I learned quite a bit about THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW that I actually wasn't even aware of. For example: Gomer was created specifically as a character replacement for Floyd the Barber since Howard McNeir had to walk away from the show due to the stroke that he had, and in fact, George Lindsey was slated to play the role, until Andy saw Jim Nabors at a night club and brought him in for the part instead. It wasn't too long that both Andy and Don Knotts were beginning to feel upstaged by Jim Nabors and wanted rid of him, hence why he quickly went to his own spin-off soon afterwards: GOMER PYLE, U.S.M.C.