![]() ![]() ![]() “People had been talking about maybe another movie coming out. The TV series cast is the same as the movie with some new additions, like Ronnie Schell, best known for playing the part of Duke Slater in “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”įilming locations for the TV series will be much the same as the movie with filing in Danville, Mount Airy, North Carolina, and California.ĮuDaly found out about “Mayberry Man: The Series” when there was a Facebook Live event to let followers of the “Mayberry Man” film page know there was going to be a big announcement. The series stemmed from the “Mayberry Man” movie, a family comedy that tells the fictional story of a conceited movie star who is caught in the act of speeding in a small southern town and is sentenced by a judge to attend the Mayberry Fest, a festival celebrating “The Andy Griffith Show.” Through this journey, he discovers the true meaning of friendship and family. 26 for more filming, but the boys were finished with their parts. Then on the 17th, we slept,” she said.ĮuDaly planned to go back Oct. 15, for a day shoot and Friday night on Sept. 13 in Danville, and we were there Thursday, Sept. In his three episodes, Weaver created a happy Christmas, saved a family from homelessness and gave a tired traveling merchant a job.EuDaly said she knew right away she wanted to be in the series, and her grandsons, Randy Gross III and Jackson Davis, were extras, as well. He was, and remains, Mayberry merchant Ben Weaver to TAGS fans. Several other actors played Weaver in later episodes, but only one, Tol Avery, captured even a smidgen of the cranky magic Wright gave the role. He played Ben Weaver in three TAGS episodes, the last before his death of cancer. His page on says he looks as “if he was born old.” The grizzled, stooped ex-Western actor actually died at the relatively young age of 68. Wright as Ben Weaver is simply magnificent. I won’t give away the end for the very few who might still have missed the show, but it should be noted that perhaps the reason TAGS never again attempted a Christmas episode is that it could never have topped this. Finally, in a scene that can bring tears, we see a lonely Ben Weaver, standing in an alley, peeking through the jail window bars, softly singing along with a Christmas Carol sung in the courthouse. Ben’s plans to get busted are foiled when party-goers, including Ellie, either pay his fines or donate “stolen property” to him. Writer Frank Tarloff - who penned 9 TAGS episodes - deserves a tip of the hat for his funny, ironic script. The funny plot seamlessly turns serious as a lonely Weaver, his Grinch-like plans foiled, tries to get himself arrested. Other amusing parts are Andy teasing Barney for being called “Barney Parney Poo” by his sweetheart, Hilda May, in a card, and a skinny Barney, with a bad white beard, playing Santa Claus. In a funny scene, Andy overrides Ben’s objections by cross-examining Sam’s smiling kin, who admit they knew about the moonshining! It looks like the Christmas Party is off, until Andy invites Edwards wife, Bess, (Kerry), and daughter, Effie, (Ellison), to stay in the jail with dad. A big Christmas party is being planned and Andy asks Ben if he’ll let Edwards have a furlough through Christmas. The plot involves Weaver (Will Wright) dragging in moonshiner Sam Edwards to the courthouse on Christmas Eve and demanding that Edwards be locked up. It’s a well-paced, funny, heartwarming tale that features Ben Weaver, Mayberry’s most prominent merchant, a cranky, stooped-shouldered somewhat Dickensian figure with a well-hidden heart of gold tucked behind his gruff exterior. Most successful TV situation comedies tend to have a Christmas episode and for some reason they are often produced in the first season: think “Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “The Odd Couple” and “Happy Days.” TAGS was no exception producing its Christmas-themed show in the 11th episode. Guest starring Sam Edwards, Margaret Kerry and Joy Ellison as Sam, Bess and Effie Muggins, Will Wright as Ben Weaver. ”The Andy Griffith Show,” Season 1, Episode 11, “The Christmas Story.” Starring Andy Griffith, Don Knotts Ron Howard, Frances Bavier and Elinor Donahue.
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