Mayberry 101: Behind the Scenes of a TV Classic

by Neal Brower

On October 3, 1960, The Andy Griffith Show began its eight-year reign as one of the top-ten television shows in the country. Now, almost 50 years later, the original 249 episodes still remain among the most frequently watched syndicated shows on television. In 1991, Neal Brower began to write a regular column called "Professor Brower's Class" in The Bullet, the newsletter for the show's fan club, The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club. The Bullet, which was published three times a year, was distributed to approximately 15,000 members of the 1,000 worldwide chapters. In his column, Brower focused on one of the show's episodes. Through interviews with writers, directors, producers, actors, and other people associated with the show, Brower offered insights into the scriptwriting, production, photography, casting, and musical scoring. Although Brower's first few columns consisted primarily of his personal observations and comments about the episode, later columns concentrated on letting the participants tell the Mayberry story. Brower realized that the pace of writing only three episodes a year was too slow a process. The stories that he discovered needed to be told before the memories faded. This book resulted from the need to tell the story in a more timely format. In this volume, Brower focuses on the 79 episodes written by Harvey Bullock, Everett Greenbaum, Sam Bobrick, and their partners. These writers were responsible for such popular episodes as "Opie the Birdman," "Mr. McBeevee," "My Fair Ernest T. Bass," "The Pickle Story," "A Date for Gomer," and "The Darlings Are Coming." When asked if he would help with this project, writer Everett Greenbaum responded, "Neal, I will be glad to answer your questions because I feel it is important to keep the memories alive." Thanks to Everett and all who shared their observations, Mayberry 101 now preserves a behind-the-scenes peak at the Mayberry story.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor

507 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 1998

Reviews

[Kyle Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this behind-the-scenes look into the writing and making of one of my favorite TV shows was an absolute delight. I can watch these episodes again with so much more depth and richness. If you like the show, you'll LOVE this book!

[Mary Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun TAGS facts.

[LAMONT D · Rating 4 out of 5]

A trip down memory lane sparked by our personal visit with a gentleman that has participated in Mayberry Days for years and has an amazing collection of Mayberry memorabilia including a replica squad car. I was surprised to some degree that as the book talked about various episodes throughout the series, I remembered each on except for maybe one. The writers talking about the episode and how things came about brought back pictures of those shows to my mind and put a smile on my face. I guess I need to go back and watch again all 249 episodes because they are timeless and will invariably put a smile on your face.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Maybe it's because of recent surgery that I can't concentrate on heavier reading right now, but for whatever reason, it was a great read. It was divided into chapters each describing the making of one episode of the Andy Griffith Show. (Not all 249 episodes were included.) Writers and directors shared their parts; also some of the actors gave comments also. It was also an enjoyable read because it showed how a TV program came together - with cameras, shots, editing, and more. Recommended when someone needs a light read.

[Freyja Vanadis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting to read about the various episodes of the show directly from the writers, but so many episodes were excluded that I was disappointed. For instance the very first two episodes, the one where Barbara Eden played a manicurist who comes to Mayberry and sets up shop in Floyd's barber shop, and all of the episodes with Ellie Walker. Too many episodes that feature The Darlings and Ernest T. Bass were included, along with the horrid Malcolm Merriweather.

[Joe Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watch the episodes and then read the book's entry on that episode. It is like having a DVD commentary of a sort on the episodes covered. Fortunately, the book dwells on the best seasons which are four and five with solid coverage of two and five which are in the next tier.
Lots of interview snippets with the writers and directors and actors to give an interesting behind the scenes look at an American classic. Well worth using to supplement your next watch through.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal look at the best show ever made.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fanatic (not just a fan, but a fanatic) of "The Andy Griffith Show", then this is your kind of book. Author Neal Brower used to teach a college class on Mayberry and has compiled here some of his class lectures in interesting, article form.

Combining a synopsis of the episodes he talks about with interviews with people on the inside (writers, producer Aaron Reuben, and actors), Neal reminds those of us who think this is the greatest show ever just why we think that.

Brower doesn't deal with every single episode of the show. He contacted three of the primary writers (or writing teams) and deals with their episodes, learning what sparked some of their great writing, how they developed the show through the years, and filling us in on some of the other shows they wrote for.

There is only one reason that I took a star away from this review. The target audience for this book--I would presume--are us die-hard fans. On many of the episodes he writes about, Brower gives detailed, shot-by-shot rundowns of the episode. I found some of these annoying because, as the uber-fan I am, I already knew what the episode was about. What I wanted was more behind-the-scenes info.

Still, if you love Mayberry, you'll enjoy this book.

[Tim Chavel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this is not the best book I have ever read on the Andy Griffith show it is definitely one of the best. The author, Neal Brower, has taught Continuing Education courses at several colleges on the show. He has taken the course and added to it to write vol. 1 of this book. I have been trying to find out if/when other volumes of the book will be written. If any of you know please pass the word on to me.

This book gives a lot of behind the scenes about the show. Brower takes each episode and not only explains it in detail but has comments from an actor in that episode and/or writers, directors etc. They share things why a character was called a certain name (could have been a writer's neighbor etc.) or how the camera was set up, or how the story idea came about. If you are an Andy Griffith fan then you will throughly enjoy this book!

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best "inside look" at the Andy Griffith Show that I've ever read. Brower interviewed the actual writers of some of the show's most popular episodes. Each chapter focuses on a specific episode. The writer(s) talk about their inspiration for the plot, how it was changed on set by the actors and their reaction to the final result. Fascinating book for all Andy Griffith fans!

[Duane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who enjoys watching the Mayberry television show will absolutely love this behind-the-scenes book. It has all kinds of information provided by the writers/actors that made the show was it is, an American classic.