Andy Griffith

Oh the places you'll govern...

bniolet — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:16:39 -0500

After Gov. Beverly Perdue was sworn in, Andy Griffith rose to read a poem written by his wife, Cindi Griffith. Here it is.

North Carolina is my home

I no longer have to roam

When I see our morning sun

I know there's work to be done

Gov. Bev Perdue is the person we choose

Because there's so much she can do

She will need our best

To achieve her quest to be the person we need

So we may succeed

Please grant us the peace to allow her to lead

God bless her and keep her and always be near her

As she opens a door as never before

So as a new year starts

Let us open our hearts

As I trot out again to say hello to my friends

I know that all will be great

For our grand Old North State

Tongue twisters at the inauguration

ryanteaguebeckwith — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:01:34 -0500

U.S. Rep. Eva Clayton is getting her tongue-twisted.

She started to call House Speaker Joe Hackney "senator" then corrected herself, but got his last name something closer to "Hackley."

Then she called the governor-elect "Everly" and corrected herself on that one too.

A little later, Clayton made amends for her earlier error in pronouncing the first gentleman's last name.

"I made an awful error. I didn't acknowledge the power behind the power — Bob Eaves," she said, pronouncing it correctly this time.

Then, she introduced Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry (pronounced "sha-ree") as "Cherry Berry" and Supreme Court Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson as Patricia "Timmason" Goodson, Treasurer Janet Cowell as Janet "Caldwell" and featured singer Caitlin Cary as "Cathlin."

Finally, horror of horrors, she pronounced Andy Griffith's name as "Andy Griffin."

More details on inauguration

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:35:04 -0500

Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue has released more details of her inauguration.

Noted actor Andy Griffith will read a selection written by his wife, Cindi, at the 10:30 a.m. swearing-in ceremony Saturday.

Well-known Triangle-area alt-country singer Caitlin Cary will sing "America the Beautiful." Her band, Tres Chicas, is also performing at one of the inaugural balls.

The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by 12-year-old William Swart of Fuquay-Varina, whose father John is in the National Guard and is currently out of state training for deployment to Iraq.

The 440th Army National Guard Band will perform at the pre-inaugural concert at 10 a.m. in front of the state Office of Archives and History in Raleigh.

Yes, Andy will be there

markjohnson — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:24:47 -0500

Andy Griffith will make a return appearance at the governor's inaugural ceremonies.

The iconic actor, who spoke at Gov. Mike Easley's two inaugurals, will address the crowd at Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue's swearing in. He taped a television commercial for her during the campaign — "You're going to be a gooood governor!" — as he did for Easley.

"He is working with the state historians trying to pick whatever it is he wants to read," Perdue told Dome.

A few other tidbits from the incoming governor about the inaugural:

* Perdue's speech will be seven minutes long — shorter than many YouTube posts.

* She'll wear a gown to the Friday night ball, red with sparkles, made by a tailor who has made many of her clothes.

* James Taylor was invited but could not attend.

Perdue gives her acceptance speech

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:12:39 -0500

Beverly Perdue has accepted the governor's race.

In a speech, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate thanked her family and said she was proud to be the first female governor of North Carolina.

She also gave a thank you to "North Carolina's favorite sheriff — Andy Griffith."

Disappointment at Floyd's Barber Shop

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:22:15 -0400

Some folks in Mayberry are unhappy with Sheriff Taylor.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports that some residents of Mount Airy, the hometown of actor Andy Griffith and inspiration for the fictional town of his T.V. show, did not cotton to a recent video showing him and Ron Howard endorsing Barack Obama.

Some folks, though, don't like to see the actors from their old favorite show taking sides in real-life politics.
"A lot of people are surprised at him, and disappointed, too," Russell Hiatt, who runs Floyd's City Barber Shop on Main Street, said about Griffith.
"Everybody's high on Andy."
But he said he wasn't shocked by Howard doing the skit.
"I'm not surprised with Opie at all," Hiatt said. "He hasn't ever even come here to Mount Airy."

Anothr Mayberry — er, Mount Airy — resident tells the newspaper that she understands why the two would endorse in character.

"Everyone relates to Andy and Opie," she says.

Griffith also robocalling for Perdue

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:32:07 -0400

Andy Griffith has also recorded a robocall for Beverly Perdue.

The legendary TV actor has already done two television ads for the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in the primary and general elections.

He's also recorded a radio ad endorsing state Senate candidate Kay Carroll.

Perdue's 'Whistling' ad from Griffith

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:16:32 -0400

A second TV ad from veteran North Carolina actor Andy Griffith endorses Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beverly Perdue.

Howard: Obama has Mayberry spirit

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:19:57 -0400

Ron Howard says Barack Obama represents the Mayberry spirit.

In a phone interview with Dome, the former "Andy Griffith Show" actor and Hollywood director said that he decided to use his past to make a Web video for Obama because this election is "a really crucial moment" for Americans.

"I've never done anything like it at all," he said. "(I've) never been outspokenly supportive. Once in a while, might answer the question honestly if someone put it to me in the past, and sometimes I avoid it. But I had this idea."

He said he mentioned it to producer Judd Apatow, who referred him to Adam McKay, cofounder of the "Funny or Die" Web site. McKay and a group of writers drafted the script, while Howard talked Andy Griffith and Henry Winkler.

"I knew that Andy was a Democrat, but I wasn't even sure how he stood on the presidential race because we hadn't talked in months and months," he said. "When I broached the subject, he was excited."

Griffith's part was filmed in the woods near his Manteo home, while Howard took time off from shooting "Angels and Demons" to film his on a Los Angeles backlot. The two were brought together with special effects.

Putting on a striped shirt and hairpiece, Howard said "definitely took me back."

For audio of the interview, click here.

More after the jump.

Ron Howard

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:19:24 -0400

Ron Howard

— Director Ron Howard on his decision to revisit "The Andy Griffith Show" for Barack Obama, why the show still resonates with Americans and whether anyone needed to see him with his shirt off.

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