ANDY GRIFFITH - TELEVISION'S "SHERIFF TAYLOR" AND "MATLOCK" DIES @ 86............

Growing up in the 1960's in a middle class working family of six children our major form of family entertainment was watching nightly television together.  Every night at 7:30 p.m., if homework was done, we were allowed to gather around the tv set and watch various programs until bedtime, which was rarely beyond 9:30-10 p.m., even in the high school years.  On Monday nights three of the shows we watched and that live on in my memory, were, "The Lucy Show", "Family Affair", and "The Andy Griffith Show".  My father being a native Arkansan particularly delighted and looked forward to seeing "The Andy Griffith Show", as Andy Griffith is a native of Mount Airey, North Carolina.  The comedy series ran for eight seasons  from 1960-1968, on the CBS Television Network.  A very funny and entertaining show it was, with in addition to the character of fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina Sheriff Andy Taylor, protrayed by Griffith; was populated by such zany and comedic characters as, Opie, the widowed Sheriff's son; Deputy Barney Fife; Aunt Bea, who lived with and looked after Andy and Opie; Gomer Pyle, the gas station Attendant; Floyd the Barber; Ellie, the woman Druggist; Helen Crump, the schoolteacher and Andy's woman friend romantic interest for most of the series; Thelma Lou, Barney's girlfriend; and Otis Campbell, the town's good hearted drunk; played by actors, Ron Howard, Don Knotts, Frances Bavier, Jim Nabors, Howard McNear, Elinor Donahue, Anita Corsault, Betty Lynn, and Hal Smith, - among a cast of several other recurring characters.  On a weekly basis in each 30 minute episode viewing audiences were consistently entertained and enlightened, as almost every story delivered laughs and lessons.  There was a warmly subtle, yet definitely moral underpinning, so present - that in subsequent years following the end of the series' run, Christian Sunday Schools in parts of America presented videotape showings of The Andy Griffith Show, as part of their curriculum.  In the years following the original Griffith starred in movies, and a number of other short lived tv series, until 1986, when NBC Television Network broadcast a two hour, "Andy Griffith Show 25th Anniversary Reunion", movie special.  The ratings for the reunion movie special were so outstanding, NBC immediately offered Andy Griffith then age 60, a new series not as Sheriff Taylor, but in the popular television  genre of the mid 1980's - 1990's,  a lighthearted drama, featuring stars of the past.  In this series Griffith was as an Atlanta, Georgia attorney Ben Matlock, in "Matlock", which became another mega hit show  running for nine seasons, 1986 - 1995, (seven seasons on NBC; on the ABC network).  Andy Griffith was also commercial spokesman through his decades on television for General Foods' his first show's major sponsor, and producer of Maxwell House and Samka Coffee, Jello, Post Cereals, and Ritz Crackers.  Andy Griffith first rose to fame as an actor and entertainer in the 1955, on Broadway in the play, "No Time For Sargeants", reprising his role in the 1958 Motion Picture.  He also appeared in the Broadway show, "Destry Rides Again".  He also distinguished himself in a 1957 dramatic lead role in a film by Elia Kazan, "A Face In The Crowd", co- starring  Patricia Neal, and Walter Matthau.  And prior to his Broadway, Motion Picture, and Television successes, he wrote and performed funny stories on popularly received comedy records.  A number of those routines he then worked into, "The Andy Griffith Show".   Ron Howard, now an acclaimed, nearly thirty year, Hollywood movie director and producer, wrote on Twitter, earlier today expressing his condolences and remembrances who was first television father, noted,..."pursuit of excellence and the joy he took in creating served generations and shaped my life.  I am forever grateful. Rest in Peace Andy".  Andy Griffith passed away in his sleep this morning at about 7 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on his family farm on Roanoke Island, North Carolina.  He was buried today on the banks of the river at the farm, within four and a half hours of his death, as he had planned.  In his last years, Andy Griffith remained a conscientious citizen appearing in public service announcements aimed at seniors, for Social Security, Medicare, the Prescription Drug Plan, and the National Health Reform Law.  America, the world, and the entertainment industry, lost an outstanding contributor to the fine arts today.  Both as an actor and producer, for just as, "The Andy Griffith Show", was launched from an episode of the Danny Thomas Show, "Make Room For Daddy"; so too, did Griffith spin off character Gomer Pyle, in the fourth season of his own series, joining Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard, in producing the tv series, "Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C, placing the somewhat naive Gomer character in the Marines, with an exasparated Sergeant Carter.  As of the time I write this blog column, both Turner Classic Movies, TCM; and TV Land;  cable networks have announced they will telecast tributes to Andy Griffith, in coming days.  I look heavenward tonight, in the hope that my Dad is meeting up with this man, who provided him and oh so many, millions, even billions more, many hours of memorable enjoyment.  Thank You and May God's Perpetual Light Shine Upon You, Andy Griffith !!!............Fr.  Troy