Sitcom: The Andy Griffith Show
Episode: Christmas Story
Year: 1960
Story line: Andy and Barney give a Christmas party in jail.
Details: These were the early years, when Griffith was still playing Sheriff Taylor as a grinning bumpkin with a ton of common sense. It’s amazing to watch Andy empty the jail for Christmas (those were different times …) only to have to incarcerate Sam the Moonshiner when a local liquor distributor insists. Sheriff Taylor develops a cunning scheme to jail the moonshiner’s entire family so they can all celebrate Christmas together.
Killer quote: “No, by dog. There’s more than one way to pluck a buzzard.” Andy, when he comes up with a scheme to allow the moonshiner to celebrate Christmas with his family despite the dastardly machinations of Ben.
Runner-up quote: “Merry Christmas Barney Parney Poo.” Inscription on a Christmas card to Barney from his sweetheart.
Ebenezer alert: Ben the liquor distributor. He’s totally out to get Sam the Moonshiner for purely business reasons. He’s mean. Petty. Greedy. But deep down, he has a heart of gold and ends up distributing gifts at the jail house Christmas celebration.
Childhood memory: This has to be one of the best sitcoms of all time. Even now, more than 45 years later, its gentle humor still resonates. This episode aired two years before I was born, and I watched The Andy Griffith Show mostly in reruns as a child and loved it. But I didn’t have a clear recollection of this episode. Thanks, Tivo, for bringing it back to me.