Mayberry R.F.D.

Mayberry R.F.D. 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 on the CBS Television Network from 1968-1971. During the final season of The Andy Griffith Show, widower farmer Sam Jones and his young son Mike are introduced; the two then become the focus of the sequel series. Sheriff Andy Taylor and newlywed wife Helen make guest appearances until late 1969, and are then written... out. The show's first episode had the highest ratings in recorded television history , and the series was popular throughout its entire run. It was canceled in CBS's infamous "rural purge" of 1971. The sequel's plot follows Sam and Mike Jones in stories reminiscent of the parent series. Both characters are introduced in the last season of The Andy Griffith Show , beginning with Sam's election as head of town council.
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