The Best Episodes of The Andy Griffith Show Season 1

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   8.2/10(808 votes)

   #1 - The New Housekeeper

   S1:E110/3/1960

   Sheriff Andy Taylor and his young son Opie are in need of a new housekeeper. Andy's Aunt Bee looks like the perfect candidate and moves in, but her presence causes friction with Opie.

   Director:Sheldon Leonard

   Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Sheldon Leonard

   Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart
2. 

   8.6/10(737 votes)

   #2 - The Manhunt

   S1:E210/10/1960

   Andy and his bumbling deputy, Barney Fife, offer to help track down an escaped convict, but the captain of the state police scoffs at the small-town sheriff's help.

   Director:Don Weis

   Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Don Weis

   Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart
3. 

   7.7/10(690 votes)

   #3 - The Guitar Player

   S1:E310/17/1960

   A gifted guitar player (James Best) who has self-doubts about his musical talent gets a chance at stardom -- with a little push from Andy.

   Director:Don Weis

   Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Don Weis

   Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart
4. 

   8.1/10(601 votes)

   #4 - Ellie Comes to Town

   S1:E410/24/1960

   When Mayberry's local pharmacist falls ill, his niece Ellie Walker steps in as a temporary replacement -- and creates turmoil with the town's resident hypochondriac.

   Director:Don Weis

   Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Don Weis

   Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart
5. 

   7.7/10(545 votes)

   #5 - Irresistible Andy

   S1:E510/31/1960

   It's the annual church picnic, and when Andy invites Ellie to the event, he begins to suspect that she has marriage on her mind -- so he hastily arranges for three of Mayberry's most eligible bachelors to lavish attention on her.

   Director:Don Weis

   Writer:Frank Tarloff

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Don Weis

   Writer:Frank Tarloff
6. 

   7.6/10(522 votes)

   #6 - Runaway Kid

   S1:E611/7/1960

   Andy must intervene -- and risk breaking a promise to Opie -- when he discovers that one of Opie's young friends has run away from home.

   Director:Don Weis

   Writer:Arthur Stander

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Don Weis

   Writer:Arthur Stander
TRENDING NOW
The 20 BEST Episodes of The Andy Griffith Show
READ
7. 

   7.8/10(480 votes)

   #7 - Andy the Matchmaker

   S1:E711/14/1960

   When Barney's bumbling law enforcement techniques are questioned, Andy and Ellie decide to stage a fake robbery -- a scheme that turns Barney into a real hero!

   Director:Don Weis

   Writer:Arthur Stander

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Don Weis

   Writer:Arthur Stander
8. 

   8.5/10(594 votes)

   #8 - Opie's Charity

   S1:E811/28/1960

   Andy is dismayed when Opie refuses to contribute money to the school charity drive -- but there's a secret reason for Opie's apparent selfishness.

   Director:Don Weis

   Writer:Arthur Stander

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Don Weis

   Writer:Arthur Stander
9. 

   8.0/10(563 votes)

   #9 - A Feud is a Feud

   S1:E912/5/1960

   Andy hopes to finally bring peace to two of the county's longtime feuding families, the Carters and the Wakefields -- by arranging a duel between the two patriarchs of the quarreling clans!

   Director:Don Weis

   Writer:Frank Tarloff

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Don Weis

   Writer:Frank Tarloff
10. 

    7.4/10(516 votes)

    #10 - Ellie for Council

    S1:E1012/12/1960

    It's a battle of the sexes when Ellie Walker decides to become the very first woman to run for a seat on the Mayberry city council -- and the town's horrified menfolk decide to sabotage her newfound political career.

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart
11. 

    9.2/10(921 votes)

    #11 - Christmas Story

    S1:E1112/19/1960

    Mayberry's local "Scrooge," storeowner Ben Weaver, manages to have harmless bootlegger Sam Muggins thrown into jail on Christmas -- but the Mayberry folks manage to celebrate Christmas with Sam in a most unusual way.

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writer:Frank Tarloff

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writer:Frank Tarloff
12. 

    8.2/10(649 votes)

    #12 - Stranger In Town

    S1:E1212/26/1960

    Ed Sawyer, a mysterious stranger, arrives in Mayberry and disrupts the lives of the townspeople because he appears to know everyone's name, intimate details about their lives, and other startling facts about them.

    Director:Don Weis

    Writer:Arthur Stander

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Don Weis

    Writer:Arthur Stander
13. 

    7.7/10(505 votes)

    #13 - Mayberry Goes Hollywood

    S1:E131/2/1961

    Lights! Camera! Chaos! A Hollywood producer chooses idyllic Mayberry as the backdrop for his next movie, and the entire town goes into a frenzy as they gear up for the anticipated glamour, fame and fortune.

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Benedict Freedman, John Fenton Murray

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Benedict Freedman, John Fenton Murray
14. 

    7.7/10(451 votes)

    #14 - The Horse Trader

    S1:E141/9/1961

    Andy performs some slick dealing with an antique dealer to get rid of the town's old worthless cannon. But when young Opie later mimics his father's shady deal to obtain a pair of roller skates, Andy has second thoughts about his own wheeling and dealing.

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart
15. 

    8.2/10(516 votes)

    #15 - Those Gossipin' Men

    S1:E151/16/1961

    Aunt Bee, accused by Andy of being a hopeless gossip, sets out to prove that the men of Mayberry are even bigger rumormongers than the women.

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart
16. 

    7.7/10(474 votes)

    #16 - The Beauty Contest

    S1:E161/23/1961

    The Mayberry town council wants to end the annual Founder's Day celebration with a beauty contest, with Andy chosen to pick the winner. The result is pandemonium as candidates of all shapes and sizes descend on the hapless "judge."

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart
17. 

    8.5/10(536 votes)

    #17 - Alcohol and Old Lace

    S1:E171/30/1961

    Opie comes home talking about a "flower-making machine" owned by sisters Clarabelle and Jennifer Morrison, the spinsters who run the local flower shop. Andy and Barney do a little investigating -- and discover the contraption is actually a still and the kindly sisters are in the moonshine business!

    Director:Gene Reynolds

    Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Gene Reynolds

    Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart
18. 

    7.6/10(474 votes)

    #18 - Andy, the Marriage Counselor

    S1:E182/6/1961

    Mayberry newcomers Fred and Jeannie Boone are constantly causing domestic disturbances with their fighting, so Andy decides to play marriage counselor to the bickering couple -- with disastrous results.

    Director:Gene Reynolds

    Writer:Frank Tarloff

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Gene Reynolds

    Writer:Frank Tarloff
19. 

    8.1/10(497 votes)

    #19 - Mayberry on Record

    S1:E192/13/1961

    A New York City record promoter arrives in Mayberry, intent on making a recording of the region's local folk music, but Andy becomes wary of the stranger and suspects he might be a con artist seeking some fast cash.

    Director:Gene Reynolds

    Writers:Benedict Freedman, John Fenton Murray

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Gene Reynolds

    Writers:Benedict Freedman, John Fenton Murray
20. 

    8.2/10(474 votes)

    #20 - Andy Saves Barney's Morale

    S1:E202/20/1961

    When Andy has to leave Mayberry for the day to testify in a court case held in a neighboring town, Deputy Barney Fife is left in charge of the sheriff's department -- and he proceeds to arrest everyone in Mayberry!

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writer:Frank Tarloff

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writer:Frank Tarloff
21. 

    7.9/10(447 votes)

    #21 - Andy and the Gentleman Crook

    S1:E212/27/1961

    A notorious, nationally known con man dubbed "Gentleman Dan" becomes a hero of epic proportions to Aunt Bee, Opie and Barney when he is held for two days in the Mayberry jail.

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Ben Gershman, Leo Solomon

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Ben Gershman, Leo Solomon
22. 

    7.9/10(422 votes)

    #22 - Cyrano Andy

    S1:E223/6/1961

    Andy makes an earnest attempt at matchmaking to help Barney win the heart of his girlfriend, Thelma Lou. Things go fine at first -- until barney misinterprets Andy's efforts and thinks he's trying to steal her away!

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart
23. 

    7.8/10(422 votes)

    #23 - Andy and Opie, Housekeepers

    S1:E233/13/1961

    Aunt Bee must leave Mayberry to care for a sick cousin, but not before scolding Andy and Opie for their messy housekeeping habits. The two are determined to clean house before she returns -- a project that suddenly accelerates when she phones to say she'll be coming home earlier than expected!

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writer:Frank Tarloff

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writer:Frank Tarloff
24. 

    7.4/10(412 votes)

    #24 - The New Doctor

    S1:E243/27/1961

    Andy must make a hasty, ill-advised marriage proposal to Ellie Walker after he becomes convinced that the new, handsome young doctor in town is trying to steal his girl.

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart
25. 

    8.2/10(443 votes)

    #25 - A Plaque for Mayberry

    S1:E254/3/1961

    The Women's Historical Society is all set to throw a celebration in honor of the last living descendant of a Revolutionary War hero named Nathan Tibbs, who has been traced to Mayberry. But their excitement turns to horror when they discover that the intended honoree is the town drunk, Otis Campbell.

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Ben Gershman, Leo Solomon

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Bob Sweeney

    Writers:Ben Gershman, Leo Solomon