Remember when Don Knotts guest-starred on Matlock?
We love a reunion. Whether it’s Simon & Garfunkel or the cast of Friends, everyone loves seeing the team again. Sometimes creative differences are put aside to make way for a new project. Other times, a sizable check is written and past payments can suddenly be overlooked. The important thing is to get the band back together.
It’s a habit at this point. A show or a band reaches critical mass, near or past the point of saturation. The climax has been reached and things need to pass for a while. We need to stop seeing *NSYNC for a few years so we can miss them. Then, when the news cycle is just right, the opportunity will arise to cash in on all that precious nostalgia.
The same is true of beloved comedy duos in classic TV sitcoms. Don Knotts and Andy Griffith were the perfect couple for five seasons. Then, in 1965, Knotts left to seek film work. While he probably could have kept the show going for a few more years, Knotts’ departure only made it that much sweeter when he and Griffith were paired again some 20 years later.
By 1988, The Andy Griffith Show was in TV’s rearview mirror, but Andy Griffith was not. That’s because the actor wishes to further serve Southern justice as the main character in Matlock. With the show now in its third season, it’s time to bring a familiar face on board to complement Griffith’s strengths as the titular lawyer.
Don Knotts is a skilled ventriloquist
On November 29, 1988, Don Knotts appeared on Matlock as the neighbor of Andy Griffith’s character Ben Matlock. The episode, which serves as the show’s season three premiere, sees Knotts playing Les Calhoun, the retired “Plastic King”.
Andy Griffith spoke to the Akron Beacon Journal about choosing his friend for the big episode.
“Don Knotts is the best comedian I’ve ever met, and I play him better than any man in America.”
Knotts agreed and made sure to bring an unusual dose of humor to the serious courtroom show.
“Playing Barney Fife was the most fun I’ve ever had with a character.”
Griffith spoke of his intention to have Knotts guest star as a series regular throughout Matlock’s third season, as Les Calhoun assists Ben Matlock in a series of investigations.
“Barney Fife was tailor-made for Don Knotts,” says Griffith. “And this guy (Les Calhoun) will be tailored to the same guy. There will be a little bit of Barney Fife in him, but he will be 30 years old.”