Product Description

Named as "one of the greatest television shows of all time" by TV Guide, The Andy Griffith Show featured the adventures of some of the most well-known and beloved characters in television history. All 32 episodes of the classic fourth season are here. The entire gang is back, including Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith), who does his best to raise his son Opie (Ron Howard) with the help of his beloved Aunt Bee (Francis Bavier). Deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts) and everyone’s favorite gas-station attendant Gomer (Jim Nabors) are back too, and Season 4 features the first appearance of Gomer’s immensely popular cousin, Goober (George Lindsey). So come on home to the little ol’ town that everyone remembers and re-live all your favorite moments.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3372 in DVD
• Brand: PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO
• Released on: 2005-11-22
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Black & White, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 6
• Dimensions: .85 pounds
• Running time: 811 minutes

Amazon.com
Goober fans, rejoice--the arrival of George Lindsay's popular character is just one of the homespun joys of The Andy Griffith Show's fourth season, which has been compiled on this five-disc set. Lindsay as Goober Pyle, cousin to Jim Nabors's Gomer, makes his debut in one of the season's funniest episodes, "Fun Girls," which is also the only time Gomer and Goober appeared together on screen. By season's end, Gomer would depart for his own series (season 4's final episode, "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.," would serve as the pilot for that program), but before then, he enjoyed some fine episodes, including "Andy Saves Gomer" (from a fire at the filing station) and "Citizen's Arrest" (a knockout showcase for Nabors and Don Knotts, who is topnotch, as always, as Barney Fife). Other supporting characters get a spotlight or two in season 4, including Howard Morris's Ernest T. Bass ("Hot Rod Otis, "Otis T. Bass Joins the Army") and Denver Pyle and Maggie Peterson's Briscoe and Charlene Darling ("Briscoe Declares for Aunt Bee"), but of course, the crux of the show remains Andy and son Opie (Ron Howard), who do stand-out work in the well-loved "Opie the Birdman," which addresses serious topics--death and responsibility--in the series' typically warm and humane manner. No supplemental features accompany the 32 black-and-white episodes, but that won't detract one bit from spending some quality time with the good people of Mayberry. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews

"A decoy? Shazam!"---Gomer
Paramount is really putting out these TAGS seasons quickly. Keep them coming UNCUT (INCLUDING THE COLORED SEASONS PLEEEASE). After reviewing the episodes, I don't consider season four as one of their best. There are not many stand-out episodes, but there are not many poor ones either. This season marks the last we'll see of Gomer, the first we'll see of Goober, plus returns of the Fun Girls, the Darlings, Malcolm Merriweather, and Ernest T. Bass. Five of the episodes are often listed among TAGS top 20 fan favorites, although they are not favorites of mine. Here's what you get:

Opie the Birdman: All TAGS seasons opened with a story about Opie, and this one may be the most famous one (and usually a top 10 fan fave). Opie tries to raise three baby birds (Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod) after inadvertently killing their mother with a sling-shot.
The Haunted House: This episode inspired Don Knotts' film The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. Is it just the moonshine or is there a haunted house in Mayberry?
Ernest T. Bass Joins The Army: I'm not a fan of Ernest T. but for those who are, this set offers two of his episodes. This one has him trying to join the Army so he can get a uniform.
The Sermon For Today: A visiting preacher comes to Mayberry and preaches a sermon of taking it easy (probably the last thing that needed to be preached in Mayberry). The folks take this sermon in an entirely different direction. Usually a top 5 episode.
Briscoe Declares For Aunt Bee: The Darlings are back and Briscoe decides to court Aunt Bee. Bee is not so keen on the idea.
Gomer the House Guest: Gomer loses his job at the filling station and moves in with the Taylors.

A Black Day For Mayberry: This is one of the funniest TAGS episodes ever (in my personal top 20 list). An armored truck filled with gold is expected to arrive in Mayberry. It's supposed to be a guarded secret but, when it arrives, a crowd of people with a banner "Welcome Gold Truck" is there to greet it.
Opie's Ill-Gotten Gain: I could never understand how Helen could make such an error but, she gives mediocre student Opie straight A's by mistake. Andy is so proud of Opie's report card that, when Opie finds out his real grades, he's afraid to let his pa down.
A Date For Gomer: Thelma Lou wants to find a date for her plain cousin. Andy and Barney decide on Gomer and they each explain to the other how "nice" their blind dates will be.
Up In Barney's Room: Barney is caught cooking in his room and his landlady, Mrs. Mendelbright, evicts him. Barney becomes further agitated when he learns "Mrs. Bendelmright" is about to marry an old codger who just arrived in town.
Citizen's Arrest: This ep. is usually listed among TAGS best. I don't really like it that much. Gomer makes a "citizen's arrest" on Barney for making an illegal u-turn. For PR reasons, Andy insists Barney write himself a ticket. Barney becomes so angry he resigns. Barney acts like a real jerk in this one.
Opie And His Merry Men: Opie and his friends get some bad ideas about law enforcement from a hobo.

Barney And The Cave Rescue: Thinking Andy and Helen are trapped in a cave, Barney organizes a rescue mission. A good example of Andy doing whatever he can to help his deputy save face.
Andy & Opie's Pal: Opie is jealous when Andy pays special attention to Opie's new friend.
Aunt Bee The Crusader: A local farmer is about to be evicted and Aunt Bee organizes a protest: "Just like the tree that's standing by the water, we shall not be moved." This one is one of my favorites.
Barney's Sidecar: Barney gets a motorcycle and sidecar and endangers the lives and sanity of the Mayberry residents. A top 5 episode on most TAGS fan favorite lists.
My Fair Ernest T. Bass: Andy tries to pass off Ernest T. as a sophisticated fellow at a high society party. Includes the famous line "How do you do Mrs. Wiiiiley" and Barney's observation of the women at the party: "Fly a quail through here and every one of `em would point." A top 10 episode on most fan favorite lists.
Prisoner Of Love: A female jewel thief pulls at Andy and Barney's heart strings while she's incarcerated in the Mayberry jail.

Hot Rod Otis: Otis and wheels do not mix.
The Song Festers: The revelation that Gomer has a beautiful singing voice jeopardizes Barney's solo.
The Shoplifters: Weaver's department store is being robbed blind and Barney spends the night there and works under cover as a mannequin to crack the case.
Andy's Vacation: Andy is supposed to be relaxing reading the National Geographic but, with Barney and Gomer in charge, there is no rest for the weary, even when Andy camps out in the woods.
Andy Saves Gomer: Andy saves Gomer from a little fire in the filling station and Gomer is so appreciative, Andy can't get rid of him.
Bargain Day: Clara convinces Aunt Bee to buy tons of beef from a meat wholesaler, bypassing her friendly butcher. When her freezer breaks down, she panics over the cost of repairing it causing Andy's famous advice: "Call the man!"

Divorce, Mountain Style: Charlene Darling Wash divorces husband Dud and comes into town hoping to snag Andy as her new hubby.
A Deal Is A Deal: Opie and his friends get stuck selling worthless salve, but Barney and Gomer have a plan.
Fun Girls: The Fun Girls are back and Helen and Thelma Lou are jealous. Goober makes his debut and this marks the only episode where Gomer and his cousin Goober appear together. Goober also shows off his impersonation of Cary Grant: "Judy, Judy, Judy"
The Return Of Malcolm Merriweather: The Brit on the bike is back and tries to make Aunt Bee's life easier...maybe too easy.
The Rumor: Another episode where Barney starts the Andy getting married rumors; this time to Helen.
Barney and Thelma Lou, Phfftt: Barney makes a remark that he has Thelma Lou in his hip pocket. When she hears about his, Thel dates Gomer to make Barney jealous. The kiss a girl you have to get married thing is really silly. Not one of my favorites.
Back to Nature: Barney brags to Opie's camping buddies about what an expert man of nature he is and then gets lost in the woods with Gomer.
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Where Gomer leaves Masyberry and Jim Nabors' new sitcom begins.

Please no more edited episodes!!
Just wondering after two wonderful releases if Paramount will continue to give us edited episodes, as with the release of Season Three?? This was such a great disappointment after waiting so many long years for uncut and complete episodes. Especially when as others have mentioned that some of these edited episodes have scenes included on TV Land that are missing from Paramount's Season Three release!! This is shameful!! How can they possibly justify using the word "complete"!! Please Paramount, if this is the best you can offer us, then maybe you should warn us ahead of time what we can expect in the future.

Gluttons, Gluttons, Gluttons!!!!!!!!!! - Paramount, you beat everything, you know that? Maybe even the DMCA!
UPDATE! 06.23.06

My thanks to "RowMan (Torrance, CA United States)" for the corrected laugh track replacement disc program info. I placed my letter with proof of purchase in my home mail box on 06.13.06 and received via DHL my replacement discs on 06.23.06, a mere 8 business days. Major kudos to Paramount for taking corporate responsibility for the missing laugh tracks debacle. The transfers are still subpar but at least they are complete. But I still say...vvv

What kind of QA/QC does Paramount Home Video have anyway? I noticed on the 4th season of the Brady Bunch, some episodes had striations (scatchy lines) indicating to me a rush, rush release job. And now this mess with the missing laugh tracks on TAGS #4. Is Paramount trying to compete with Universal Home Video and Disney Home Video for the CQA (Crummy Quality Award)?

Now I haven't seen a single set in the retail market and my 2 week old order from Amazon still is pending. Is this a sign that perhaps Paramount has fixed the problem? Also Amazon now says the set usually ships in 24 hours. I will definately update if my set is correct. Otherwise, I say a class action suit is in order; not for free DVD sets but for getting what we paid for.

UPDATE: 12/13/05

Okay, my set finally came yesterday and everyone is right; the missing laugh tracks ARE no laughing matter. Watching "Opie, The Bird Man" without the canned laughter is just painful. This ommision is "paramount" to leaving out the musical score. I can't figure how such a gross error in production could happen. Some incompetent dummy at Paramount needs to lose their job over this.

Paramount may have unwittingly or willingly violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 by violating the Digital Rights Management of the original author. Tampering with Intellectual Property Rights is a federal offense. I have just written Paramount on behalf of all regarding the issues at hand and will update if/when a I receive a response.

Update - 8 weeks later and still no response from Paramount to my letter. I'll gamble 39 cents and try again and let you know.

Never heard from them. Thanks again RowMan!