DAILY DIRT: ‘Nip it in the bud’ and other memorable moments from one of the all-time great  TV shows

Daily Dirt for May 21, 2025

I think it’s safe to say there will never be another “Andy Griffith Show” … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,290 of The Daily Dirt.

1. I’m pretty sure that I have never met anyone who does not enjoy those old “Andy Griffith Show” reruns.

From Andy and Barney to Floyd the Barber, Miss Crump and Goober, there may never have been a show with a more inviting cast. What helped make that show — and cast — so memorable were some of those one-liners that they have evolved into genuine catchphrases over the years. Here are my medal-worthy favorites, most of which we owe to Don Knotts — a.k.a. Dep. Barney Fife:

Gold medal: “Nip it in the bud!” (Barney said it was time for a call to action, a time to … nip it in the bud.”

Silver medal: “I think he’s a nut”. (Barney was often describing longtime nemesis Ernest T. Bass in a not-so-flattering fashion.)

Bronze medal: “Citizen’s arrest! Citizen’s arrest!” (Remember when Gomer made Barney write himself a traffic ticket? Classic. Simply classic.)

Honorable mention

“You beat everything, you know that?!” Barney would often say this to Andy when he finally realized the sheriff was having a little fun at his expense. Other cast members also employed the phrase at times, too.

“Six dollars a week and what do I get? Heartaches! Nothing but heartaches.” Barney was upset with his landlady.

“Nature’s been good to you. I mean real, real, real good.” (Andy once told that to guest star Barbara Eden, who briefly worked as a manicurist at Floyd’s barber shop. Obviously, Andy was not blind.)

“Shazam!” (Gomer’s famous catchphrase for just about anything.)

“Here at the Rock, we have two basic rules.” (Barney always loved to try and impress out-of-town “guests” at the Mayberry jail.)

Tomorrow we’ll  feature another special edition of The Daily Dirt tied to the “Andy Griffith Show”. We’ll look at some of the major stars who appeared with Andy and Barney long before they struck it big.

2. Did you know (Part 369)

• That if the woman is always right and the man is always wrong, then if a man tells a woman that she is right is the man right or wrong.
• That the guitar solo in the Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” is actually played by Eric Clapton.
• That two songs were each recorded by the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley: “That’s Alright, Mama” and “Yesterday”.
• That Sting’s real name is Gordon Sumner. (We’re talking about Sting the musician, not the pro wrestler.)
• That when someone is asked what what item they would take with them to a deserted island, none ever says “a boat”.

3. Did you know some of our more famous rock bands once went by other calling cards before they hit the big time?

• The Bee Gees started out as the Rattlesnakes.
• Green Day was originally known as Blood Range.
• Journey was initially called the Golden Gate Rhythm Section.
• The Beastie Boys were once known as the Young Aborigines.
• The Beatles’ original name? Would you believe the Black Jacks?
• Kool and the Gang started out as the Jazziacs.
• Pearl Jam originally went by Mookie Blaylock. (Love it!)
• Pink Floyd once went by Sigma 6.
• Queen was originally known as Smile.
• REM first played as Hornets Attack Victor Mature
• Red Hot Chili Peppers once played as Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem

Steve Thought O’ The Day — My wife accused me of stealing her Thesaurus. Not only was I shocked, I was appalled, aghast, offended and dismayed.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. He is the same age as Ron Howard. Steve could’ve been Opie!