Mayberry R.F.D.

Mayberry R.F.D.
Created byBob Ross
Starring
Theme music composerEarle Hagen
Opening theme"Mayberry March"
Composers
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes78 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Bob Ross (1968–1970)
  • Bob Mosher (1970–1971)
  • Charles Stewart (1970–1971)
Running time24 minutes
Production companyR.F.D. Productions
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 23, 1968 (1968-09-23) –
March 29, 1971 (1971-03-29)
Related
The Andy Griffith Show
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Mayberry R.F.D. (abbreviation for Rural Free Delivery) is an American television series produced as a spin-off continuation of The Andy Griffith Show. When star Andy Griffith decided to leave his series, most of the supporting characters returned for the retitled program, which ran for three seasons (78 episodes) on the CBS Television Network from 1968 to 1971.[1]

During the eighth and final season of The Andy Griffith Show, widower farmer Sam Jones (Ken Berry) and his young son Mike (Buddy Foster) are introduced and gradually become the show's focus. Sheriff Andy Taylor takes a back seat in the storylines, establishing the new premise. Sheriff Taylor and newlywed wife Helen made guest appearances on Mayberry R.F.D. until late 1969 before they relocated with Opie. Mayberry R.F.D. was popular throughout its entire run but was canceled after its third season in CBS's "rural purge" of 1971.[2]

  1. ^ Mayberry RFD, TV Guide
  2. ^ "CBS Rural Purge". www.yourememberthat.com.