Andy Griffith Show Compared to I Love Lucy Name Class Date Professor Andy Griffith Show Compared to I Love Lucy Classic television is something of the past but it also a reminder of the way things were in the 1950’s and 1960’s when the two shows were created. I Love Lucy and the Andy Griffith Show are two well known classics created to entertain but also to send a wholesome and moral message. The Andy Griffith Show aired for eight seasons winning countless Emmy awards and spawning spinoffs. The I Love Lucy Show television show was also extremely popular. The show won eight Emmy’s and the coveted Peabody Award. Both of these television shows were filmed decades ago but they are still aired today and remain an important part of television history. The Andy Griffith Show was set in fictitious, small town in North Carolina called Mayberry. It was a comedy series that originated as a spin off from the popular Danny Thomas Show (Bowie, 2014). The shows premise was based on a small town sheriff and his bungling, inept deputy who were responsible for addressing small times crimes that occurred in the community while providing an important moral lesson. The goal was to take the viewer to a country setting where people in the town treated each other with kindness and respect. After the first season the show rose to number one. The viewers loved the quirky, funny characters and the reminder of a simpler way of life. The I Love Lucy Show began in 1950 and was set in New York (Shah, 2013). The show was on air for six seasons but continues to be a well loved, sitcom. The show was aired in front of a live audience and centered on the main character, Lucille Ball. Lucy Ricardo was married to Cuban bandleader Ricky Ricardo but instead of wanting to be a traditional housewife she was desperate to break into show biz. The character of Lucy would get into all types of antics making the audience laugh while still providing important life lessons. Her constant scheming with her best friend Ethel led her into all types of hilarious, sticky situations. The two shows are similar in that they were both comedies and through humor are able to teach the audience an important moral lesson. Andy Griffith is the main character in the Andy Griffith Show displaying calm within the chaos created by the other main character Barney Fife played by Don Knotts. Deputy Barney Fife was an inept deputy that got into all types of funny but sticky situations he had to be rescued from by Andy. Andy and Barney could not be more different but they were the best of friends. Even though the show was designed to draw laughter it also provided a wholesome view of the world. This is similar to the I Love Lucy Show because main character Ricky Ricardo is tasked with cleaning up the messes his wife creates. He often time becomes exasperated at her antics but he always comes to her rescue. In I Love Lucy her best friend, Ethel, goes along with all of her antics often times making th.

1. Andy Griffith Show Compared to I Love Lucy
Name
Class
Date
Professor
Andy Griffith Show Compared to I Love Lucy
Classic television is something of the past but it also a reminder
of the way things were in the 1950’s and 1960’s when the two
shows were created. I Love Lucy and the Andy Griffith Show
are two well known classics created to entertain but also to send
a wholesome and moral message. The Andy Griffith Show aired
for eight seasons winning countless Emmy awards and spawning
spinoffs. The I Love Lucy Show television show was also
extremely popular. The show won eight Emmy’s and the

2. coveted Peabody Award. Both of these television shows were
filmed decades ago but they are still aired today and remain an
important part of television history.
The Andy Griffith Show was set in fictitious, small town in
North Carolina called Mayberry. It was a comedy series that
originated as a spin off from the popular Danny Thomas Show
(Bowie, 2014). The shows premise was based on a small town
sheriff and his bungling, inept deputy who were responsible for
addressing small times crimes that occurred in the community
while providing an important moral lesson. The goal was to take
the viewer to a country setting where people in the town treated
each other with kindness and respect. After the first season the
show rose to number one. The viewers loved the quirky, funny
characters and the reminder of a simpler way of life.
The I Love Lucy Show began in 1950 and was set in New York
(Shah, 2013). The show was on air for six seasons but continues
to be a well loved, sitcom. The show was aired in front of a live
audience and centered on the main character, Lucille Ball. Lucy
Ricardo was married to Cuban bandleader Ricky Ricardo but
instead of wanting to be a traditional housewife she was
desperate to break into show biz. The character of Lucy would
get into all types of antics making the audience laugh while still
providing important life lessons. Her constant scheming with
her best friend Ethel led her into all types of hilarious, sticky
situations.
The two shows are similar in that they were both comedies and
through humor are able to teach the audience an important
moral lesson. Andy Griffith is the main character in the Andy
Griffith Show displaying calm within the chaos created by the
other main character Barney Fife played by Don Knotts. Deputy
Barney Fife was an inept deputy that got into all types of funny
but sticky situations he had to be rescued from by Andy. Andy
and Barney could not be more different but they were the best
of friends. Even though the show was designed to draw laughter
it also provided a wholesome view of the world.
This is similar to the I Love Lucy Show because main character

3. Ricky Ricardo is tasked with cleaning up the messes his wife
creates. He often time becomes exasperated at her antics but he
always comes to her rescue. In I Love Lucy her best friend,
Ethel, goes along with all of her antics often times making the
situation worse. Her husband Fred is best friends with Ricky
and often times assist in cleaning or covering up the messes
created by Lucy and Ethel. Lucy’s bungling attempts to enter
show biz or to display her independence as a woman have kept
audiences laughing for over sixty years.
The shows are very different in their premises with one
focusing on the life of a married couple living their lives in the
world of show biz while the other shows focus is on small town,
American life and the sheriff’s response to minor crimes. The
two television shows were created a decade apart. The Andy
Griffith Show aired during a time when America was in total
chaos with the Civil Rights Movement. It was the perfect escape
for viewers seeking a break from the constant exposure to the
fights for equality that was occurring in society. The television
show I Love Lucy aired during a simpler time and provided the
audience with a glimpse of a more glamorous life where Lucy
was able to use female stereotypes to get laughs.
Both of these television shows have been on TV for over 50
years providing laughter and enjoyment to their audiences. Even
though these shows have been off the air for many, many years
they have been an important part of the lives of many different
generations. These types of shows are no longer made for
audiences and instead there is a new modern twist on the
television shows viewers find funny. Their enduring popularity
of these two television shows is the result of excellent writing,
stellar actors, and the proper production.

4. References
Bowie, S. (2014). The Andy Griffith Show built North Carolina
on the back lot. Retrieved
November 23, 2014 from
http://www.avclub.com/article/andy-griffith-show-built-north-
carolina-backlot-206455
Shah, Y. (2013). 5 Timeless Life Lessons from 'I Love Lucy'.
Retrieved November 23, 2014
from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/06/i-love-
lucy-lessons-_n_5614563.html