Mayberry R.F.D. (R.F.D stands for "Rural Free Delivery", a quaint postal depiction of the rural Mayberry community) is a spin-off and direct continuation of The Andy Griffith Show under a new title, for the same sponsor, General Foods. When Andy Griffith decided to leave his series, most of the supporting characters returned for the new program, which ran for three seasons (78 episodes) on the CBS Television Network from 1968-1971. During the final season of The Andy Griffith Show, widower farmer Sam Jones (Ken Berry) and his young son Mike (Buddy Foster) are introduced and gradually become the show's focus. Sheriff Andy Taylor takes a backseat in the storylines- thus establishing the sequel series. The show's first episode, Andy and Helen's wedding, had the highest ratings in recorded television history (up to premiere date in 1968). Sheriff Taylor and newlywed wife Helen make guest appearances on RFD until late 1969, and are then written out. Mayberry RFD was popular throughout its entire run, but was canceled in CBS's infamous "rural purge" of 1971.

    Thumbnail of Ken Berry

    Ken Berry on making the transition from The Andy Griffith Show to Mayberry, R.F.D.

    07:54
    Thumbnail of Ken Berry

    Ken Berry on the premise of Mayberry, R.F.D.

    04:23
    Thumbnail of Earle Hagen

    Earle Hagen on using the theme he wrote for the town of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show as the theme for the spinoff Mayberry RFD

    00:39
    Thumbnail of Ken Berry

    Ken Berry on the fans of Mayberry

    02:43

    Ken Berry

    Ken Berry on making the transition from The Andy Griffith Show to Mayberry, R.F.D.

    07:54

    Ken Berry on working with Andy Griffith on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry, R.F.D.

    01:55

    Ken Berry on working with Frances Bavier on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry, R.F.D.

    01:17

    Ken Berry on the premise of Mayberry, R.F.D.

    04:23

    Ken Berry on being the star of Mayberry, R.F.D.

    02:55

    Ken Berry on the process of producing Mayberry, R.F.D.

    01:12

    Ken Berry on Jodie and Buddy Foster on Mayberry, R.F.D.

    01:08

    Ken Berry on the fans of Mayberry

    02:43

    Hal Cooper

    Hal Cooper on directing Mayberry R.F.D.

    04:01

    Ruth Engelhardt

    Ruth Engelhardt on packaging Gomer Pyle - USMC, Mayberry R.F.D. and The Bill Dana Show

    03:00

    Earle Hagen

    Earle Hagen on using the theme he wrote for the town of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show as the theme for the spinoff Mayberry RFD

    00:39

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