Taylor and friends. Trivia buffs might be interested to learn that Gomer Pyle was modeled after an incompetent gas station attendant one of the writers met. This episode holds a 9.0 rating on IMDB.
7. Season 1, Episode 30: “Barney Gets His Man”
Toward the end of season one, Andy and Barney begin to settle into the roles that would make them beloved pop culture icons. Barney is on cloud nine after he captures a wanted man. That is, until the criminal escapes, eager for revenge. One IMDB reviewer notes that “Barney’s hilarious characteristics of extreme nervousness, fear, and cowardice (he always overcomes) are starting to take shape”, and we couldn’t agree more!
8. Season 2, Episode 20: “Barney and the Choir”
Welcome, sweet springtime, we greet thee in song! Who can forget all the iconic moments from this episode? After the choir director invites Barney to join the choir, he quickly regrets it when Barney first opens his mouth to sing. The tone-deaf deputy doesn’t seem to realize that he can’t carry a tune in a bucket. While Barney Fife’s voice might be able to peel the enamel from listeners’ teeth, Don Knotts could sing much better than his fictional counterpart. He intentionally sang off-key throughout the show. Andy Griffith’s then-real-life wife, Barbara Bray Edwards, appears in this episode, too! An accomplished singer and actress in her own right, Edwards was married to Griffith from 1949 to 1972.
9. Season 4, Episode 11: “Citizen’s Arrest”
After Gomer Pyle invokes a citizen’s arrest on Barney Fife and Andy sides with the gas station attendant over his longtime friend, Barney resigns. Don Knotts and Jim Nabors had a little trouble filming a certain scene in this episode. “You had a line in that show that just broke me up,” Nabors told Knotts in the reunion special. “All the townspeople have gathered up, and I’ll never forget Don’s line.” Curious as to what that line is? Click here to find out!
10. Season 3, Episode 13: “The Bank Job:
Rated 8.9 out of 10 stars on IMDB, this episode is iconic for at least one reason. It’s the first episode that features Gomer Pyle! It also features Clint Howard, the younger brother of Ron Howard, and Al Checco, a real-life friend of Don Knotts. In this episode, Barney believes that the Mayberry Bank is an easy target for robbers and sets out to prove it. Hilarity (and a bit of poetic justice) ensues.
Honorable Mentions
Season 4, Episode 1: “Opie the Birdman”
Season four started with a bang. Or maybe a sob. We’ll let you decide.
Season 5, Episode 14: “Three Wishes for Opie”
Three words: Count Istvan Teleky.
Season 3, Episode 32: “The Big House”
This is the episode that features Barney Fife’s famous “The Rock” speech. Fans know exactly what we’re talking about.
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Originally published April 01, 2024
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