Andy Griffith Show (DVD)

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The eighth season was the final one for "The Andy Griffith Show," one of the most beloved situation comedies of all time. Incredibly, it finished among the top 10 shows every year of its run, but with a touching farewell from fans, the Mayberry gang finished Number One in the Nielsens for the very first time. That's ironic, because the eighth season is also one of the weakest.

By this season, Andy Griffith seems tired and acts as if he could play Sheriff Andy Taylor in his sleep. The background music, the pacing, and the overall tone of this season's shows also seems sleepy, even more so than the rest of the episodes from this rural comedy.

The writers were tired, too. So many episodes this season are variations of ones from an earlier year. Rather than Andy and Barney wanting to double date and Gomer being a fifth wheel that they have to set up, for example, this time it's Andy and Sam wanting to get Goober a life of his own. Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier) has another suitor, Opie (Ron Howard) has another crush, Barney (Don Knotts) makes another token appearance, Goober (George Lindsey) is still a Gomer substitute, and Howard (Jack Dodson) is still as milquetoast as it gets. But as I said, it all feels flat . . . as if they couldn't muster the energy to go out with a bang.

Perhaps the most interesting episode is "Aunt Bee, the Juror," because a then-unknown Jack Nicholson plays an innocent man on trial. This was two years before he climbed onto the back of a chopper in "Easy Rider" (1969), a move that would take him from the TV track he was on to feature films. Veteran character actor Ronnie Schell appears in another episode, as does a very young Teri Garr.

Here's the rundown on the 30 episodes from this season:

1) "Opie's First Love." Last season Opie's love life got the lead-off spot, and the same thing happens this season as Opie gets stood up for a big birthday party dance.

2) "Howard, the Bowler." Howard (Jack Dodson) ends up being a super sub on Andy's bowling team, so super that he might even bowl a 300 game. It's pretty much the barbershop quartet competition plot recycled.

3) "A Trip to Mexico." When Aunt Bee wins a trip to Mexico, she can't decide which of her two best friends to invite along.

4) "Andy's Trip to Raleigh." Uncharacteristically, Andy lies his badge off when a trip to Raleigh to talk about a case ends up being a meeting with an attractive female lawyer, poolside. But of course, Helen (Aneta Corsaut) finds out.

5) "Opie Steps Up In Class." More bad Andy behavior, as he does exactly what he tells Opie not to do when the family rubs shoulders with rich folk: put on airs.

6) "Howard's Main Event." Howard falls for the new woman at the bakery, but the former boyfriend of Millie's (Arlene Golonka) makes things complicated.

7) "Aunt Bee, the Juror." Jack Nicholson guests in this episode about Aunt Bee's jury duty.

8) "The Tape Recorder." Opie and his friend, Arnold (Sheldon Collins) bug one of the jail cells with their tape recorder, with predictable results.

9) "Opie's Group." It had to happen. Opie grows up and plays guitar for a local band, until his grades become a cause for concern.

10) "Aunt Bee and the Lecturer." Another Aunt Bee suitor episode, this time a lecturer (Edward Andrews) who seems in an awful hurry to get Aunt Bee to marry him.

11) "Andy's Investment." Andy decides to get into the laundromat game, hoping to make enough money for Opie's college fund. Not!

12) "Howard and Millie." Howard and Millie ask Andy and Helen to drive with them to West Virginia to be their best man and maid of honor, but by the time they get their the honeymoon is over.