It was interesting how the show evolved. Andy slowly lost his drawl as the series progressed. Barney started out as Andy's cousin, but that relationship was eschewed pretty quickly by the writers.
I use the show somewhat in my government classes to illustrate local government organization. For example, Andy held two elective offices: sheriff and JP. I'm sure that is in violation of the North Carolina constitution just as it would be a violation of many state's constitutions if not all of them. The show sometimes errantly represented the Sheriff's Department as reporting to Mayberry's mayor or as being a city department. And what about only one patrol car? An entire county patrolled with one unit - and no dispatch to boot. Still, I watch every rerun I can.
You're right. There was an episode where Andy ticketed an out of towner for a minor traffic offense, and the offender demanded a hearing, at which point Andy removed his "Sheriff" desk sign and replaced it with "Justice of the Peace." Talk about a conflict of interest. In that era there was less suspicion of our local servants. We're surrounded by and expect corruption today.
But back to the single man status, when the series ran its course and evolved into Mayberry RFD, Ken Berry took over the lead, and there we have again a single down-home dad with a young all-American son. Just trying to recycle the same old theme.
The 60s had other shows with single dads or guardians too, like Family Affair and Courtship of Eddie's Father.
