The absence of Don Knotts in the last two episodes of "The Andy Griffith Show" is very noteworthy. He left the show in order to make films at Universal Pictures. In his own words Knotts said "around the fifth season, Andy said that he would he would not go beyond five seasons, so I started looking around for a job and landed a contract with Universal." ("The Incredible Mr. Don Knotts," 2008). Andy hires a shy, timid carnival banjo player as a temporary deputy, played by Jerry Van Dyke. Van Dyke is only in this one episode.
Apparently several reviewers were very frustrated with Van Dyke's appearance, failing to understand why Knotts had left the show. One writes "ugghh!!! Rarely can you look back at a TV series and pinpoint the point at which a great show fell off the abyss, so to speak. . .this episode stars the ever-annoying Jerry Van Dyke--Dick's brother. Jerry was to comedy what Edgar Allen Poe was to comedy." Another agrees "what a miserable way to end the great seasons with Barney Fife. There is a lot of debate here on whether the lame Jerry Van Dyke would have been a good replacement for Barney. No debate, my answer is NO NO NO."
Apparently several reviewers were very frustrated with Van Dyke's appearance, failing to understand why Knotts had left the show. One writes "ugghh!!! Rarely can you look back at a TV series and pinpoint the point at which a great show fell off the abyss, so to speak. . .this episode stars the ever-annoying Jerry Van Dyke--Dick's brother. Jerry was to comedy what Edgar Allen Poe was to comedy." Another agrees "what a miserable way to end the great seasons with Barney Fife. There is a lot of debate here on whether the lame Jerry Van Dyke would have been a good replacement for Barney. No debate, my answer is NO NO NO."