Here’s the Sad Story Behind the Actor That Replaced Don Knotts
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- Опубліковано 21 жов 2024
- #theandygriffithshow #jackburns #warrenferguson #replacement #deputy #themuppetshow #heehaw #fridays #andygriffith #barneyfife #tags #mayberry #donknotts #ronhoward #opie #factsandtrivia #theandygriffithshowfactsandtrivia
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source: outsider
Im not sure anyone couldve replaced Don Knotts. Definitely a no win situation for Warren.
Nicholson was on his way up but Don won the audition for Barney, I heard. Then when Don moved on to movies, Jack was offered the part but declined...kinda similar to Steven Stills almost being a Monkee, or Jimi Hendrix opening for the Monkees a few times. Jack as Barney? Mighta wrecked his short career...
How come everyone was so accepting of George Lindsay replacing Jim Nabors? I know Jack Burns was no Don Knotts but did dropping him make the show any better? The answer is no if anything it got even worse.
@@dvferyance The whole show went south when the Mayberry RFD replacements showed up.
Jack Burns was a good comedian and actor but was never given a chance by fans. Most TAGS fans saw him as a Don Knotts replacement. No one could replace him.
Jack Burns was part of the comedy team of Burns and Carlin.
George Carlin.
@@Sidfields789 I didn't know that. I knew him from Burns, and Shreiber.
I mentioned that in the video i think
He was a GREAT replacement character to fill the HUGE comedic gap left by Barney, Warren wasn't Barney, but his own UNIQUE self, who GREATLY admired Barney by the way!!!!!
Don Rickles would have been hilarious but opposite of Barney Fife. Show stealer.
I felt sorry for Jack Burns because he thrown into a tough situation following Don Knotts.However maybe the show could have made Warren into a a Mayberry city councilman .
The Warren character was just annoying and didn't take off with viewers. Conditions weren't ripe for this man, they were trying to make him a 2nd Fife.
AGREE COMPLETELY!!!!!!!!!
I liked him as an actor, but he didn't fit into the show.
There was no way anybody could follow Barney Fife
Thanks for clearing up the confusion. How come Goober was in the thumbnail, though?
Agree and it seems as though the show runners didn’t really try to come up with hood character writing and also to me by that time Andy wanted out of the show as well and he seems frustrated as I could tell by the way his character during the later years of the show . Shame that happened
You forgot to mention the comedy act "Burns & Shriver"... They were funny as hell !!!
Burns and George Carlin even before that.
Jack Burns was great in other things, but Don Knotts was a hard act to follow.
Wasn't he a plate spinner in his dad George's traveling vaudeville show? Don't see many of them anymore.
his dad George? @@carlsaganlives4036
The show "went to sh!t" when they switched to color, and Don Knotts departed. Boring characters, Andy morphed from cheery to perpetually pissed off. That's why MeTV airs only the B&W shows!
1966 had a couple really good episodes (Andy the umpire) but the B&W shows ruled.
The same for Gunsmoke when they went to color.
@@Djm8520Yes. The b&w Gunsmoke episodes with CHESTER were the best in my book.
@@bigbadbillb I liked Festus better, but only the B&W episodes.
Is it true that METV only broadcasts the black and white episodes? If so, it must be a new policy.
Exactly. This went over about as great as 'Bewitched' replacing the Darren's.
No one can't replace don Knotts
I thought that Howard Sprague being a nerdy boring Mommy's boy was humorous at first. However, I think they wrote him into the script a bit too much. He should have been more of an occasional side character.
Howard had to be one of the most extreme nerd characters ever on TV. I was continuously amazed how consistent his nerdiness was, down to his black and white oxfords.
Howard becomes more of an interesting character as the show goes on and they explore him always trying to emulate the trends of the era and transcend his small town surroundings and limited imagination. They ruined him in RFD though and made him and just about everyone else so blatantly irritating at times. Don't get me started on the Howard/Emmett shouting match scenes which are painful to sit through. As is most of RFD.
If Jim Neighbors hadn't left the show, he would have been an interesting as a deputy, Or maybe just not have one.
Yeh he played Andy's deputy in one Episode when Don was still on the show, he was pretty funny in the episode.
No one could replace Don Knots! 🌞😋
That's kinda like trying to replace Floyd. They filled his spot with Emmet. You are right
I agree, Burns should not have been a Deputy on the show. The idea just wasn't all that thought out. I do think it was dirty to fire him right before Christmas.
It seemed he was too similar to Goober
@@jimmyrubin4862 not really, His character was just obnoxious and annoying.....it's hard to put your finger on it , but there was no there there.....
@@alpha-omega2362 It was more that he had to replace Barney Fife and there was NOBODY that could do that. Had the show started with Warren on it, he probably would have been okay.
The only people who could have replace Knotts were Tim Conway, and possibly, Dom DeLuise. They were probably busy with other projects.
I never saw Warren as trying to be Barney Fife. I just saw how in real life, one person leaves a job and another replaces them. Warren was not Barney but he was okay. I don't think he was given a fair chance. I am sorry they fired him.
As for Howard and Emmett, the show needed them to show small town life. They were kind of dull, but not everyone in town will be a Barney, Goober or Gomer. While it wasn't a funny episode, I find the one with Howard trying island life memorable. Maybe I am the exception that likes these characters.
I agree. Warren could of found his footing as a character if not made a deputy. Maybe a barber in training or maybe even a quirky pastor.
Pastor woulda been great, never thought of that
Why not the new mayor; I don't recall one at that time?
@@foreheadlstudios2936 Or the County Clerk anyone would have been better than Howard.
How would that have worked? Just have Andy’s deputy be like any of the stereotype police officers that were like background actors in various episodes, and omit him from the story? I suppose it could work.
Barber is an interesting idea. The actor who played Floyd was in bad health, and they had to make accommodations.
Morning TAGS fans, Agree ! No replacing Barney ! BUT, I liked Warrens character , I had no problem with it at all , Writers failed
I totally agree. The writers for most of the color episodes failed and turned it into a series about dorks and people who were perpetually irritated by dorks.
No, you can't replace Don Knotts. I did like John Burns when he worked with Avery Shriver, and they did that cab routine. Now that was hilarious! When you showed the picture of Burns with George Carlin, I didn't recognize Carlin until you said his name.
I liked Jack Burns and Avery Scheiber of the Burns and Scheiber comedy duel. They even had a tv show, The Burns and Scheiber comedy hour back in 1973.
They also hosted a Summer show called Our Place in 1967.
Yes. He was successful in his own right.
Part of Barney's attraction for me was his last name Fife . Fife being a flute like musical instrument. Sometimes he was like a fife when his voice took on a high pitched tone as he got excited about something or frustrated with Andy or Goober or Otis, my favorite of all time town drunk .
Jack Burns was a funny and talented guy. He got caught up in a very bad decision to try and replace Don Knotts. Barney Fife is one of the most iconic characters in TV history, his role should have always remained vacant once he left.
Don knotts was hard to replace jack burns played Warren Ferguson he was funny but he was not barney fife good video bob
I think you're right that the greatest character in the history of television comedy was simply not replaceable, but they also went about it wrong, blundering in as they were on short notice. They handed Burns scripts that had been written for Knotts, and tried to step into the comedy instead of trying first to find the warmth and chemistry- the much bigger and more important challenge. If Jim Nabors had still been handy, he could have managed (in his original, pre-Marine persona). He connected with Andy and harmonized with the town. So did Jack Prince, of course (he'd have had to dig deeper than Rafe Hollister). But the hardest thing to replace would have been the unique teaming of Knotts and Griffith, who both played straight man for each other and traded comedy leads effortlessly, unlike any other comic duo we've ever seen. They were given no time to re-think the enormous problem.
The English guy was Benard Fox. He also played Doctor Bombay in Bewitched.
your comments hit the nail on the head.
AMEN!🙏 No one could replace old Barney.❤️I love them shows an always will.Well not all of them but most of them. And I still watch them today an I'm 72.Amen!🙏❤️❤️🥰😘
As an actor, I would’ve been scared to death to replace Don Knotts. Poor guy!
Agreed
Ill take Tim Conway for the replacement.
Now THAT would have been epic!
I didn't care for the character. I agree with you Bob, another character would probably have worked a lot better. I don't care for the color episodes either....I think it kinda kills the nostalgia.Have you ever run across anything about Clint Howard being in Gentle Ben and how Ron reacted to that?
It's amazing how the show M.A.S.H. managed to lose and replace so many actors and still maintain the same quality. I don't think any other show has done that.
Huh?
Yeah.
Huh?
Yeah.
Huh?
Yeah....
I loved that! Got me every time.
He did that on his comedy show he co hosted with Avery Shriver.
I hated that.
I absolutely HATED that crap!
@@clasicradiolover Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?
Da Shadow do....
I agree TOTALLY. Don Knotts could not be replaced. After this failed attempt to do so, they never tried to replace him again.
On Don Knotts leaving the show, I saw an interview once where Knotts said at the very beginning on the series Andy Griffith made it clear to everyone that he was only doing five seasons of the show and then he was calling it quits. Knotts asked him many times about this the first few years and he always said I’m done after five seasons. Knotts didn’t want to be out of work so he contracted for gigs after this time. During the fifth season Griffith asked everyone if they were coming back for season 6. Knotts told him no he would be because he was under contract at that time. Griffith got all upset with Knotts about that and Knotts told him well you said you were done after five seasons. I have heard it said Griffith was sort of wishy washy like that.
I think Burns was teamed with Avery Shriver as a comedy duo where he was the straight man and it was hilarious
That’s correct. I saw them perform in Montreal as the warm up act for Simon and Garfunkel.
No to Jack Burns. No to Jerry Van Dyke. Should of brought back that English Butler Guy.
Malcolm Merriweather
Bernard Fox played Malcolm Merriweather.
@@DennisMSulliva and Colonel Crittenden from Hogan's Heroes and Dr. Bombay from Bewitched.
@@jimmyrubin4862 Couldn't remember his name. Thank You
@@DennisMSulliva Couldn't remember his name
Earnest T Bass would have made a good deputy
My mother figure. Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean .
Old man Kelsey's ocean.
No, that was definitely a character that would have worn out his welcome really fast.
No one could fill the shoes of Don Knotts!
There's Only One 1⃣ Barney Fife.
What about Burn's work on "Fridays".
Jack Burns was half of a comedy duo called "Burns & Schreiber." I saw them on the Ed Sullivan show and they were very funny, But as Barney's replacement, I don't think anyone could have filled Don Knott's shoes. It would have been like trying to replace Bob Denver on Gilligan's Island.
Ron Howard's production co. was sued by Buffalo Firefighters, John Zoll and Terrance Burns who submitted a script but never heard back. When Backdraft was released, there were over 100 similarities to their script. The firemen prevailed in Federal Court. Burns v. Imagine Films.
It's not like Mayberry needed a big law enforcement presence. Burns was great. It was just a bad fit.
I never watch the shows that are in color, they're not funny and Andy turned into a huge grump.
Maybe if they had him not be a deputy for half a season so he could develop his own character then work him into being a deputy as part of a story arc, that may have worked but to directly replace Don didn't work. It has only worked a few times in television.
wasn't he in the duo Burns and Schreiber in which Burns was the "straight" man?
That was big of Andy to admit that the failure of the character was their fault, not Jack's.
I notice now that many channels that show the andy Griffith show, will no longer show the color episodes after don Knotts left in 1965, which as a fan of the great characters on the early episodes, is a good thing.
I agree . The color episodes had no depth and were as funny as Mayberry RFD , witch it was more annoying than funny ..
Jack Burns destroyed his own career the moment he tried to fill Don Knotts shoes. Poor guy.
Emitt was the name of one of Andy's childhood friends.
This is if you don't count the 1 episode that Jerry Van Dyke had as a banjo playing deputy.
I always felt that the best next deputy to have would have been Jerry Van Dyke to appeared on one episode of the Andy Griffith Show just filling in for Barney. He would have been good if they would have let his character be an inept deputy character with scripts not written for Barney but for him.
I couldn't STAND HIM HE WAS GOOFY!!!
Which resident of Mayberry (other than Andy) wasn't goofy? lol
Maybe if they had introduced Warren’s character like they did with Jerry Van Dyke in the episode he was in where he helped Andy temporarily. Introduce him, make us like him, and make us want him to be the new deputy and maybe he would have worked. But they tossed him in and expected to continue on like nothing happened……that’s obviously no way to replace Don Knotts! Jack Burns was very talented. It was TAGS fault not Jack’s.
No one could fill the shoes of Don Knots As Bernard Fife!
And certainly, no actor wanted to be in the shoes to take
his place as deputy of Mayberry.
You’re exactly correct, no could replace Barney.
When Jack Burns first appeared on TAGS I was only 5 . I didnt like his character at all, but later as an adult I could see why he got the part. He really could not have done a better job, but like its been said " Don Knotts could not be replaced"
How is this a sad story?? Jack Burns did a lot better than most in Hollywood as a writer for a hit show.
I thought Jack was good also. I agree that they shouldn't have tried to replace Don. Another character would have been the better route. I think Andy would agree.👍
Yes. It was a very brief and disappointing role for Mr. Burns, but he recovered. He died back in 2020 at the age of 86.
I agree Jack Burns should have played someone else, but he or no one could have?
A milkman
Earnest T Bass would have made a good deputy 🤣
Very good points
The Warren episodes are unwatchable to me. The character grates on me like a fingernail on a chalkboard. I cannot watch them.
The only shot they had to remotely fill the void left by Don Knotts was Jerry Van Dyke and they tried hard to get him. Somebody talked him into not taking it and instead doing My Mother The Car. The one episode of TAGS he did was a test run and he passed pretty well. Idk how they ever thought the Jack Burns character would work. If they hadn’t canned him they would’ve felt a huge drop in ratings the following season.
MASH didn’t make the mistake that the Andy Griffith show made with Warren. Captain Hunnicutt, Colonel Potter, and Major Winchester all had different personalities than the characters they replaced.
Very, very true. All of those actors/characters were able to integrate into that show, splendidly. However, Mr. Burns really belonged in a different setting than TAGS.
Burns and Carlin
Yes! Warren could have worked as another quirky character. But not the new deputy. Trying to write for him like he was Barney. Bigger mistake. Hey Bob, if I'm missing for abit; I have to have another eye surgery. Crazy 🤪 😜
Like the Jenilee Harrison of There's Company! Haha!
Yes!
No one could replace Barney!
I certainly agree with you that there was no way for Jack Burns to be successful in the role he was cast in, but then, I found Jack Burns extremely irritating. Not just on TAGS, but in his comedy routines. I saw him on a few shows in that era doing his schtick, and he was like running your nails across a chalkboard. He was probably a much better writer than an actor.
I wondered what happened to him. I knew he wasn't around long, but I didn't realize it was so few episodes. I thought he he was around for about a whole season. I thought it was strange they just decided to not have a deputy at all after he left, but I guess if their problem was comparisons to Don Knotts, then what other choice did they have but to just not replace him?
I liked Warren, but I preferred the actor who played the British Deputy.
Yes, if they brought Jack into the show without him being a deputy, that would’ve worked. Although I didn’t want Don to leave the show I am so happy he did those movies. Really love those! 🥰
I wish Jerry Van Dyke could have stayed on the show. I really like him.
Thank you for your video! 🙏
They were trying to get Jerry Van Dyke
he was to busy flopping in "My Mother the Car"...or "Accidental Family"
He’d been just as bad 🙄
He wouldn't have worked any better than Jack Burns as his bumbling, stuttering, clumsy schtick grew tiresome real fast. He always struck me as someone who thought he was hilarious, but rarely ever was to everybody else.
Jack Burns tried. He would have been better as another character. Don Knotts can't be replaced..Thank you Bob for the video. Praying for you 🙏
Melanie
Are you insinuating the show should have been pulled when Don left ? ‘Cause that’s how I kinda feel about it.
They could have made Warren Ferguson the managing editor of The Mayberry Gazette, but we'll never know how that would have turned out. Burns not only worked with George Carlin, he also worked with Avery Schreiber.
You can’t talk about replacing Barney without mentioning Jerry Van Dyke.
I didn't realize that Burns tenure on the show was that short.
The Howard Sprague character I liked, and could relate to, as I had known guys his age that tried to act _hip,_ but were clueless about it, making themselves look like fools in unintentional humorous ways.
Thanks Bob for this AGS F & T segment. I was not a huge fan of Warren. With that said Jack was truly put in a no win situation as folks loved Barney and people compare. Just a tough situation for all involved.
I made my peace with the Warren character and his episodes long ago and now greatly enjoy them for what they are. Of course, he's no Barney or Knotts, but he's still pretty funny at times and his character could have worked had they just given him more of a chance and changed the part he played to someone else and not the new deputy. Most of the Warren episodes play better than almost the entire eighth season when Andy looked like he wanted to be a million miles away all the time and couldn't hide the traits of appearing to be seething with interior rage in every scene.
I didn’t have a big problem with Burns but I am in total agreement with you about the Howard, Sprague and Emmett characters. They added absolutely nothing to the show.
❤
Of course Don Knots can't be replaced. They brought him back full time for the spinoff and the made for tv movie in the 80's. I never saw the spinoff, however I have seen the poster for it and Don is on the poster. That episode shows ppl we shouldn't hero worship anyone. Bc if you meet them they'll never live up to your standards you built in your mind. I know the show ruins it at the end. When Andy saves the day and gives Barney the credit. So Warren goes back to hero worshiping Barney. The message of not hero worshiping is still there. That's what I take away from the episode.
For replacement Deputy, they should have used Jerry Van Dyke. He’s very likable, and naturally funny, and would’ve been a much better replacement for Don Knotts.
Didn't they try that for one episode?
Huh huh huh huh? -Warren.
My 3 cents worth. Howard McNeal had his stroke and was kept on. But Floyd the barbers part would be great for Burns. Of course in some capacity McNeal was still a great to keep on in a regular visitor to his shop even showing his stroke limitations for being the reason for Floyd stepping down to overseer.
Jerry Van Dyke would have been the perfect replacement.
I liked Jack Burns and his character. It was that "yeah-huh yeah-huh" routine that was like nails on a black board to me. He could have been a lot funnier without that. Just like when they tried out Jerry Van Dyke and the stammering routine. Again, I liked Jerry and the character, I just don't like wanting to finish somebody's sentence for them. It was irritating, not funny. And I couldn't help but wonder how people who actually have a stuttering problem felt, seeing that being used for comedic effect. But, then again, I'm one of the few people that didn't think Barney's Declaration of Independence skit was funny either...for the same reason.
That was the Constitution. It took like 5 minutes for Barney to just get out "We the People' I agree that the Jerry Van Dyke bit was extremely irritating especially after the third or fourth time. However, I think stammering ( not stuttering) can be funny-Bob Newhart made a career out of it.
That was the Constitution. It took like 5 minutes for Barney to just get out "We the People' I agree that the Jerry Van Dyke bit was extremely irritating especially after the third or fourth time. However, I think stammering ( not stuttering) can be funny-Bob Newhart made a career out of it.
I liked him. He was no Barney Fife, but no one could be. I liked Warren for the character he portrayed
You and I are in the minority
Should have brought back Cousin Virgil. I'm sorry Andy.
The one episode that i dont like
Barney would pop in and out on other color episodes, when he worked for other departments.
Jack burns eats worms
You can’t replace Don Knotts, but one thing you can do is replace Norman Fell with Don Knotts.
Jack Burns was a hilarious comedian, and great actor for sure. Unfortunately, he was put into a no win situation. He did try his best to make the Warren character work. They just expected too much out of him, in my opinion. I do want to say I love your facts and trivia. Great shows.
Don left when black and white went to color. It was like Barney Fife wasn't meant to be after 5 years. It wasn't the same. I liked Mayberry RFD. It was ok but like every spinoff the same as every movie sequel. It's a good effort but it's still ne er the same as the original.
Goober should've just filled in as deputy from time to time.
One of the big problems is - the producers forgot that Mayberry was in North Carolina. They picked these blah actors with non-southern accents and no one could warm up to them. Emmett is the WORST. They could have done so much better.
The Warren character was really awful. Really bad choice.
How did they "depart' Burns from the show? Did they have him move away or just didn't bring up his character anymore? I can't remember.
It was kind of like the Coy and Vance situation on the Dukes of Hazzard, it just didn't work.
What's funny, as great as Don Knotts was a Barney, the Andy Griffith Show lasted several more seasons and got good ratings.