US TV
Cable TV station TV Land and the city of Raleigh, North Carolina will be placing a bronze statue depicting a scene from classic American TV series The Andy Griffith Show in the city's Pullen Park next month.
The Andy Griffith Show ran for eight seasons in primetime on American TV from 1960 to 1968, set in the fictional sleepy town of Mayberry, North Carolina. The show's star played widower 'Andy Taylor', who divided his time between being sheriff of the virtually crime-free town and raising his son 'Opie', played by Ron Howard - or Ronny, as he was then known, being only age 6. Ron Howard went on to further fame in Happy Days, which first aired in 1974. The sitcom's opening sequence features 'Andy' and "Opie' walking hand-in-hand - and that's the scene that will be represented by the new statue.
Raleigh's mayor, Charles Meeker, explained why he's in favour of placing a statue representing this TV show in his city:
"Mayberry is a state of mind that represents the very best of the North Carolina culture -- friendly, unpretentious, compassionate, fun-loving, decent and solid. As the capital of North Carolina, Raleigh is eager to welcome two such old and dear friends home. We can't wait to see Andy's and Opie's statue and invite everyone in North Carolina, the country and TV Land to visit and embrace this graceful state of mind."
A special unveiling ceremony will take place in Raleigh's Pullen Park on October 28. The statue was created by StudioEIS, New York.
Raleigh's local CBS affiliate, WRAL-TV/DT, has recently been re-running the popular show in primetime instead of airing CBS network show Cupid, which was deemed by the station's parent company, Capitol Broadcasting, to "demean and exploit the institution of marriage."
The Andy Griffith Show ran for eight seasons in primetime on American TV from 1960 to 1968, set in the fictional sleepy town of Mayberry, North Carolina. The show's star played widower 'Andy Taylor', who divided his time between being sheriff of the virtually crime-free town and raising his son 'Opie', played by Ron Howard - or Ronny, as he was then known, being only age 6. Ron Howard went on to further fame in Happy Days, which first aired in 1974. The sitcom's opening sequence features 'Andy' and "Opie' walking hand-in-hand - and that's the scene that will be represented by the new statue.
Raleigh's mayor, Charles Meeker, explained why he's in favour of placing a statue representing this TV show in his city:
"Mayberry is a state of mind that represents the very best of the North Carolina culture -- friendly, unpretentious, compassionate, fun-loving, decent and solid. As the capital of North Carolina, Raleigh is eager to welcome two such old and dear friends home. We can't wait to see Andy's and Opie's statue and invite everyone in North Carolina, the country and TV Land to visit and embrace this graceful state of mind."
A special unveiling ceremony will take place in Raleigh's Pullen Park on October 28. The statue was created by StudioEIS, New York.
Raleigh's local CBS affiliate, WRAL-TV/DT, has recently been re-running the popular show in primetime instead of airing CBS network show Cupid, which was deemed by the station's parent company, Capitol Broadcasting, to "demean and exploit the institution of marriage."
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