Customer Reviews

The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete Fourth Season

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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.

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.

Received this set for a Christmas gift so had to comment:

It's actually sad that Paramount has the rights to The Andy Griffith Show, and released it like this. Of course, I'm complaining about the sloppy production of the DVD box set with missing laugh tracks and strange editing.

The missing laugh tracks give the episodes an eerie atmosphere, and the sloppy editing is just plain annoying.

Viewers should and will be outraged at the chipping away of pieces of what is the equivalent Hope Diamond of vintage television.

If the executives quell their thirst for short-term corporate profits, a real attempt can be made to restore the episodes and release them in their pristine original condition. C'mon Paramount, with this release you've proved that you're greedy pigs at the money trough. Can't you see if you did this properly your sales will be higher over the long term.

Paramount, if you don't want to do it correctly, let someone else do it who will.

Of course, you can call me a sheep because I like the show so well that I would have bought it anyway even if I didn't receive it as a gift.

Rated: 5 stars for the show, 1 star for the feeble DVD attempt.

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This set was originally released without laugh tracks on the following four episodes:

Disc 1
"Opie The Birdman" and "A Black Day For Mayberry"

Disc 2
"Opie's Ill-Gotten Gain" and "Up In Barney's Room."

If you purchased the set without laugh tracks, you can get corrected replacement discs from Paramount Home Video free of charge.

Just send your name, address, telephone number, and the proof of purchase tab (found on the inside flap of the box) to:

Paramount Pictures Home Video
Bluhdorn 308A
5555 Melrose Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90038

You do not need to send your discs to them. Only the proof of purchase tab from the box is required.

Allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery (but I got mine within 2).

This is a major deal. Kudos to Paramount for taking care of this quickly. I won't hold my breath for the few minor corrections needed in the Season 3 set, though.

I was happy with the first three sets that PARAMOUNT put out and now I am going through this one. Without reading what others have written here...I noticed the missing laugh tracks right away and they did bring a strange element to the episodes. My biggest complaint is the fact that these are old 1980's transfers. The picture keeps fluttering and is especially noticable on the episodes I have watched so far like...BARNEY'S SIDECAR, PRISONER OF LOVE and HOT ROD OTIS. I agree with what others have said here...PARAMOUNT should do them right the first time OR don't do them at all. [...]The FANS of these classic shows are getting ripped off by having to buy the series over again when they finally do re-master them. Nowhere on these ANDY sets does it say RE-MASTERED because they were not. [...]

One of the most beloved shows in television history, The Andy Griffith Show takes its viewers back to a simpler time of small town America, apple pie, and black and white television... The trademark whistling theme song is one of the most recognizable in history, and the duration of the show in syndicated reruns is unrivaled by its peers. The Andy Griffith Show follows the exploits of the small town of Mayberry and its family values, no nonsense sheriff Andy. Widowed, and father to a small boy named Opie (Ron Howard), Andy is joined in Mayberry by his sidekick Deputy Barney Fife, his relative and housekeeper Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier), and a host of other eccentric characters.

But the show stealer is Barney Fife (Don Knotts) who plays the role of a sometimes incompetent, kooky deputy always in over his head. The onscreen dynamic between Griffith and Knotts is truly magical. Both men would go on to heralded careers in show business with Knotts starring in numerous roles, such as Mr. Furley on Three's Company, and Griffith as the title star of Matlock. And Ron Howard (Opie) would go on to establish himself as one of Hollywood's most well-known directors...

The Andy Griffith Show (Season 4) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere "Opie the Birdman" in which Opie becomes the adoptive father of several orphaned baby birds after he inadvertently kills their mother with his slingshot. Developing a personal attachment to the birds, Opie struggles with the notion that once they're grown, he'll have to set them free... Other notable episodes include "Barney's Sidecar" in which Barney acquires a sidecar for his motorcycle a local auction, but his daily antics quickly have all of Mayberry up in arms, and "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." in which Gomer Pyle joins the Marine Corps in order to become a man, but he's failing miserably until Andy convinces the drill instructor to take Gomer under his wing...

Below is a list of episodes included on The Andy Griffith Show (Season 4) DVD:

Episode 96 (Opie the Birdman) Air Date: 09-30-1963
Episode 97 (The Haunted House) Air Date: 10-07-1963
Episode 98 (Ernest T. Bass Joins the Army) Air Date: 10-14-1963
Episode 99 (The Sermon for Today) Air Date: 10-21-1963
Episode 100 (Briscoe Declares for Aunt Bee) Air Date: 10-28-1963
Episode 101 (Gomer the House Guest) Air Date: 11-04-1963
Episode 102 (A Black Day for Mayberry) Air Date: 11-11-1963
Episode 103 (Opie's Ill-Gotten Gain) Air Date: 11-18-1963
Episode 104 (A Date for Gomer) Air Date: 11-25-1963
Episode 105 (Up in Barney's Room) Air Date: 12-02-1963
Episode 106 (Citizen's Arrest) Air Date: 12-16-1963
Episode 107 (Opie and His Merry Men) Air Date: 12-30-1963
Episode 108 (Barney and the Cave Rescue) Air Date: 01-06-1964
Episode 109 (Andy and Opie's Pal) Air Date: 01-13-1964
Episode 110 (Aunt Bee the Crusader) Air Date: 01-20-1964
Episode 111 (Barney's Sidecar) Air Date: 01-27-1964
Episode 112 (My Fair Ernest T. Bass) Air Date: 02-03-1964
Episode 113 (Prisoner of Love) Air Date: 02-10-1964
Episode 114 (Hot Rod Otis) Air Date: 02-17-1964
Episode 115 (The Song Festers) Air Date: 02-24-1964
Episode 116 (The Shoplifters) Air Date: 03-02-1964
Episode 117 (Andy's Vacation) Air Date: 03-09-1964
Episode 118 (Andy Saves Gomer) Air Date: 03-16-1964
Episode 119 (Bargain Day) Air Date: 03-23-1964
Episode 120 (Divorce, Mountain Style) Air Date: 03-30-1964
Episode 121 (A Deal is a Deal) Air Date: 04-06-1964
Episode 122 (Fun Girls) Air Date: 04-13-1964
Episode 123 (The Return of Malcolm Merriweather) Air Date: 04-20-1964
Episode 124 (The Rumor) Air Date: 04-27-1964
Episode 125 (Barney and Thelma Lou, Phfftt) Air Date: 05-04-1964
Episode 126 (Back to Nature) Air Date: 05-11-1964
Episode 127 (Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.) Air Date: 05-18-1964

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!

I never thought a missing laugh track would affect the viewing enjoyment, but it unfortunately does. I watched the four episodes w/missing laugh tracks, and it`s similar to watching a hilarious movie in a theater w/100 people, as opposed to watching the movie by yourself. It just SEEMS funnier.

It appears that Paramount may have halted shipping & production of the season 4 sets, judging from Amazon`s stated 3-5 week delay in shipping. Lets hope Paramount has recognized the error and will soon have corrected sets in stores soon.

Other than this small problem, the season 4 set is superb. Complete w/no edits or missing epilogues.

As several people have mentioned, four episodes on this set have no laugh track. For me, it had a strange effect. Usually when Andy comes back with a one-liner to put Barney in his place, it's funny. Without a laugh track, Andy's comebacks in "Opie The Birdman" come across as almost mean. Without the laughter I found it easier to focus on the character's expressions and boy when Andy tries to put Barney in his place I had never noticed the really ugly looks Barney gives him. In this way the absence of a laugh track changed the show in a subtle way I did not like at all. Made some of the humor seem almost mean-spirited.

Paramout: I have one thing to say about editing footage in season three and now leaving laugh tracks off episodes in season four: Nip it! Nip it in the bud!

I was so looking forward to this season. These DVDs were to replace my 20-year-old tapes. I watched about 10 minutes of "Opie the Birdman" and was so disappointed I took the DVD out of the player and am returning the set to Amazon. The picture was worse than my old tapes. Furthermore, the episode, like all TV episodes that have a laugh track, is paced to allow for that track. The absence of the laugh track totally throws off the pacing of the episode. It's not a matter of "needing to have someone to show you where to laugh". It's a matter of being able to enjoy the episode with silence during the long pauses where the track is supposed to be played. The delicate pacing that is a hallmark of TAGS is completely thrown off by this absence.