'The Andy Griffith Show' Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
2 min
'The Andy Griffith Show' Quiz
Image: CBS Photo Archive/CBS/Getty Images

About This Quiz

The Andy Griffith Show is one of the most popular shows of the 1960s that continues to air on TV decades later after an eight-season run.  

A spinoff of long-running "The Danny Thomas Show," it aired on CBS from October 3, 1960 through April 1, 1968 and starred Andy Taylor as the titular character, a widowed sheriff of Mayberry, North Carolina, a fictional community of about 2,000 people. The other major characters include the inept but well-meaning deputy, Barney Fife (Don Knotts); Andy's spinster aunt and housekeeper, Bee Taylor (Frances Bavier), and Andy's precocious young son, Opie played by Ron Howard, who would go on to later star in the successful series, Happy Days. 


Throughout its 249- episode run it never went lower than the #7 spot in the Nielsen ratings and ended at the number one spot. It is one of only three shows to have its final season be the number one ranked show on television, the other two being I Love Lucy and Seinfeld. 

The famous theme song entitled "The Fishin' Hole" was written in 15 minutes by Earle Hagen, who also provided the now iconic whistling to the track. Something tells us that's the song that'll be playing on repeat in your mind while you test your knowledge of this beloved sitcom so go ahead and get started! 







Which character does Barney Fife date?
Thelma Lou
Helen
Clara
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thelma Lou is Barney Fife's longtime love interest in "The Andy Griffith Show." Thelma Lou's last name is never revealed in the series.

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Which character did the actress Frances Bavier play in "The Andy Griffith Show"?
Thelma Lou
Aunt Bee
Helen Crump
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1967 Bavier won an Emmy Award for outstanding performance by an actress in a supporting role in a comedy for her portrayal of Aunt Bee.

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What was the name of the sequel spinoff of "The Andy Griffith Show"?
"Green Acres"
"Mayberry R.F.D."
"Petticoat Junction"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Mayberry R.F.D." premiered on Sept. 23, 1968 and ran through March 29, 1971. R.F.D . stands for rural free delivery.

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What is the title of the theme song of "The Andy Griffith Show"?
"Gotta Travel On"
"Foggy Mountain Top"
"The Fishin' Hole"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Fishin' Hole" was written by composers Earle Hagen and Herbert Spencer. Hagen is the one whistling in the opening/closing sequences and the lyrics by Everett Sloane were never performed on the show.

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Which actor played the character Opie Taylor?
Ron Howard
Jerry Mathers
Bill Mumy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Actor/Director Ron Howard played Andy's six-year-old son, Opie Taylor.

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Which character from "The Andy Griffith Show" threw rocks and broke windows?
Ernest T.
Otis
Opie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ernest T. Bass broke windows throughout Mayberry by throwing rocks. The character first appears in the season three episode "Mountain Wedding."

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What is Helen Crump's profession?
Teacher
Hairdresser
Dime-store clerk
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Helen (played by Aneta Corsaut) is a schoolteacher in Mayberry and later became Andy Taylor's girlfriend.

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Which character is the town barber?
Floyd
Howard
Emmett
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Actor Howard McNear played Floyd Lawson in the series. He was reportedly inspired by real-life barbers in Mount Airy, North Carolina.

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Which character on "The Andy Griffith Show" inspired a spinoff series in 1964?
Goober
Gomer
Warren
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1964 spinoff series "Gomer Pyle: USMC" was inspired by the title character, who had first appeared on "The Andy Griffith Show." Pyle was played by the singer and actor Jim Nabors.

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What is the name of the town drunk in "The Andy Griffith Show"?
Otis
Asa
Orville
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Otis Campbell appears in 32 episodes of the series. He was played by Hal Smith, making frequent appearances from 1960 to 1967 until sponsors began to worry about the portrayal of excessive drinking.

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What year did "The Andy Griffith Show" go off the air?
1966
1967
1968
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The last episode of "The Andy Griffith Show" premiered on April 1, 1968. The series ended while still at the top of the Neilsen ratings.

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"The Andy Griffith Show" was on the air for eight seasons.
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Andy Griffith Show" ran for eight seasons, with 249 episodes starting October 3, 1960.

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In "The Andy Griffith Show," which state is the town of Mayberry in?
South Carolina
Virginia
North Carolina
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, was based on Andy Griffith's real-life hometown of Mount Airy, North Carolina.

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What make and model is the squad car used in "The Andy Griffith Show"?
Plymouth Belvedere
Ford Galaxie
Chevrolet Impala
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Barney and Andy's police cruiser is a Ford Galaxie. Producers were given 10 different Ford Galaxies throughout the run of the series.

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Barney Fife kept a single bullet in his back pants pocket.
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Deputy Barney Fife, played by Don Knotts, was allowed only one bullet, which he kept in his shirt pocket.

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Which actress portrayed the character Thelma Lou?
Hope Summers
Betty Lynn
Aneta Corsaut
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1965 Don Knotts left the series, and Lynn did as well, returning only once for a class reunion episode.

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Which television network aired the series?
ABC
CBS
NBC
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The CBS television network aired the series, which was produced by Danny Thomas Enterprises.

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When did "The Andy Griffith Show" premiere?
1960
1965
1967
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Andy Griffith Show" premiered in the U.S. on Oct. 3, 1960. The premiere episode is titled "The New Housekeeper."

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Helen Crump is the telephone operator in the show.
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sarah is the telephone operator. The character is never seen nor given a last name.

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What is Andy's last name in the series?
Griffith
Taylor
McKenzie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Andy Griffith plays the character Andy Taylor. Griffith appeared in 249 episodes of the original series.

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Who is the actor that plays Otis Campbell?
Jack Dodson
Hal Smith
Howard McNear
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Although Smith played the town drunk, he reportedly never drank alcohol in real-life.

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Which actress played the character Helen Crump?
Hope Summers
Mary Lansing
Aneta Corsaut
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Helen was supposed to be a one-time character, but producers decided to make the character a regular after seeing Corsaut's performance.

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Which character did Opie ask for permission from to run away?
Aunt Bee
Barney
Andy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Opie asked his dad, Andy, for permission to run away in the episode "Opie's Ill-gotten Gain."

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When did the reunion television movie "Return to Mayberry" air?
1982
1984
1986
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The reunion movie premiered on April 13, 1986, on NBC. The outdoor set from the original series had been destroyed, so the crew had to recreate the Mayberry town square in a small California town.

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Which actor played the role of Ernest T. Bass?
Howard McEnery
Jack Dodson
Howard Morris
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Morris played the wild Ernest T. Bass. He appeared in eight episodes of the series.

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Which television series was "The Andy Griffith Show" a spinoff of?
"Father Knows Best"
"My Three Sons"
"Make Room for Daddy"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The character Andy Taylor was introduced in the Danny Thomas show "Make Room for Daddy" in an episode titled "Danny Meets Andy Griffith," which premiered on Feb. 15, 1960.

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What is Sheriff Andy Taylor's middle name?
Jefferson
James
Jackson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Andy Taylor's middle name is Jackson. The actor's full legal name was Andy Samuel Griffith.

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Which writer and producer was one of the creators of "The Andy Griffith Show"?
Sherwood Schwartz
Carl Reiner
Sheldon Leonard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Leonard was one of the creators of the series. Aaron Ruben and Danny Thomas are also credited as co-creators of the series.

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In how many seasons did Don Knotts appear as a regular on "The Andy Griffith Show"?
Five
Six
Seven
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Don Knotts was a regular star of the series for five seasons. After leaving the show, Knotts signed a five-year contract with Universal Pictures.

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When did "The Andy Griffith Show" begin broadcasting in color?
Six
Five
Four
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Beginning with season six, "The Andy Griffith Show" was broadcast in color. An hour-long CBS program titled "Premiere" became the first commercial color television broadcast on June 25, 1951.

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