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Andy Griffith Dies at 86: What Was the Best TV Show of the 1960s?

SodaHead Slideshows 2012/07/03 19:10:27

SLIDESHOW: What Was the Best TV Show of the 1960s?

“The Dick Van Dyke Show”
2 of 8

“The Dick Van Dyke Show”

Rob and Laura Petrie became the symbol of the young, happily married couple. He was a comedy writer, and she was a stay-at-home mom raising Richie and rocking the pedal-pushers.
  1. “The Andy Griffith Show”

    “The Andy Griffith Show”

    Andy Griffith stole America’s heart as Andy Taylor the sheriff in small town Mayberry, North Carolina. The widower was raising his son, Opie, played by little Ronny Howard, with the help of Aunt Bee and Barney Fife.

  2. “The Dick Van Dyke Show”

    “The Dick Van Dyke Show”

    Rob and Laura Petrie became the symbol of the young, happily married couple. He was a comedy writer, and she was a stay-at-home mom raising Richie and rocking the pedal-pushers.

  3. “The Beverly Hillbillies”

    “The Beverly Hillbillies”

    Every week “The Beverly Hillbillies” told the story of a man named Jed and his kinfolk who struck oil and moved into a mansion with their cement pond in sunny California.

  4. “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In”

    “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In”

    Long before there was “Saturday Night Live,” “Laugh-In” was bringing cutting-edge sketch comedy to TV with hip, young talents like Lily Tomlin, Goldie Hawn, Artie Johnson, and Ruth Buzzi.

  5. “That Girl”

    “That Girl”

    Marlo Thomas was every young girl’s idol in the late ‘60s. They wanted to dress like her, live in a New York City apartment, and have a boyfriend, who they did not have to marry.

  6. “The Carol Burnett Show”

    “The Carol Burnett Show”

    We’re so glad we had this time together, Carol. The ultimate variety show, it brought the world sketches like “As the Stomach Turns,” “Went with the Wind” and “The Family.”

  7. “I Dream of Jeannie”

    “I Dream of Jeannie”

    Before Larry Hagman got shot on “Dallas,” he played astronaut Major Nelson. The somewhat uptight spaceman happened upon a magic bottle and found himself a genie, played by Barbara Eden.

  8. “Bewitched”

    “Bewitched”

    Who didn’t wish they could wiggle their nose and instantly tidy up the house or change their husband’s ad campaign to woo the client? Samantha Stevens cast a bit of a spell on everyone.

Andy Griffith Dies at 86: What Was the Best TV Show of the 1960s?
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With the passing of the legendary Andy Griffith, people are waxing poetic about the good old days of television. It was a simple time on the small screen, when married couples slept in separate beds and “I Dream if Jeannie's” Barbara Eden couldn't show her belly button. But it was also a time when the medium was breaking ground, setting standards for the shows to come and creating programming that still remains popular today.

Sure, "The Andy Griffith Show" on the surface was a down-home, feel-good family sitcom, but it was also the first series to feature a single dad, who was raising his boy, Opie, with the help of his family and friends.

Meanwhile, Marlo Thomas' "That Girl" showed young women they didn’t have to be married and have a family to define themselves. And "The Carol Burnett Show" took the variety show to new heights, and its comedic genius has never been surpassed by any series in the genre that's followed.

"Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" dared to go where no comedy show had gone before. It brought the hippie culture to the mainstream and introduced such catchphrases as “Sock it to me!” and “Here comes the judge.” Click through our slideshow and let us know: What was the best TV show of the 1960s?
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Top Opinion

  • Georgia50 2012/07/04 04:31:14 (edited)
    “The Carol Burnett Show”
    Georgia50
    +11
    I watched them all and liked them all, but there was nothing quite like the cast of the Carol Burnett Show cracking up in the middle of an improv.

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Opinions

  • BeeBeeQueen 2012/07/04 17:51:16
    “The Andy Griffith Show”
    BeeBeeQueen
    +6
    But where's the best show of all time?...
    batman 60s gif


  • Airhead BeeBeeQ... 2012/07/05 01:22:40
    Airhead
    +2
    That show is severely underrated!
  • KelciLynDiNatale 2012/07/04 17:42:21
    “The Andy Griffith Show”
    KelciLynDiNatale
    +1
    I still go in every morning to watch it with my mom!
  • Kozmo 2012/07/04 17:14:40
    “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In”
    Kozmo
    +4
    "Sock It To Me, Baby" - Goldie Hawn.

    " One Ringy-Dingy" - Lily Tomlin

    "VEH-ry Interesting"

    Beware the the Fickle Flying Finger of Fate.
  • Gwendol... Kozmo 2012/07/06 00:14:41
    Gwendolyn Harper
    +1
    I like the guy who says "VEH-ry interesting!" I am going to see if I can watch this on hulu.
  • Mr Game Fly 2012/07/04 16:56:51
    “I Dream of Jeannie”
    Mr Game Fly
    +2
    I Dream of Jennie was the best show.
  • glen 2012/07/04 16:39:01
    “The Carol Burnett Show”
    glen
    +3
    Even the cast of Carol Burnett couldn't stop laughing
  • Gloria 2012/07/04 15:56:30
    “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In”
    Gloria
    +4
    Laugh-In & the Smothers Brothers!
  • Raphy 2012/07/04 15:54:38
    “The Beverly Hillbillies”
    Raphy
    +2
    I never was a big Andy Griffith Show. I always turn the channel when it came on.
  • Nibiru 2012/07/04 15:36:16
  • Anarchico Anthony 2012/07/04 14:40:30
    “I Dream of Jeannie”
    Anarchico Anthony
    +5
    I dream of Jeannie is a close third. Why they didn't have Star Trek or Batman on this list is beyond me. Star Trek will always be my favorite 60's TV show, Batman at number 2, and then I dream of Jeannie. star trek batman 60 s https://img.buycostumes.com/m...
  • Airhead Anarchi... 2012/07/05 01:23:51
    Airhead
    +1
    That is exactly how I feel
  • Anarchi... Airhead 2012/07/05 03:11:20
    Anarchico Anthony
    I was never alive in the 60's, I'm a 90's kid but my mother showed me the type of shows she grew up on like Star Trek and the 1960's Batman, and I was blown away. I still watch episodes of Batman when it comes on, and I have all 3 seasons of Star Trek on DVD. I absolutely love those shows. And for them not to put up those two shows is really weird...
  • Airhead Anarchi... 2012/07/05 03:16:23
    Airhead
    +1
    im 80's 90's so we are on the same page here. Those shows were ahead of their time.
  • Anarchi... Airhead 2012/07/07 00:53:17
    Anarchico Anthony
    Way ahead, thats why Star Trek got canceled after just 3 season's. The studio exec's couldn't see that they had a gold mine right in front of them...
  • panjok2 2012/07/04 14:37:10
    “The Andy Griffith Show”
    panjok2
    +1
    The Andy Griffith show and Little House on the Prairie are the 2 best shows of all time IMO!!! I still get the "feel goods" when I watch an episode of either one! They both portray a society that I wish resembled ours today!
  • Wolverineland 2012/07/04 14:17:36
    “The Dick Van Dyke Show”
    Wolverineland
    +1
    I like the late Richard Deacon known as Fred Rutherford on Leave it to Beaver & the annoying Mel Cooley on the Dick Van Dyke Show. mel cooley
  • bbwolf35 2012/07/04 14:11:25
    “Bewitched”
    bbwolf35
    +3
    Sam!!!? I also liked Mission Impossible and Wild Wild West.
  • Caramel 2012/07/04 13:54:50 (edited)
    “I Dream of Jeannie”
    Caramel
    +4
    Julia, because Diahann Carroll was the first black woman to star in a weekly series. She's in her 70's and is still a knockout!
    diahann carrolls black woman star weekly series shes 70s knockout
    diahann carrolls black woman star weekly series shes 70s knockout
  • heirsoftheking 2012/07/04 13:35:10
    “I Dream of Jeannie”
    heirsoftheking
    +7
    I worked for 8 years at Cape Canaveral Air Station. They really DO have goofballs like Major Nelson and Major Healey out there.
    Major Nelson Healey
  • heirsof... heirsof... 2012/07/04 13:40:37 (edited)
    heirsoftheking
    +3
    But seriously, I wish you had "Batman" or "Lost In Space" as choices. I liked those shows better than any of the ones listed.
    http://www.factualopinion.com... Lost In Space Batman Robin
  • Gwendol... heirsof... 2012/07/06 00:15:33
    Gwendolyn Harper
    so did anyone turn into a dog?
  • Dave 007 heirsof... 2012/07/07 15:19:05
    Dave 007
    So some of the episodes are based on actual happenings.
  • ☆Hitler was a community org... 2012/07/04 13:26:29
    “The Carol Burnett Show”
    ☆Hitler was a community organiz☆
    +5
    it was actually Star Trek

    Star Trek original Star Trek original
  • ☆Hitler... ☆Hitler... 2012/07/04 13:44:34
    ☆Hitler was a community organiz☆
    +1
    Natalie Morales, NBC Today show, commented on the Andy Griffith show stated that "too bad there are not any of those kind of shows anymore"...I wonder if she will have a job tomorrow?...or next week, so that it isn't too obvious
  • Kozmo ☆Hitler... 2012/07/04 17:17:59
    Kozmo
    +1
    May (St.) Gene Roddenberry (continue to) "Drift in Space".
  • SOUL4REAL 2012/07/04 13:05:11
    “The Andy Griffith Show”
    SOUL4REAL
    +2
    I really loved the "The Andy Griffith Show" it remind me of home in Alabama. I can;t forget "Aunt Bee" and "oppie" going down to the creek fishing, that southern life is so peaceful. Thank God we have reruns of the show,so he lives in our hearts. R.I.P. Mr Andy Griffith!
  • no no SOUL4REAL 2012/07/04 13:15:18
  • SOUL4REAL no no 2012/07/04 14:34:50
    SOUL4REAL
    +1
    Thank you,I really enjoyed the short film! Happy 4th of July!
  • no no SOUL4REAL 2012/07/04 17:20:00
    no no
    +1
    Happy and safe 4th to you also.
  • SOUL4REAL no no 2012/07/04 17:35:05
    SOUL4REAL
    +1
    Thanks!!
  • Kirby 2012/07/04 12:57:14
    “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In”
    Kirby
    +3
    I loved them all , but Laugh- In was always my favorite.
  • funlovinfreak 2012/07/04 12:50:48
    “The Carol Burnett Show”
    funlovinfreak
    +3
    While there are several on the list that I like. The Carol Burnett Show was amazing especially when Tim Conway was on. I am however saddned by the passing of Andy Griffith, he was a lengend.
  • Torchmanner ~PWCM~JLA 2012/07/04 12:39:17
    “The Andy Griffith Show”
    Torchmanner ~PWCM~JLA
    +2
    Those WERE the good ole' days and I certainly miss them. Stores were not open on Sunday. We took guns and knives to school, respected our founders, said prayers and the pledge of allegiance in school. Corporal punishment kept children in line. We did not disrespect other people. We didn't have rampant pedophilia and AIDS. Divorce was rare. Crime was low. You didn't hear foul language everywhere.
  • BurtJoshua 2012/07/04 12:37:40
  • elptrek P.H.A.E.T.'s wizard 2012/07/04 11:53:27
    “I Dream of Jeannie”
    elptrek P.H.A.E.T.'s wizard
  • Ronzo 2012/07/04 09:56:28
    “The Andy Griffith Show”
    Ronzo
    +2
    I wish the networks would get more shows like Andy Griffith, what a bunch of twisted reality shows like the Kardash......., I guess gradually the networks have slowly changed standards and people for the worst. The one sided politicaLly correct prapaganda society. Who are the board of directors and owners of the Media Regime?
  • Kozmo Ronzo 2012/07/04 17:20:57
    Kozmo
    +1
    Talking Heads, i.e. marionette puppets controlled by the Hindmost
    - those who lead from behind - Larry Niven.
  • Ronzo Kozmo 2012/07/06 17:21:18
    Ronzo
    +1
    Thank you for your rave on my answer, Andy will be missed.
  • ed 2012/07/04 08:37:56
    “The Andy Griffith Show”
    ed
    +1
    one of the greatest for family entertaining,he will be missed by many.

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